SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary: Difference between revisions
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Some key terms that will show up in test '''questions''' or '''passages''' include: | Some key terms that will show up in test '''questions''' or '''passages''' include: | ||
<div style="column-count:3; column-rule:1px solid black; background-color: | <div style="column-count:3; column-rule:1px solid black; background-color:#ffffe6;"> | ||
'''characterize''' (v.) | '''characterize''' (v.) | ||
* to generalize regarding the distinctive nature or key features of someone/something | * to generalize regarding the distinctive nature or key features of someone/something | ||
* to state in a general sense, categorize according to core features | * to state in a general sense, categorize according to core features | ||
<p style="background-color: | <p style="background-color:#e6ffff">'''control''' (n.)<br> | ||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> an element in an experiment that does not change<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> as opposed to the "variable," which does change<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.6em;"><small>●</small>note that in the SAT these words will be used to evaluate experiments or studies<br> | |||
<small>●</small> some of which have faults because of faulty "controls" or unclear or multiple "variables" | |||
</p> | </span></p> | ||
'''concede''' (v.) | '''concede''' (v.) | ||
*to admit, yield, or accept | *to admit, yield, or accept | ||
**used on SAT as in "to accept for the sake of the argument" | **used on SAT as in "to accept for the sake of the argument" | ||
'''context, contextual'''(n, adj) | <p style="background-color:#e6ffff">'''context, contextual'''(n, adj)<br> | ||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> in relation to a situation or place<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> literally "with" (con-) "what is woven together" (text)<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> "text" comes from the Latin ''texere'' for "to weave, what is woven"<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> words and situations have "context" | |||
</span></p> | |||
'''critical''' (adj.) | |||
*important, of an emergency situation | *important, of an emergency situation | ||
* analytical, investigated thoughtfully | * analytical, investigated thoughtfully | ||
<p style="background-color: | <p style="background-color:#e6ffff">''' hierarchy, hierarchical''' (n., adv.)<br> | ||
*= an estimate, theory | <span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> an organization or system of ranking<br> | ||
*or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be | <span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> levels of importance, authority or significance<br> | ||
*used to test a "hypothesis" or theoretical prediction or observation that has not been tested in reality | <span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> classification | ||
*SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions | </span></p> | ||
< | ''' hypothetical, hypothetically''' (n., adv.) | ||
''' merely''' (adj.) | * = an estimate, theory | ||
* or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be | |||
* used to test a "hypothesis" or theoretical prediction or observation that has not been tested in reality | |||
* SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions | |||
*i.e., "''Given the hypothetical condition, then...''" = "''if this were true, then...''" | |||
<p style="background-color:#e6ffff">''' merely''' (adj.)<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> = "only"<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few" | |||
</span></p> | |||
''' nevertheless''' (adv.) | |||
*= "yes, but..." | *= "yes, but..." | ||
*used to accept a prior argument or statement, then deflect, negate, or contradict it. | * used to accept a prior argument or statement, then deflect, negate, or contradict it. | ||
* for Reading section, transition words mark important statements an author wants to make | * for Reading section, transition words mark important statements an author wants to make or emphasize | ||
< | |||
''' novel''' (adj.) | <p style="background-color:#e6ffff">''' novel''' (adj.)<br> | ||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> new, unusual<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> different from what is common<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.6em;"><small>●</small> note that as a noun, "a novel" is a popular genre (form) of fiction <br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> novels are called "novel" because the genre was "novel" (new) when it was introduced in the 19th century) | |||
</span></p> | |||
'''relevant ''' | |||
* related, in context to, matters for | |||
<p style="background-color:#e6ffff">''' skeptical, skeptic''' (adj., noun)<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> = doubtful, uncertain of, seeing as unproven<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> a "skeptic" is one who doubts or questions the veracity of something<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> on the SAT, the word "skeptical" may be used to indicate a perspective of doubt<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> ex., if the question asks, "Scholars are skeptical of the idea that people would behave that way"<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> = scholars doubt people would behave that way<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.6em;"><small>●</small> i.e., use "backwards thought" or "inversion" to make sense of the question | |||
</span></p> | |||
''' standard''' (n.) | ''' standard''' (n.) | ||
* a baseline measurement | * a baseline measurement | ||
*what is common or commonly accepted | *what is common or commonly accepted | ||
<p style="background-color: | <p style="background-color:#e6ffff">''' structure ''' (n.)<br> | ||
<span style="padding-left:0.5em;"><small>●</small> the arrangement of an organization or object<br> | |||
<span style="padding-left:0.6em;"><small>●</small> esp. in terms of the inter-relationship of its parts and underlying elements | |||
</p> | </span></p> | ||
'''tone''' (n.) | '''tone''' (n.) | ||
as in "author tone" | as in "author tone" | ||
| Line 89: | Line 97: | ||
** satirical, comedic, ironic | ** satirical, comedic, ironic | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Other terms to know== | == Other terms to know== | ||
Revision as of 20:56, 1 March 2024
Terms and definitions useful for answer questions on the SAT Reading and Writing sections.
Vocabulary and terms for Reading Questions[edit | edit source]
Effective test-taking requires full comprehension of the questions themselves.
Some key terms that will show up in test questions or passages include:
characterize (v.)
- to generalize regarding the distinctive nature or key features of someone/something
- to state in a general sense, categorize according to core features
control (n.)
● an element in an experiment that does not change
● as opposed to the "variable," which does change
●note that in the SAT these words will be used to evaluate experiments or studies
● some of which have faults because of faulty "controls" or unclear or multiple "variables"
concede (v.)
- to admit, yield, or accept
- used on SAT as in "to accept for the sake of the argument"
context, contextual(n, adj)
● in relation to a situation or place
● literally "with" (con-) "what is woven together" (text)
● "text" comes from the Latin texere for "to weave, what is woven"
● words and situations have "context"
critical (adj.)
- important, of an emergency situation
- analytical, investigated thoughtfully
hierarchy, hierarchical (n., adv.)
● an organization or system of ranking
● levels of importance, authority or significance
● classification
hypothetical, hypothetically (n., adv.)
- = an estimate, theory
- or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be
- used to test a "hypothesis" or theoretical prediction or observation that has not been tested in reality
- SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions
- i.e., "Given the hypothetical condition, then..." = "if this were true, then..."
merely (adj.)
● = "only"
● the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word
● note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few"
nevertheless (adv.)
- = "yes, but..."
- used to accept a prior argument or statement, then deflect, negate, or contradict it.
- for Reading section, transition words mark important statements an author wants to make or emphasize
novel (adj.)
● new, unusual
● different from what is common
● note that as a noun, "a novel" is a popular genre (form) of fiction
● novels are called "novel" because the genre was "novel" (new) when it was introduced in the 19th century)
relevant
- related, in context to, matters for
skeptical, skeptic (adj., noun)
● = doubtful, uncertain of, seeing as unproven
● a "skeptic" is one who doubts or questions the veracity of something
● on the SAT, the word "skeptical" may be used to indicate a perspective of doubt
● ex., if the question asks, "Scholars are skeptical of the idea that people would behave that way"
● = scholars doubt people would behave that way
● i.e., use "backwards thought" or "inversion" to make sense of the question
standard (n.)
- a baseline measurement
- what is common or commonly accepted
structure (n.)
● the arrangement of an organization or object
● esp. in terms of the inter-relationship of its parts and underlying elements
tone (n.) as in "author tone"
- "author's tone" or "passage's tone'" refers to the "feeling" or "atmosphere" of a passage
- different "tones" may include:
- academic, authoritative, definitive
- character study, psychological
- detailed, descriptive
- informal, conversational
- journalistic, reporting
- light-hearted, amusing, cheerful
- narrative (story-telling)
- satirical, comedic, ironic
Other terms to know[edit | edit source]
Historical terms[edit | edit source]
Transition words (conjunctive adverbs)[edit | edit source]
Homophones & homonyms[edit | edit source]
affect v effect
assure v. ensure
it's, its
prey v. pray
their, there, they're
Digital SAT Vocabulary terms from official practice tests (2023)[edit | edit source]
Words taken from Vocabulary questions (selected not inclusive):
abrupt
adhere
annotate
assume
atypical
buttress
capitalize
commercialize / commercialization
conflicted
conform / conformity
contrive / contrived
deference
depleted
discern / discernable
disconcerting
disengage
disparage / disparagement
disparate
diverge
diverse
dynamic
eclipse
elusive
ensured
exasperate / exasperated
fallible
fluctuate / fluctuation
forge / forged
fragment
grapple
imminent
impartial/ impartiality
implement (verb)
indecipherable
indifference
inexplicable
infallible
infrequent
innocuous
inordinate
interject
intriguing
inventive
latent
lucrative
mandatory
mimic
momentous
nominal
novel
nuance / nuanced
obscure
obstinate
obtuse
operative
ornamental
paucity
peripheral
predatory
prescribe
presume
profuse
profusion of
proponent
quarrel
quilt (verb)
recant
reciprocate
renounce
repudiate
resilient
saturated
secretive
speculate
sturdy/ sturdily
subtle
substantial
substantiate / substantiated
succumb
surmise
susceptible
synchronize / synchronization
tedious
tenuous
underscore
unobtrusive
unprecedented
unsympathetic
validate / validated
verisimilitude