How To Answer Sentence Completion Questions

Sentence completion questions questions test your ability to use your vocabulary and to recognize how the different parts of a sentence fit together to make sense.

The sentence completion questions ask you to choose the best way to complete a sentence from which one or two words have been omitted. You must be able to recognize the logic, style, and tone of the sentence, so that you will be able to choose the answer that makes sense in this context. You must also be able to recognize the different ways in which words are normally defined. At some time or another, you have probably had a vocabulary assignment in which you were asked to define a word and use it in a sentence. 

In questions of this type, you have to fit words into sentences. Once you understand the implications of a sentence, you should be able to choose the answer that will make the sentence clear, logical, and consistent in style and tone.

The subject matter of these sentences comes from a wide variety of fields - music, art, science, literature, history. However, you are not being tested on your general knowledge. Though at times your knowledge of a particular fact may guide you in choosing the correct answer, you should be able to handle any of the sentences using your understanding of the English language.

1. Read the incomplete sentence, and before you look at the answer choices, think of a word that makes sense

Your first step in answering a sentence completion question is, without looking at the answer choices, to try to come up with a word that fits in the blank.

The word you think of may not be the exact word that appears in any of the answer choices, but it will probably be similar in meaning to the right answer. Then, when you turn to the answer choices, you’ll have an idea of what you’re looking for.

Try going through the sentence substituting the word blank for each missing word. Doing this will give you a feel for what the sentence means.

Example:

Unlike her gabby brother Ross, Verity seldom _____ .

Just from looking at the sentence, you know the answer must be chatters, talks, or a synonym.
At this point, look at the answer choices. If the word you thought of is one of the five choices, select it as your answer. If the word you thought of is not a choice, look for a synonym of that word.

See how the process works in dealing with a more complex sentence.
The psychologist set up the experiment to test the rat’s ____; he wished to see how well the rat adjusted to the changing conditions it had to face.

Even before you look at the answer choices, you can figure out what the answer should be.
Look at the sentence. A psychologist is trying to test some particular quality or characteristic of a rat. What quality? How do you get the answer?

Note how the part of the sentence following the semicolon (the second clause, in technical terms) is being used to define or clarify what the psychologist is trying to test. He is trying to see how well the rat adjusts. What words does this suggest to you?
Either flexibility or adaptability could complete the sentence’s thought.

Here are the five answer choices given:(A) reflexes(B) communicability(C) stamina(D) sociability(E) adaptability

The answer clearly is adaptability, (E).

Make sure you check out all five answer choices before you make your final choice. Don’t leap at the first word that seems to fit. You are looking for the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. In order to be sure you have not been hasty in making your decision, substitute each of the answer choices for the missing word. That way you can satisfy yourself that you have come up with the answer that best fits.

2. Find clues in the sentences: Signal Words

Writers use transitions to link their ideas logically.
These transitions or signal words are clues that can help you figure out what the sentence actually means.

Support Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate that the omitted portion of the sentence continues a thought developed elsewhere in the sentence. Examples are and, moreover, in addition, and furthermore. In such cases, a synonym or near-synonym should provide the correct answer.

An example of a sentence completion question in which a support signal provides a helpful clue.

He was habitually so docile and ____ that his friends could not understand his sudden outburst against his employers.(A) submissive(B) incorrigible(C) contemptuous(D) erratic(E) hasty

The signal word and is your clue that the writer is trying to reinforce the notion of docility introduced in the sentence. Not only is this person blank . Look through the docile, he is also answer choices for a synonym or near-synonym of docile or obedient. You find one immediately: (A), submissive. Check through the other answer choices. Nothing else makes sense. The correct answer is (A).

Contrast Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate a contrast between one idea and another. Examples are but, although, nevertheless, despite, however, even though, and on the other hand. In such cases, an antonym or near-antonym for another word in the sentence should provide the correct answer.

An example of a sentence completion question in which a contrast signal pinpoints the correct answer for you.
We expected her to be jubilant over her victory, but she was ____ instead.(A) triumphant(B) adult(C) morose(D) loquacious(E) culpable

The signal word but suggests that the winner’s expected reaction contrasts with her actual one.
Instead of being “jubilant” (extremely joyful), she is sad. Look through the answer choices to find a word that is the opposite of jubilant. The correct answer is (C), morose or gloomy.

Cause and Effect Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate that one thing causes another. Examples are because, since, therefore, consequently, accordingly, hence, thus, and as a result.

An example of a sentence completion question in which a cause and effect signal should prove helpful to you.
Because his delivery was ____, the effect of his speech on the voters was nonexistent.(A) plausible(B) moving(C) audible(D) halting(E) respectable

What sort of delivery would cause a speech to have no effect? A plausible (superficially pleasing and persuasive) delivery would probably have some effect on the voters. A moving or eloquent delivery certainly would. An audible delivery, one the audience could hear, would be more likely to have an effect than an inaudible one would. A respectable, appropriate delivery probably would have some impact as well. Only a halting or stumbling delivery would mar the voters’ appreciation of the speech and cause it to have little or no effect on them. Thus, the correct answer is (D).

3. Notice The Negatives

Watch out for negative words and words with negative prefixes: no, not, none; non-, un-, in-. These negative words and word parts are killers, especially in combination.

The damage to the car was insignificant.(“Don’t worry about it - it’s just a scratch.”)
The damage to the car was not insignificant.(“Oh, no, Bart! We totaled Mom’s car!”)

Especially, watch out for 'not': it’s easy to overlook, but it’s a key word, as the following sentence clearly illustrates.

Adams was not ____ person and thus made few public addresses; but those he made were memorable, filled with noble phrases.(A) a reticent(B) a stately(C) an inspiring(D) an introspective(E) a communicative

What would happen if you overlooked not in this question? Probably you’d wind up choosing(A): Adams was a reticent (quiet; reserved) man.
For this reason he made few public addresses.
Unfortunately, you’d have gotten things backward. The sentence isn’t telling you what Adams was like. It’s telling you what he was not like. And he was not a communicative person; he didn’t express himself freely. However, when he did get around to speaking, he had some good things to say.

4. Words have many meanings, watch out for these words

Watch out for words that have more than one meaning. Before you rule out an answer choice, consider whether the word has any secondary meanings. Lie, for example, can mean recline. It can also mean fib. Similarly, the adjective partial means incomplete, as in “a partial list of contributors.” It can also mean biased, as in “too partial to be fair to both sides,” or having a liking for, as in
“I am highly partial to chocolate.”

Stay alert for familiar-looking words defined in unfamiliar ways. Try this example:
The political climate today is extremely ____: no one can predict what the electorate will do next.(A) malevolent(B) pertinent(C) claustrophobic(D) lethargic(E) volatile

Before you can answer this question, you need to think of a word that makes sense in the context.
If no one can predict what the voters will do, then the political climate must be unpredictable. The correct answer is a synonym for unpredictable or changeable.
Now consider the answer choices. Malevolent(wicked; malicious) is not a synonym for unpredictable. Pertinent (relevant; applicable) is not a synonym for unpredictable. Claustrophobic (afraid of closed-in places) is not a synonym for unpredictable. Lethargic (sluggish; drowsily dull) is not a synonym for unpredictable. Only volatile is left.

If you have seen the word volatile only in the context of science class (“Acetone is an extremely volatile liquid: it evaporates instantly”), you may not realize that it can be used to describe moods as well as chemicals. A volatile political climate is a changeable, unstable one. The correct choice is (E).

5. Break down unfamiliar words, look for familiar word parts

To determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word, either in a sentence or among the answer choices, use what you know about word parts, the building blocks of our language: prefixes, suffixes, and most important of all, roots.(A list of word parts appears on pp. 171–187.)

Consider the following sentence:
Interviewing the flood victims on her show,
Oprah Winfrey was wholly ________: she appeared to feel their loss as if it had been her own.

Note how the part of the sentence following the colon (the second clause) is being used to clarify Winfrey’s attitude or behavior. She appeared to feel the victims’ loss. The correct answer must have something to do with feeling.
Here are the five answer choices:(A) self-possessed(B) empathetic(C) obsessive(D) perceptive(E) theoretical

From your study of word parts, you know that the root path means feeling or disease. Antipathy is a hostile feeling; sympathy, a kindly one. Empathy is an understanding of and identification with the feelings of another person. In identifying with the feelings of the flood victims, Winfrey was empathetic.

6. Take one blank at a time

Dealing with double-blank sentences can be tricky.
Testing the first word of each answer pair helps you narrow things down.

How to do it: Read through the entire sentence. Then insert the first word of each answer pair in the sentence’s first blank. Ask yourself whether this particular word makes sense in this blank. If the initial word of an answer pair makes no sense in the sentence, you can eliminate the entire pair.
Next, check out the second word of each of the answer pairs that you haven’t ruled out. Be careful.
Remember: just as each word of the correct answer pair must make sense in its individual context, both words must make sense when used together.

Try this question to practice working with double-blank sentences.
The opossum is ____ the venom of snakes in the rattlesnake subfamily and thus views the reptiles not as ____ enemies but as a food source.(A) vulnerable to…natural(B) indicative of…mortal(C) impervious to…lethal(D) injurious to…deadly(E) defenseless against…potential

Your first job is to eliminate any answer choices you can on the basis of their first word.
- Opossums might be vulnerable to snake poison. Keep (A).
- Opossums are unlikely to be indicative or suggestive of snake poison. Cross out (B).
- Opossums could be impervious to (unaffected by; immune to) snake poison. Keep (C).
- Opossums couldn’t be injurious or harmful to snake poison. Cross out (D).
- Opossums could be defenseless against snake poison. Keep (E).

Now examine the second half of the sentence.
Opossums look on rattlesnakes as a food source.
They can eat rattlers for a reason. Why? Is it because opossums are vulnerable to or defenseless against