SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary

Terms and definitions useful for answer questions on the SAT Reading and Writing sections.

Questions vocabulary and terms

Effective test-taking requires full comprehension of the questions themselves.

Some terms that will show up in test questions include:

• hypothetical/ hypothetically
  • = 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
  • = "only"
  • the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word
  • note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few"
• nevertheless
  • = "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
• skeptical
  • = 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

• tone

Historical terms to know

• see SAT Reading section historical timeline & themes - A+ Club Lesson Planner & Study Guide (school4schools.wiki)