Strategies for Sentence Completion

• before looking at the answers, try to consider the sentence with words that make sense,
• do not rush your selection. Consider all the answers before deciding,
• use the context of nearby words to figure out unknown words,
• do not overlook the reversing effect of negative words (or prefixes) like ‘not’ or ‘un-’
• if you do not understand the meaning of a word, try to break it down into prefixes, roots, or suffixes
• eliminate choices in double-blank questions if the first word alone does not make sense in the sentence,
• let transition words like ‘although’ and ‘likewise’ help suggest the best answer

Question:
His earliest novel, though undeniably _____________ in content, was ____________ work which influenced fiction writers for the next several decades.
(A) peculiar..a symbolic
(B) sophomoric..a seminal
(C) entrenched..a consummate
(D) graphic..a maniacal
(E) stupefying..an anomalous

Answer: B

Explanation: This one is easier to answer if you start with the second blank because you can see it should be something like ‘influential’. Seminal comes the closest, meaning ‘containing the seeds of later development.’ You can predict that the word in the first blank is going to be a bit negative and contrasting with the rest of the sentence. Sophomoric, meaning ‘immature’ fits the bill. (A), although tempting, would be incorrect because a symbolic work would not necessarily influence writers for decades.

Question:
His novels are ______________ ; he uses a long circumlocution when a direct coupling of a simple subject and verb would be best.
(A) prolix
(B) pedestrian
(C) succinct
(D) vapid
(E) risqué

Answer: A

Explanation: The sentence has no linking words such as ‘because’ or ‘although’. Hence, the phrase following the semicolon is in apposition to the missing word - it defines or further clarifies the missing word. Writing filled with circumlocutions is aptly described as prolix.

Question:

Many species of intertidal fish have developed ___________ abilities that enable them to ___________ a particular location, generally a tide pool, that provides suitable refuge.
(A) foraging..do without
(B) compensatory..aspire to
(C) natural..vanish from
(D) singular..escape from
(E) homing..return to

Answer: E

Explanation: Given that the tide pool provides suitable refuge, it is likely that the intertidal fish would seek to return to it. In such a case, they would be helped by the development of a homing instinct.

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