Critical Reading: Sentence Completion

Step 3: Strategies

PSAT Critical Reading2 Sections- 25 minutes each48 total items

13 Critical Reading: Sentence Completion

35 Critical Reading: Passages Items

Purpose, Explanation, and Format of Sentence Completion ItemsConsists of a sentence, parts of which have been

left out, and the given answer choices. You must choose the answer that competes the sentence. (Surgeon General example)

Tests your ability to understand the overall meaning of the sentence. You should still be able to understand even with missing words. (Surgeon General example)

Tests not only knowledge of vocabulary, but ability to understand what is read. All choices will be grammatically correct. More than one choice may make sense, but only ONE completely preserves the meaning of the sentence.

Item TypesSentence Completion items fall into one of three

types:1. Thought-Extenders- the missing word(s) in a Thought-Extender item continue themes that are found elsewhere in the sentence.2. Thought-Reversers- the missing word(s) in a Thought-Reverser item are the opposite of ideas that are presented elsewhere in the sentence.3. Combined Reasoning- Combined Reasoning items contain elements of both Thought-Extender and Thought-Reverser items.

Facts about Sentence Completions1. Sentence Completions can be about almost any

subject. No outside information is needed. Complete the sentence based on information provided. (page 457 #1)

2. Difficulty range should be noted so you know which items you may want to skip to save time AND so you can avoid answers that are deceptively straightforward.

What makes Sentence Completions difficult?1. Sentence Structure- complex sentences, YET

they may contain clues! 2. Vocabulary- you need to understand the meanings of the words involved. (#2, #3)

Facts about Sentence Completions, cont.3. Wrong choices are wrong for one of two reasons:

1. The resulting construction is not idiomatic.(characteristic of, or in keeping with, the

way a language is ordinarily and naturally used by its native speakers)2. The resulting construction fails to support the logic of the sentence. (#4, #5)

*For Sentence Completions with two blanks, BOTH words must fit the meaning of the sentence. If you can eliminate one word or phrase, eliminate the entire choice.

* Don’t worry about grammatical correctness. All choices yield a grammatically correct sentence.

Strategies1. “Anticipate and Test”2. “Simplify Your Life”3. Thought-Extenders, Thought-Reversers,

and Combined Reasoning4. Be a Sentence Completions Detective-

find the clues!5. Hard Cases

a. Go to piecesb. Difficult answers

Anticipate and Test1. Read the sentence for understanding.2. Anticipate a word or words that would

complete the sentence.3. Look at the answer choices for the

closest match to the anticipated word(s).

4. Test the chosen answer choice. If that does not work, test the remaining options.

(#6, #7)

Simplify Your LifeThe difficulty of these items is based

on the number of details that are included, so eliminate unnecessary details to make the item easier.

(#8, #9, #10)

Thought-Extenders, Thought-Reversers, and Combined ReasoningCommon Logical Patterns:

1. Thought-Extenders- In this structure, the substitution must carry forward some thought in the sentence. (#11)Signals for Thought-Extenders:and so thereforesince

because as a result

2. Thought-Reversers- In this structure, the substitution must convey the sense of the reverse of some other thought in the sentence. (#12, #13, #14)

Signals for Thought-Reversers:although though but else in spite of

despite however3.Combined Reasoning- These sentences

contain a combination of both Thought-Extenders and Thought-Reversers.

Don’t simply memorize words- recognize the logical structure of the sentence.

Be a Sentence Completions DetectiveThe test writers have left you clues! Use them:

1. Coordinate conjunctions (and, but) #15, #162. Subordinate conjunctions (although, unless, if, for . . .)

#17, #18, #19, #20 3. Key adjectives and adverbs- notice the

descriptive detail.#21, #22

4. Punctuation- semicolon or colon indicates continuation of a thought. #23, #24

5. Phrases- Aristotle was a ___________ thinker.

a. Sensitiveb. Dysfunctionalc. Charismaticd. Systematice. Courageous

Not a good question . . . Why?

Aristotle was a _____________ philosopher, writing in great detail on every topic imaginable from art to zoology.

a. Sensitiveb. Dysfunctionalc. Charismaticd. Systematice. Courageous

Notice the additional info (following a comma )#25, #26

6. Various elements #27

Hard Cases1. Complex logical structure- “Go to Pieces”

StrategyIsolate a part of the sentence that you

understand; this part must contain an omitted word. Then substitute the answer choices and eliminate those answer choices that do not create idiomatic constructions. This strategy is useful for those items that have two blanks.

#28, #29, #30, #312. Difficulty- Difficult items have difficult answers.

If forced to guess, do not choose an easy answer choice. Instead, choose the answer choice with the most difficult vocabulary words. #32, #33

HomeworkPractice Quiz I- 10 minutes. Pages

470-71 (1-12)Practice Quiz II- 10 minutes. Pages

472-73 (1-12)