Examples:
Through his ---- he managed to cheat his partners out of their earnings.
(A) inefficiency
(B) ineptness
(C) machinations
(D) regime
(E) dealings
The correct answer is (C). Through what (noun) does one cheat? You should be able to answer, “Through unfair play, conspiracy, evil planning, or the like.” A look at the five possibilities reveals machinations as the only possible choice. Normally a(n) ---- of dependability, he had let his colleagues down;
now he could not face their ----.
(A) pillar .. smirks
(B) besmircher .. titillation
(C) paragon .. wrath
(D) bastion .. adulation
(E) anathema .. debts
The correct answer is (C). Despite being a what (noun) of dependability, did he let his colleagues down so badly that he couldn’t face them? Paragon, bastion, and pillar—all symbols of strength or virtue—would work; besmircher (one who dirties) and anathema (curse) would not. Using any of the three that work, focus now on the fact that he had “let them down.” What do people show when they are severely disappointed? Certainly not smirks (crooked smiles) or adulation (praise). Wrath, however, is a perfect fit.
HOW TO ANSWER SENTENCE COMPLETION QUESTIONS READ THE SENTENCE THROUGH FOR SENSE, AND TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT WORD WOULD BEST FILL THE BLANK. THEN LOOK FOR THAT WORD IN THE ANSWER CHOICES.
Example:
Alan waited ---- for his turn, relaxing in an easy chair with his eyes closed.
(A) impatiently
(B) eagerly
(C) warily
(D) calmly
(E) tensely
The correct answer is (D). When you read the sentence, you might have anticipated that a word like patiently could be used in the blank. Patiently does not appear as an answer choice, but there is one choice that is close to that meaning: calmly. None of the other choices is idiomatic; in other words, none has a meaning that is appropriate in the context of the sentence.
This sentence was a fairly easy one. And some of those you encounter on the SAT will be easy. Others, however, will be more difficult. Harder ones will require that you analyze the logical structure of the sentence to see what is required.
Read More : What Is A Sentence Completion Question?
