Sentence Completion

Sentence completions test the skill to use the information observed in

complex and incomplete sentences to correctly complete them. It tests a

candidate's vocabulary power and skill to follow the logic of sentences. These

sentences are often quite complex.

Structure of Sentence Completion Questions

The common sentence completion question types include:

1. Fill in the blank (single blank)

2. Fill in the Blanks (double blanks)

3. Cloze Test: A cloze test requires the test taker to fill in multiple blanks

in an entire paragraph.

Before looking at the choices, take a look at the sentence and think of (a)

word/words that can complete the sentence. This helps in understanding what

the sentence is about, to a certain extent.

Look at all the possible choices before deciding upon a final answer. In

double-blank sentences, try filling in one of the blanks and eliminate the

answer choices based on that.

Signal words can play a key role in identifying the right choice. These can

include

1. Cause and effect signals - accordingly, so... that. Thus, when...then, etc.

2. Support signals - furthermore, also, likewise, etc.

3. Contrast signals - although, despite, in spite of, rather than, etc.

Strategies for Sentence Completion:

1. Read the Sentence

Use the sentence clues by reading the sentence thoroughly. Two things make a

question difficult: difficult words and sentence structure. If you cannot dissect a

sentence to figure out what fits best, you CANNOT crack the question though you

know the word meanings. We need to properly take apart the sentences and

improve our vocabulary.

2. Chose a word

Before you look at the answer choices, try to come up with a word you would use

to complete the sentence. When you’re doing this, you can try to use a big, fancy

word, but it’s much preferable to use the first simple word that comes to mind.

Once you think of a word that would complete the sentence, you can then check

the answer choices to see if there’s either that exact word or one with similar

meaning. (If you have a dual-blank sentence completion question, try to come up

with words for both blanks. If you cannot, coming up with a word for one of the

blanks will help you then use the process of elimination.)

3. Positive or Negative connotation

If you can’t figure out a word to put in the blank, determine if the correct word has

a positive or negative connotation. Look at the example below to see how this

would work:

4. Word Choice Fit

Never choose an answer in a dual-blank question just because one of the word

choices fits. The test-makers deliberately put in an answer choice where one of the

word choices fits perfectly while the other one is incorrect. Make sure both words

fit and don’t fall into this trap.

5. Consider all Choice

Make sure you check all of the answer choices before you choose an answer.

Sometimes the test-makers provide an answer choice that could be correct, that is

if there were no better choices. Most of the time, though, there will be a perfect

choice, not just OK.

If you follow these five tips, you’ll do quite well on the sentence completion

portion of any test. Get plenty of test prep by answering as many sample

questions.

Solved Examples

Single Blank Example

1.The news is too good _______..

A. to be bad

B. to be acceptable

C. to be true

D. and can be credible

E. to know

Solution: C The news is too good to be true. The word ‘too’ indicates an excess.

Hence, option c is the answer.

Double Blanks Example

2. At a time when most charities seem to think of _____ increasing their

capital, Warren Buffet’s stipulation that what he gifts must be spent within

ten years comes as a _______ announcement.

A. perennially

contradictory

B. merely

surprise

C. eternally

Involuntary

D. sporadically

refreshing

E. constantly

landmark

Solution: E

Though constantly, perennially, and eternally are synonyms yet constantly fits the

blank best as it simply means continuously, whereas perennially and eternally

mean everlasting and are too strong for the given context.

A landmark announcement is an important announcement.

Cloze test example

1. The ___(i)___ of rabbits as pets have increased immensely over the last few

years. Their value as companion animals has ___(ii)___ for several reasons.

Rabbits make relatively few demands on an individual’s or a family’s

lifestyle. They are quiet and peaceful animals by nature. They do not bark,

they do not disturb neighbors, and they easily get along with other small pets

if introduced with care. Their exercise ___(iii)___ are few and they respond

beautifully to attention and affection if they are handled frequently with

gentleness and love. Rabbits are very intelligent and can be ___(iv)___ very

easily. In general, rabbits are ___(v)___ and gentle creatures who will fill your

world with more love and joy than you could ever imagine.

(i) (a) fame (b) capabilities (c) popularity (d) incompatibility

(ii) (a) burgeoned (b) waned (c) depreciated (d) descended

(iii) (a) patterns (b) requirements (c) covenant (d) preparation

(iv) (a) habituated (b) subdued (c) reclaimed (d) house-trained

(v) (a) vicious (b) determined (c) docile (d) uncultivated

Solutions:

(i) c

(ii) a

(iii) b

(iv) d

(v) c

Practice Problems

1. Amie agrees with the ______ that the grass is always greener on the other

side of the fence.

a. perpetuity

b. penchant

c. maxim

d. conformation

e. Fortitude

Answer: c. Maxim

Explanation (n.) Maxim is an established principle or a general truth, often a

condensed version of practical truth.

2. The ______ of our expedition was still so far away that I felt we would

never get there.

a. nadir

b. Terminus

c. speculation

d. apex

e. dungeon ]

Answer: b. The terminus

Explanation:

(n.)Terminus is the final point or goal; the final stop on a

transportation line.

3. If he expected to ______ as a doctor, Lou knew he would have to study hard

in medical school and work long hours to gain experience and skill.

a. perpetrate

b. palliate

c. palpitate

d. prosper

e. mediate

Answer : d. To prosper

Explanation: (v.) Prosper means to be successful

4. Doc Wilson grew up in Florida and was not prepared to face the ______

climate of the Alaskan winter.

a. freshwater

b. gelid

c. compendious

d. subsidiary

e. improvident

Answer: b. Gelid

Explanation: Gelid (adj.) means icy or extremely cold; possessing a cold or

unfriendly manner.

5. Marvin’s ______ prevented him from finishing his work and was evidenced

in his large phone bills.

a. Loquacity

b. heroism

c. decadence

d. depreciation

e. Rescission

Answer: a. Loquacity

Explanation: Loquacity (n.) is talkativeness; the state of continual talking.

6. Jack Nicholson was at the ______ of his career when he received the Oscar

for Best Actor.

a. detriment

b. pinnacle

c. oligarchy

d. rogue

e. repose

Answer: b. A pinnacle

Explanation: (n.) is the highest level or degree available.

7. Ariana was outstanding as the moderator; she handled the intensely heated

debate with great

______, diplomatically and tactfully keeping the

conversation fair and on track.

a. Finesse

b. pretentiousness

c. prowess

d. succor

e. aversion

Answer: a. Finesse

Explanation: Finesse (n.) is the subtle, skillful handling of a situation, diplomacy,

tact; refined or delicate performance or execution.

8. The class endured a loud and lengthy ______ by the teacher on the subject

of submitting written work on time.

a. guile

b. polemic

c. bravado

d. tirade

e. heresy

Answer : d. A tirade

Explanation: A tirade (n.) is a long and blusterous speech given especially when

the speaker is denouncing someone or something.

9. Lauren’s ______ features, what you first noticed about her, were her

stunning black hair and large, dark eyes.

a. savvy

b. affluent

c. predominant

d. Universal

e. Malicious

Answer: c. Predominant

Explanation: Predominant (adj.) means most dominant, common, or frequent; to

have surpassing power, influence, or authority

10. Although the villagers’ lives were profoundly different from her own,

Jing-Mae felt a deep ______ for the people when she served in the Peace

Corps.

a. reparation

b. affinity

c. injunction

d. exigency

e. Analogy

Answer: b. An affinity

Explanation: An affinity (n.) is a natural attraction or liking; a feeling of kinship,

connection or closeness, similarity; relationship by marriage.

11. Despite his reputation for --------------- and carelessness in his academic

work, Alexander was always very --------------- when working on his personal

projects.

a. Intransigence…punctual

b. Contrition…tactful

c. Negligence…meticulous

d. Haste…hapless

e. Penury…conscientious

Answer: c. Negligence…meticulous

Explanation: negligence is 'carelessness'

- think of the same root word in

'neglect.' And meticulous means that you 'pay attention to the details,' which seems

to fit with the second word as well

12. Although the best of scientific temper and

____________________in

religion are apparently irreconcilable, we often find scientists having

____________________ to God and prayer when their powers are exceeded.

a) belief, faith

b) faith, access

c) fixity, alternative

d) dogma, recourse

Answer: d. dogma, recourse

Explanation: In option, a belief fits but faith in God is expected, not faith to.

Faith in option b fits but access to God means being allowed to meet God. Fixity

means a fixed belief and is incompatible with scientific temper; ‘alternative to’

does not agree with the sense of the sentence. Dogma and recourse fit perfectly,

both idiomatically and in terms of meaning.

13. Having been blessed with a fine _____________________ mind and a(n)

________________ faith in his monarch, the Englishman set out to conquer

the world.

a) reasoning, firm

b) ratifying, unwavering

c) reasonable, incredible

d) rational, unshakeable

Answer: d. rational, unshakeable

Explanation: Reasoning implies the process of reasoning. Rational is better.

Ratifying denotes validation. Reasonable means are amenable to reason.

14. Linguist Eric Lenneberg states that the

_______________ period of

language acquisition ends around the age of 12 years. He claims that if no

language is learned before then, it can never be learned in a normal and

fully

________________ sense. This is known as the "Critical Period

Hypothesis".

a) critical, crucial

b) vital, functioning

c) crucial, functional

d) important, working

Answer: c.crucial, functional

Explanation: Critical denotes of great importance and also signifies a crisis.

Crucial, meaning of great importance, does not fit into the second blank.

Functioning is an adjective which if used in the second blank would mean that the

sense is functioning (working). The same goes for working.

15. Miss Brooke had that ________________ of beauty which seems to be

thrown into ________________ by poor dress.

a) kind, relief

b) type, contrast

c) kind, gear

d) nature, profile

Answer: a. kind, relief

Explanation: Relief alone conveys the idea of ‘made prominent by’. None of the

other options is as good.

Sentence Completion [ Notes + Solved Examples + Practice Problem ]

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Sentence Completion [ Notes + Solved Examples + Practice Problem ]

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