SENTENCE COMPLETIONSENTENCE COMPLETION

Part 4 NotesSAT PreparationMrs. Erdman

Part 4 NotesSAT PreparationMrs. Erdman

1. Sentence completion questions test 2 areas of English language

1. Sentence completion questions test 2 areas of English language

Broad range of vocab, measured by understanding meaning of sentences

Ability to understand logic of sentence, measured by ability to insert correct words

Broad range of vocab, measured by understanding meaning of sentences

Ability to understand logic of sentence, measured by ability to insert correct words

2. What makes up a sentence completion

question?

2. What makes up a sentence completion

question? Sentence with one or more blanks indicating missing words

Sentence with one or more blanks indicating missing words

3. Five-step plan for sentence completion test

questions

3. Five-step plan for sentence completion test

questions

#1 Read sentence through to get general sense of its

meaningAsk yourself:

A. What does the sentence mean?

B. What words will best fill in the blanks?

C. What part of speech is necessary to complete the

sentence?

#1 Read sentence through to get general sense of its

meaningAsk yourself:

A. What does the sentence mean?

B. What words will best fill in the blanks?

C. What part of speech is necessary to complete the

sentence?

#2 Anticipate the answer (should words support or

contrast)What words signal support?

so, for, because, therefore, as a result

What words signal contrast?Although, not, but, however

#2 Anticipate the answer (should words support or

contrast)What words signal support?

so, for, because, therefore, as a result

What words signal contrast?Although, not, but, however

#3 Read ALL 5 choices. Must try ALL for BEST choice.#4 If you have to guess, first eliminate answers which don’t make sense. Last resort = pick

difficult vocab word#5 Check answer by reading

entire sentence with word(s) you’ve selected.

#3 Read ALL 5 choices. Must try ALL for BEST choice.#4 If you have to guess, first eliminate answers which don’t make sense. Last resort = pick

difficult vocab word#5 Check answer by reading

entire sentence with word(s) you’ve selected.

4. Ten general strategies for tackling sentence completion

questions

4. Ten general strategies for tackling sentence completion

questions

#1 Pace yourself - remember questions go from easy to

difficult. Allow more time for later questions.

#2 Know your vocabulary - Look for important words in

sentences. Look for roots, suffixes, and prefixes.

#1 Pace yourself - remember questions go from easy to

difficult. Allow more time for later questions.

#2 Know your vocabulary - Look for important words in

sentences. Look for roots, suffixes, and prefixes.

#3 Read each answer choice carefully - one letter can

make a difference (ex: desert, dessert)

#4 Always understand the sentence before trying choices

out, otherwise, most words might seem to fit.

#3 Read each answer choice carefully - one letter can

make a difference (ex: desert, dessert)

#4 Always understand the sentence before trying choices

out, otherwise, most words might seem to fit.

#5 Watch out for little words which have big effect on

meaning of sentences (not, but, and)

#6 Look for words that have same meaning - if 2 choices have same meaning, eliminate

them.

#5 Watch out for little words which have big effect on

meaning of sentences (not, but, and)

#6 Look for words that have same meaning - if 2 choices have same meaning, eliminate

them.

#7 Check part of speech and verb tense - effective

sentences are parallel (ex: all verb -ing, not -ed)

#8 2 blank question - test the first word in each pair; saves

time.

#7 Check part of speech and verb tense - effective

sentences are parallel (ex: all verb -ing, not -ed)

#8 2 blank question - test the first word in each pair; saves

time.

#9 Don’t be thrown by nonsensical choices - don’t

spend time determining WHY it doesn’t make sense; eliminate

it.

#10 Look for the BEST choice - not the perfect choice; there may in fact be a better choice

if you wrote the sentence.

#9 Don’t be thrown by nonsensical choices - don’t

spend time determining WHY it doesn’t make sense; eliminate

it.

#10 Look for the BEST choice - not the perfect choice; there may in fact be a better choice

if you wrote the sentence.

Words which signify CONTRAST

Words which signify CONTRAST

Although Though Yet On the other hand However Conversely

Although Though Yet On the other hand However Conversely

Words which signify SUPPORT

Words which signify SUPPORT

Therefore As a result So Thus

Therefore As a result So Thus

Summary Clues are words that

Summary Clues are words that

Condense an idea already mentioned in the sentence.

Condense an idea already mentioned in the sentence.

Transition words that signify that ideas are

being summarized

Transition words that signify that ideas are

being summarized As a result In short Hence Finally All in all In conclusion

As a result In short Hence Finally All in all In conclusion

CAUSE vs EFFECTCAUSE vs EFFECT

CAUSE is the WHY something happens

EFFECT is the RESULT

CAUSE is the WHY something happens

EFFECT is the RESULT

Words used in Cause/Effect writing

Words used in Cause/Effect writing

Accordingly In order to Due to When…then So…that

Accordingly In order to Due to When…then So…that

The EndThe End