Are You Ready for College? SAT Tip of the Day

Sentence Completion
Tips

Instead of plugging in answer
choices for the sentence completion, try to figure out the structure of
the sentence first. Sentence completion can be easily solved if students
understand the pattern of the test.

When it comes to sentence completion, students need to be in aggressive
mode. Usually, first thing that comes to their mind is ‘this is really
difficult test.’ Rather than raising this question, the question can be
replaced as ‘bring it on.’ This might sound little silly, but having an
aggressive attitude can tremendously help student’s test taking skills.
For example, in a football game, it is not only a physical game, but it
is partially a mental game as well. The player needs to be mentally
sharp in spite of the opponent’s over powering skills. Having said this,
SAT test is not that different than a football game. SAT can be easily
defeated if students are in the right motive.



Let’s take a look at a sample problem:



1. Today Wegener's theory is ____ ; however, he died an outsider treated
with ____ by the scientific establishment.



A. unsupported - approval

B. dismissed - contempt

C. accepted - approbation

D. unchallenged - disdain

E. unrivalled – reverence



What is the first thing that you see in this question?

If, as usual, you see the answer choices first, you will most likely
make the first mistake. Please understand that if it does help you to
look at the answer choices first, and it has been working for you, by
all mean, please continue to use your own tactics. Any strategy that
works for you is the best one.

In this sentence completion, let’s try to find the structure of the
sentence. Clearly we can spot the subject of the sentence; the topic is
about Wegener’s theory.



Today Wegener's theory is ____ ;



Please note that finding the answer for the first blank is tough without
additional information. Usually first half of the questions in the
sentence completion (problems 1-5) can be categorized in to types.
Questions after number 5 is required with little more than just finding
types.



We can easily spot the word ‘however’ after the semi column. Semi column
is defined as an ‘apposition.’ As you already know the rules of semi
column, it is there to divide two independent clause sentences. Next we
see the word ‘however.’ The word ‘however’ is a contrast word. The blank
can be positive or negative according the sentence after the semi
column.



Today Wegener's theory is ____ ; however



Next it continues with “he died an outsider treated with ____ by the
scientific.”

If Wegner’s theory dies an outsider treated with “some thing” by the
scientific, we can kind of figure out that his theory has been despised.
Since we agree that second blank is negative, we can surely eliminate
all the positive words in the second part of the answer choices.



A. unsupported - approval

B. dismissed - contempt

C. accepted - approbation

D. unchallenged - disdain

E. unrivalled – reverence



Wow, we already eliminated three answer choices. Please understand, once
answers choices are eliminated, it means never to look at it again. Stop
wasting time looking at the choices that you’ve crossed out. If you look
at it enough, wrong answer choices can trick you. So, we have two
answers left.



B. dismissed - contempt

D. unchallenged - disdain



Remember, we found the word ‘however’ after the semi column. New, we
need to find positive word for the first blank. Which means you can
eliminate negative words for the first answer choices. Let’s get rid of
the word dismissed.



B. dismissed - contempt

D. unchallenged - disdain

The answer choice is 'D.'

In conclusion, although Wegner’s theory has been rejected or despised,
his theory remains recognized.