Jul 25, 2008

SAT Prep | Mastering Sentence Completion: Step 1

Step 1:
Identifying context clues is one of the most successful ways for students to locate correct answers in Sentence Completions. Practicing constantly in this area will help you strengthen one of your main strategies in this type of word problem. The following Sentence Completion is an example of a Level I question.

Pamela played her championship chess game _____ , avoiding all traps and making no mistakes.

(A) hurriedly	(D) imaginatively
(B) flawlessly	(E) aggressively
(C) prodigally

The phrase “avoiding all traps and making no mistakes” is your context clue. Notice that the phrase both follows and modifies the word in question. Because you know that Sentence Completions are exercises seeking to test your vocabulary knowledge, attack these problems accordingly. For example, ask yourself what word means “avoiding all traps and making no mistakes.” In so doing, you discover the answer flawlessly (B), which means perfectly or without mistakes. If Pamela played hurriedly (A), she might well make mistakes. Difficult words are seldom the answer in easier questions; therefore, prodigally (C) stands out as a suspicious word. This could be a magnet word. However, before you eliminate it, ask yourself whether you know its meaning. If so, does it surpass flawlessly (B) in defining the context clue, “making no mistakes”? It does not. Imaginatively (D) is a tempting answer, since one might associate a perfect game of chess as one played imaginatively; however, there is no connection between the imagination and the absence of mistakes. Aggressively (E) playing a game may, in fact, cause you to make mistakes.

Here is an example of a Level II Sentence Completion. Try to determine the context clue.

Although most people believe the boomerang is the product of a _____ design, that belief is deceptive; in fact, the boomerang is a(n) _____ example of the laws of aerodynamics.

(A) foreign . . . modern	(D) primitive . . . sophisticated
(B) symbolic . . .complex	(E) faulty . . . invalid
(C) practical . . . scientific

The most important context clue in this sentence is the opening word “although,” which indicates that some kind of antonym relationship is present in the sentence. It tells us there is a reversal in meaning. Therefore, be on the lookout for words which will form an opposite relationship. The phrase “that belief is deceptive” makes certain the idea that there will be an opposite meaning between the missing words. Primitive . . . sophisticated (D) is the best answer, since the two are exact opposites. “Primitive” means crude and elementary, whereas “sophisticated” means refined and advanced. Foreign . . . modern (A) and symbolic . . . complex (B) have no real opposite relationship. Also, “complex” is a magnet word that sounds right in the context of scientific laws, but “symbolic” is not its counterpart. Practical . . . scientific (C) and faulty . . . invalid (E) are rejectable because they are generally synonymous pairs of relationships.

The following is an example of a Level III question:

The weekly program on public radio is the most _____ means of educating the public about pollution.

(A) proficient	(D) capable
(B) effusive	(E) competent
(C) effectual

The context clue in this sentence is “means of educating the public about pollution.” Effectual (C) is the correct answer. Effectual means having the power to produce the exact effect or result. Proficient (A) is not correct as it implies competency above the average—radio programs are not described in this manner. Effusive (B) does not fit the sense of the sentence. Both capable (D) and competent (E) are incorrect because they refer to people, not things.