View source for SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary

== Key SAT vocabulary and terms to know ==
Effective test-taking requires full comprehension of the questions themselves. 

Some key terms that will show up in test '''questions''' or '''passages''' include:  
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'''ambiguous''' (adj.)
* unclear, no distinction between things, options or alternatives
* from ''ambi-'' for "both", "two or more", "wandering"
** "ambiguity" is a state of indecision, lack of clarity

'''ambivalence''' (n.)
* unconcern with a situation or choice
* state of not caring between options

'''analysis" (n.)
* detailed examination to determine the features or parts of something or some idea
* analysis separates the whole into the components (parts)
** analysis wants to know "how" something works, etc., whereas, "evaluation" seeks its overall worth or value

==== assert / assertion ====

* assert (v): to make a claim
* assertion (n): a claim

'''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"

'''correlate''' (v.)
* to connect, to relate
** '''correlated''' means "related to but not directly"
* also, '''corollary" (n.) is a parallel or connected proposition or situation

'''critical''' (adj.) 
*important, of an emergency situation
* analytical, investigated thoughtfully
* also, negative, inclined to judgement

'''evaluate'''
* to measure, assess, determine value or significance of
* "evaluate" deals with holistic (overall) understanding, whereas "analysis" deals with detailed, dissected understanding 

''' 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)

'''nuance''' (n.)
* small or subtle difference(s); fine distinction
** implies careful, close understanding, as opposed to broad generalizations or unspecific distinctions
* "nuanced" (past participle adjective) means a carefully considered, thoughtful distinction

'''relevant '''</p>
* related, in context to
* "associated with", "connected to", "important for"
* "matters" (as in, "what matters" = "what is relevant")

''' 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
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