1 · What the question looks like
The second half of the Verbal Reasoning section is sentence completions. Each sentence has one or two blanks, and the sentence itself contains a clue that points to the answer.
Example: "Known for her ______, the judge never let her own opinions affect a ruling." The clue "never let her own opinions affect" points to fairness or impartiality.
2 · Predict before you look
Cover the choices and fill the blank with your own word. A plain word is fine: "fair", "slow", "not believed".
Then pick the choice closest to your word. Predicting first stops a fancy-sounding choice from pulling you in.
3 · Restatement
Often the sentence says the same thing twice. "The professor's lectures were notoriously ______; students needed three hours of notes for a single class." The second half explains the blank: lengthy or exhaustive.
Colons, semicolons, dashes, and phrases like "in other words" or "that is" usually introduce a restatement.
4 · Contrast
although, though, but, yet, however, despite, instead, rather than, unlike, while signal a turn. "Despite his ______ manner on stage, the comedian was quiet and serious at home." The blank is the opposite of quiet and serious: exuberant.
5 · Cause and effect
because, since, so, therefore, as a result, consequently link a reason to a result. "Because the evidence was ______, the jury could not reach a verdict." A jury that cannot decide had evidence that was inconclusive.
6 · Degree words
Words like not only … but also, even, and in fact call for a stronger version of an idea. "The plan was not only unwise but downright ______." You need something stronger than unwise: reckless.
7 · Positive or negative
Decide whether the blank needs a good or a bad word, then cross out the choices with the wrong charge. "Critics ______ the novel as the dullest book of the year." Negative: panned or dismissed, not "hailed".
8 · Two blanks
Decide how the blanks relate. Do they agree ("the ______ student was ______ about every detail") or contrast ("the town was once ______ but is now ______")?
Then work on the blank with the stronger clue and cross out every pair whose word fails there. Check both words in the sentence before you choose.
9 · Traps
A choice may belong to the topic but not fit the clue: in a sentence about an election, "political" can tempt you when the clue is about honesty.
A choice may also be the right idea at the wrong strength. If the clue says "slightly", a word like "furious" is too strong.
10 · Read it back
Read the whole sentence with your answer in place. It should sound natural and say exactly what the clue supports, nothing more.
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