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 | <div style="column-count:3; column-rule:1px solid black; background-color:lightgray;"> | ||
'''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 | ||
< | |||
'''control''' (n.) | <p style="background-color:white">'''control''' (n.) | ||
* an element in an experiment that does not change<br> | |||
** as opposed to the "variable," which does change<br> | |||
** note that in the SAT these words will be used to evaluate experiments or studies<br> | |||
*** some of which have faults because of faulty "controls" or unclear or multiple "variables"<br><br> | |||
</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" | ||
</span> | |||
'''context, contextual'''(n, adj) | '''context, contextual'''(n, adj) | ||
* in relation to a situation or place | * in relation to a situation or place | ||
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* words and situations have "context" | * words and situations have "context" | ||
''' critical''' (adj.) | <p style="background-color:white">'''' critical''' (adj.) | ||
*important, of an emergency situation | *important, of an emergency situation | ||
*analytical, investigated thoughtfully | *analytical, investigated thoughtfully | ||
</p> | |||
''' hierarchy, hierarchical''' (n., adv.) | ''' hierarchy, hierarchical''' (n., adv.) | ||
* an organization or system of ranking | * an organization or system of ranking | ||
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* classification | * classification | ||
''' hypothetical, hypothetically''' (n., adv.) | <p style="background-color:white">'''' hypothetical, hypothetically''' (n., adv.) | ||
* = an estimate, theory | * = an estimate, theory | ||
* or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be | * or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be | ||
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* SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions | * SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions | ||
**i.e., "''Given the hypothetical condition, then...''" = "''if this were true, then...''" | **i.e., "''Given the hypothetical condition, then...''" = "''if this were true, then...''" | ||
</p> | |||
''' merely''' (adj.) | ''' merely''' (adj.) | ||
* = "only" | * = "only" | ||
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* note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few" | * note that "merely" is different from "a little," "a few" or "few" | ||
''' nevertheless''' (adv.) | <p style="background-color:white">'''' 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 | ||
</p>' | |||
''' novel''' (adj.) | ''' novel''' (adj.) | ||
* new, unusual | * new, unusual | ||
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*** novels are called "novel" because the genre was "novel" (new) when it was introduced in the 19th century) | *** novels are called "novel" because the genre was "novel" (new) when it was introduced in the 19th century) | ||
''' relevant ''' | <p style="background-color:white">'''' relevant ''' | ||
''' skeptical, skeptic''' | ''' skeptical, skeptic''' | ||
adj., noun | adj., noun | ||
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***= scholars doubt 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 | ***i.e., use "backwards thought" or "inversion" to make sense of the question | ||
</p> | |||
''' standard''' | ''' standard''' (n.) | ||
n. | |||
* a baseline measurement | * a baseline measurement | ||
* what is common or commonly accepted | * what is common or commonly accepted | ||
''' structure ''' | <p style="background-color:white">'''' structure ''' (n.) | ||
n. | |||
* the arrangement of an organization or object | * the arrangement of an organization or object | ||
** esp. in terms of the inter-relationship of its parts and underlying elements | ** esp. in terms of the inter-relationship of its parts and underlying elements | ||
</p> | |||
'''tone''' (n.) | '''tone''' (n.) | ||
as in "author tone" | as in "author tone" | ||
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** satirical, comedic, ironic | ** satirical, comedic, ironic | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Other terms to know == | == Other terms to know == | ||
Revision as of 18:26, 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"
- literally "with" (con-) "what is woven together" (text)
- 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
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)
- note that as a noun, "a novel" is a popular genre (form) of fiction
' 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
- ex., if the question asks, "Scholars are skeptical of the idea that people would behave that way"
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