1. CRACKING THE CODE Mastering PSAT Sentence Completions “It’s ELEMENTARY!”

2. --1 st 1/3 Easy --2 nd 1/3 Medium --3 rd 1/3 Killer PSAT = Power Test

3. All points on a are created EQUAL!

5. General TIP #1: General TIP #1:

6. Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something that has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning as a whole. EXAMPLE:ABCDE Medieval kingdoms did not become constitutional republics overnight, on the contrary, the change was ___. (A) UNPOPULAR(B) UNEXPECTED (C) ADVANTAGEOUS(D) SUFFICIENT (E) GRADUAL

7. Gen. Tip #2: Gen. Tip #2:

8. TIP #1 Look for & mark KEY WORDS KEY PHRASES

9. 1.The woman told the man, “You’re very _______.” A. RICH B. CORRECT C. PREPOSTEROUS D. CLOISTERED E. SICK

10. The QUESTION is PREPOSTEROUS!

11. REMEMBER: The correct choice is ALWAYS inarguably RIGHT! The correct choice is ALWAYS inarguably RIGHT! The incorrect choices are ALWAYS inarguably WRONG! The incorrect choices are ALWAYS inarguably WRONG!

12. 1.The doctor told the man, “You’re very _______.” A. RICH B. CORRECT C. PREPOSTEROUS D. CLOISTERED E. SICK

13. Let the “DOCTOR” prescribe your answer!

14. TIP #2: Use Punctuation Plus

16. feng shui ( ˈ f ʌ ŋ ˈʃ we ɪ ) — n the Chinese art of determining the most propitious design and placement of a grave, building, room, etc, so that the maximum harmony is achieved between the flow of chi of the environment and that of the user, believed to bring good fortune feng shui ( ˈ f ʌ ŋ ˈʃ we ɪ ) — n the Chinese art of determining the most propitious design and placement of a grave, building, room, etc, so that the maximum harmony is achieved between the flow of chi of the environment and that of the user, believed to bring good fortune Chi (chee)- n the vital force of life Chi (chee)- n the vital force of life

18. The general feeling in the high school was _____. (A) C ONFIDENT (B) C ONFUSED (C) S ERIOUS (D) G LOOMY (E) U NCERTAIN, SINCE EVERYONE EXPECTED TO WIN THE BIG GAME!, SINCE EVERYONE EXPECTED TO WIN THE BIG GAME!

19. 1. The play’s organization is ___. (A) D RAMATIC (B) M INIMAL (C) T OPICAL (D) C HRONOLOGICAL (E) C ONFUSING, that is, each scene is presented in the order of its occurrence., that is, each scene is presented in the order of its occurrence.

20. 2. Their mutual teasing seemed ____., SINCE THE TWO NEIGHBORS ENJOYED POKING FUN AT EACH OTHER., SINCE THE TWO NEIGHBORS ENJOYED POKING FUN AT EACH OTHER. (A) A IMLESS (B) B ITTER (C) F RIENDLY (D) I NSINCERE (E) O RIGINAL

21. 2. Their mutual teasing seemed ____., SINCE THE TWO WERE SWORN ENEMIES., SINCE THE TWO WERE SWORN ENEMIES. (A) A IMLESS (B) B ITTER (C) F RIENDLY (D) I NSINCERE (E) O RIGINAL

22. REMEMBER: When there’s no picture, visualize! visualize!

23. REMEMBER to AVOID

24. The bat is a ____ animal, coming out at night when it’s chilly and inhabiting more northern latitudes than the cold- blooded alligator. A. N OCTURNAL B. D IURNAL C. C ARNIVOROUS D. H ERBIVOROUS E. W ARM-BLOODED ______ _______________ _____ ________ x x

25. To ESCHEW Sucker Bait: (A) SUPERFLUOUS (B) MUNDANE (C) JEJUNE (D) TRENCHANT (E) MULTITUDINOUS Q: XXX XXXX XX

26. (A) P UZZLING (B) E LEMENTARY (C) F RUSTRATRING (D) A DVANCED (E) A MORAL 1. Although computers appear to be bewilderingly complex, they operate on principles that are actually quite ________. ______ _____

27. At school SENTENCE COMPLETION = _________________

29. Pick a WORD – any word or phrase – and hold an audition! The nasty ole judge slapped me with a _________________________. SUBPOENA SUBPOENA MISTRIAL MISTRIAL LITIGATION LITIGATION INJUNCTION INJUNCTION

30. (A) P ROFIT…ENDORSE (B) I NTEREST…AUGMENT (C) C OLLATERAL…DISCHARGE (D) P RINCIPAL…EVADE (E) S ANCTUARY…INCREASE Using his own home as ______________, Marlowe obtained a private loan that en- abled him to _________his financial obligations to the other partners and emerge free of debt. ____

31. The onset of the earthquake was gradual, the tremors occurring________________ at first, then with greater frequency. The onset of the earthquake was gradual, the tremors occurring________________ at first, then with greater frequency. (A) C ONTINUOUSLY (B) I NTENSELY (C) S PORADICALLY (D) U NEXPECTEDLY (E) C HRONICALLY _________ ___________________

32. REMEMBER: Never “buy” an answer without a “test drive”!

33. DEFINITION DEFINITION SUPPORT SUPPORT CONTRAST CONTRAST CAUSE & EFFECT CAUSE & EFFECT