Sentence Completion

1. Sentence Completion *Critical Reading (Reading Comprehension) Section of SAT Ms. Amorin

3. How is sentence completion formatted? • A sentence with either one word OR two words missing from the sentence Desiring to ____ his chatty children, Mitch gave them taffy in hopes it would keep their mouths shut. A. eliminate B. satisfy C. overcome D. ridicule E. silence While the ____ student openly questioned the teacher’s explanation, she was not so _____ as to suggest that the teacher was wrong. A. complacent…suspicious B. inquisitive…imprudent C. curious… dispassionate D. provocative…respectful E. ineffectual… brazen

4. How is the sentence completion section divided up on the SAT? • Questions are arranged in groups of five, six, and eight sentences • Questions usually go in order of difficulty: • First third are the easiest and last third are the most difficult

5. Strategies to assist with sentence completion

6. Strategy #1 • Read the sentence carefully without looking at the answer choices. • Get an idea as to what the TOPIC* is about

7. Strategy #2 • Re-read the sentence and come up with a word that makes sense (your “own word”) to insert in the blank • Look at the answer choices to see if any of the choices are similar to “your own word”

8. Strategy #3 • Review answer choices • Read the sentence and insert each ‘word’ in the blank • Read ALL answer choices

9. Strategy #4-Trigger words • CLUES----------------- • Be aware of negatives in sentence • Ex.) not, no, non-, un-, dis-, none, in-

10. Negatives cont….. • The damage to the car was insignificant. (“Don’t worry about it; it’s just a scratch”) • The damage to the car was notinsignificant. (“Oh no, Bart! We totaled mom’s car!”) Note: The use of a negative word or prefix can change the meaning of the sentence

11. Example sentence completion with negatives • Madison was not ______ person and thus made few public addresses: but those she made were memorable and filled with noble phrases. A. a reticent B. a stately C. an inspiring D. a meticulous E. a communicative

12. Strategy #5 - Trigger words • Pay attention to comparison words • and, also, besides, for example, likewise, furthermore, in addition, moreover, in other words, etc…

13. Example sentence with comparison words • During the Middle Ages, plague and other _______ decimated the populations of entire towns. A. pestilences B. immunizations C. tendencies D. indispositions E. demises

14. Strategy #6 Trigger words • Note contrast/ opposite words-- • but, however, yet, although, except, not, nor, in contrast, nevertheless, on the other hand, rather than, even though, despite, etc… • Such words can change the meaning of the sentence.

15. Example sentence completion with contrast words • In sharp contrast to the previous night’s revelry, the wedding was _____ affair. A. a fervent B. a dignified C. A chaotic D. an ingenious E. a jubilant

16. Strategy #7- Trigger words • Pay attention to cause/ effect words • because, consequently, therefore, thus, as a result

17. Example sentence completion with cause/ effectwords • Margot studied veraciously for the SAT and as a result, her score was shown to have been _______. A. improved B. dissatisfying C. strenuous D. obscure E. ephemeral

18. Strategy #8 • Use context clues to assist with understanding the sentence and answer choices. • What is the subject of the sentence? • What is the “blank” talking about> Ex.) Shaquille O’Neal is such a physically intimidating basketball player that his opponents focus on his ____ and thus underestimate his surprising quickness.

19. PRACTICE TIME!!!!!Keep strategies in mind! • Even though it is a dead language, rather than fading away, Latin is now being _______. • forgotten • excavated • mortified • revitalized • revealed

20. Sentence Completion PRACTICE • NOTE: Use context clues! • What is the sentence referring to and who is it directed to? The opportunist woman told the man, “You’re very _____.” A. rich B. correct C. preposterous D. cloistered E. sick The doctor told that man, “You’re very ______.” A. rich B. correct C. preposterous D. cloistered E. sick pg. 42- SAT PR text

21. Sentence Completion PRACTICE • Lavender has a ______ effect; its aroma alleviates tension and anxiety. A. fragrant B. joyous C. iridescent D. soothing E. painful pg. 43- SAT PR text

22. Sentence Completion PRACTICE • Some developing nations have become remarkably _____, using aid from other countries to build successful industries. • A. populous • B. dry • C. warlike • D. prosperous • E. isolated pg. 44- SAT PR text

23. Sentence Completion PRACTICE • Because theaters refused to show it when it first released, Citizen Kane was _____ failure, though now it is considered one of the greatest American films ever made. • A. a revolutionary • B. a personal • C. a commercial • D. an aesthetic • E. a perennial Pg. 48_ PR SAT text

24. Sentence Completion PRACTICE • Most of Rick’s friends think his life is unbelievably _____, but in fact he spends most of his time on ______ activities. • A. fruitful…. productive • B. wasteful… useless • C. scintillating… mundane • D. varied … sportive • E. callow… simple pg. 51- PR SAT Text

25. Remember the strategies! Good Luck!  Fortune Favors the Bold. CHS motto