Her character was completely ______; she was totally devoid of ______.
Answer(s): D
JustificationThe sentence requires two adjectives that together convey a person whose outward demeanor is completely unemotional and who lacks any feeling. Option D – “impassive … emotion” precisely matches this meaning: impassive describes a character that shows no emotional response, and emotion is exactly what is being denied. Why the other choices failA: prosaic … dullness – prosaic means ordinary or unremarkable, not emotionally blank; devoid of dullness would imply she is lively, the opposite of the intended sense. B. prudent … affection – prudent denotes wise caution, unrelated to emotional neutrality; devoid of affection is plausible but the first blank does not fit the context of a “completely … character.” C. passive … inertia – passive can suggest lack of activity, but devoid of inertia (lack of resistance to change) does not parallel “lack of feeling.” E. saintly … virtue – saintly implies moral excellence, which contradicts the idea of being “devoid of” something positive; it does not convey emotional emptiness.Therefore, D is the only pair that logically and semantically completes the sentence.
Merriam-Webster definition of impassive: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impassive Cambridge Dictionary definition of emotion: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/emotion
To succeed in the training program requires great ______; you have to endure many months of rigorous exercise.
Answer(s): E
JustificationCorrect option – E. tenacity Tenacity denotes persistent determination and resilience in the face of difficulty. In the sentence, “you have to endure many months of rigorous exercise,” the required quality is the ability to persist despite hardship, which aligns precisely with the definition of tenacity. This word conveys the sustained effort needed to succeed over an extended, demanding period.Why the other choices are unsuitableA: reluctance – implies unwillingness or hesitation; it contradicts the necessity of active perseverance. B. creativity – refers to imaginative thinking, which is unrelated to the endurance required for prolonged physical training. C. diffidence – means lack of confidence or self-assurance; it would hinder, not support, the demanding regimen. D. insensitivity – denotes emotional numbness or disregard for others, having no relevance to personal perseverance in training.Conclusion The only term that accurately captures the sustained, determined effort demanded by a rigorous, multi-month training program is tenacity (option E).
1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Tenacity: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenacity 2. Cambridge Dictionary – Tenacity: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/tenacity
Since eating that ______ amount of food I have become ______.
JustificationThe sentence describes a cause-effect relationship: eating a large amount of food leads to a resulting condition. Option D (“prodigious … bilious”) pairs a word that means “extremely large or impressive in size or quantity” (prodigious) with “bilious,” which means “suffering from nausea or a disturbed stomach, often after overeating.” This pairing logically conveys that the speaker has become ill after consuming a prodigious amount of food. Option A (“substantial … unchanged”) suggests the amount eaten was large but the outcome is “unchanged,” which contradicts the expected effect of overeating. Option B (“miniscule … corpulent”) mixes a tiny amount with a bloated condition; the cause and effect are mismatched. Option C (“gargantuan … emaciated”) pairs an enormous intake with being underweight, an illogical connection. Option E (“impeccable … fastidious”) describes qualities of quality and meticulousness, unrelated to the physical consequence of eating.Therefore, D is the only choice that provides a coherent, cause-and-effect meaning.
Merriam-Webster: prodigious – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigious Merriam-Webster: bilious – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bilious
The performer was exceedingly ______; she could juggle three apples at once.
JustificationThe sentence describes a performer who is “exceedingly …; she could juggle three apples at once.” The key idea is that the performer possesses a high degree of skill in a manual or dexterous activity. Adroit means “skillful, especially with the hands; cleverly resourceful,” which directly matches the ability to juggle objects with proficiency.Inept (A) denotes a lack of skill or clumsiness, the opposite of what the context implies. Contentious (B) refers to being argumentative or disagreeable, unrelated to physical ability. Complacent (C) describes self-satisfaction with a lack of ambition, which does not convey competence. Astute (E) means shrewd or perceptive, typically applied to mental acuity rather than manual dexterity.Therefore, adroit best captures the performer’s exceptional juggling skill.
Merriam-Webster definition of adroit: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adroit Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries entry for adroit: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/adroit
I am ______ about the job; although the atmosphere is pleasant, the work is boring.
Answer(s): A
JustificationCorrect choice – A. ambivalent Ambivalent means having mixed or contradictory feelings about something. The sentence juxtaposes a pleasant atmosphere with boring work, indicating the speaker feels both positive and negative toward the job – precisely the meaning of “ambivalent.”Why the other options are unsuitableB: exultant – conveys intense joy or triumph; it does not capture a mixed feeling.C: timorous – describes being fearful or timid; unrelated to the sentiment expressed. D. laconic – means using few words; a style, not an emotional state. E. reticent – means restrained or uncommunicative; again, a behavioral trait, not a feeling about the job.Thus, only ambivalent accurately reflects the dual, contradictory attitude described.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary entry for ambivalent: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambivalent Cambridge Dictionary entry for ambivalent: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ambivalent
Herbert had none of the social graces; he was appallingly ______.
JustificationThe sentence describes Herbert as lacking social graces and being “appallingly ______.” The adjective must convey a negative, socially inappropriate quality. E. uncouth precisely means “lacking refinement or good manners; boorish,” which directly matches the intended meaning. A. unlimbered refers to physical flexibility or looseness, unrelated to social behavior. B. underrated describes something that is undervalued, not a moral or social flaw. C. unfettered means “free from restraints,” which is neutral or positive, not a criticism of manners. D. uncluttered describes a tidy or simple state, again unrelated to social grace.Therefore, E. uncouth is the only choice that accurately captures the negative, socially inept connotation required by the sentence.
Merriam-Webster definition of uncouth: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncouth Cambridge Dictionary entry for uncouth: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/uncouth
The ______ shantytown was infested with vermin and ______with disease.
Answer(s): C
JustificationOption C – “squalid … rife”Squalid conveys a condition of extreme filth, poverty, and neglect, which fits the notion of a shantytown overrun by vermin. Rife means “abundant or widespread,” especially in a negative sense (e.g., “rife with disease”). Together, the collocation “squalid … rife” precisely describes a squalid settlement that is filled with disease, matching the intended meaning of the sentence.Option A – “attractive … riddled”Attractive suggests appeal or charm, which contradicts the negative connotation required for a shantytown infested with vermin. Riddled can mean “filled with,” but it is usually followed by a negative noun (e.g., “riddled with disease”), not paired with “attractive” in this context.Option B – “spurious … infected”Spurious means “false or counterfeit,” a meaning that does not apply to a physical environment. Infected is a possible verb, but the phrase “spurious … infected” lacks the idiomatic collocation and does not capture the pervasive, filthy condition implied by “shantytown.”Option D – “tidy … inoculated”Tidy denotes cleanliness and order, the opposite of what a vermin-infested shantytown would be. Inoculated refers to the medical act of introducing a vaccine or antigen; it is not used to describe a place being “filled with disease.”Option E – “lugubrious … fraught”Lugubrious describes a mournful or gloomy demeanor, not a physical state of a settlement. Fraught means “full of difficulty or stress,” which does not convey the idea of being infested or riddled with disease.Therefore, Option C is the only choice that provides a semantically and idiomatically appropriate pairing for the two blanks.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: squalid – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squalid Merriam-Webster Dictionary: rife – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rife
The gathering was anything but ______; the partygoers were in a(n) ______ mood.
JustificationThe sentence contrasts “anything but ___” with a mood that is its opposite. D. mournful … ebullient creates a clear antonymic pair: mournful (sorrowful, subdued) versus ebullient (cheerful, energetic, lively). This opposition fits the “anything but” construction, implying the gathering was the opposite of mournful and therefore ebullient. A. aggressive … pushy – both words are similar in meaning; they do not provide an antonymic contrast. B. modest … humble – also synonyms; they reinforce rather than oppose each other. C. gregarious … loquacious – both describe sociable, talkative traits; they are not opposites. E. hostile … frenetic – while the words differ in nuance, hostile (unfriendly) does not logically contrast with frenetic (wildly fast-paced) in a way that fits the “anything but” idiom.Thus, only option D supplies the required antonymic relationship that makes the sentence coherent.
Merriam-Webster definition of mournful: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mournful Merriam-Webster definition of ebullient: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ebullient
Post your Comments and Discuss College Board SAT exam prep with other Community members:
Our website is free, but we have to fight against AI bots and content theft. We're sorry for the inconvenience caused by these security measures. You can access the rest of the SAT content, but please register or login to continue.