SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary: Difference between revisions

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


Some terms that will show up in test questions include:   
Some key terms that will show up in test '''questions''' or '''passages''' include:   
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<p><span style="background-color:lightgray;">
'''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
</span></p>
'''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"


=== '''critical''' ===
'''context, contextual'''(n, adj)
*important, emergency situation
* 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
*analytical, investigated thoughtfully


=== '''hypothetical/ hypothetically''' ===
''' hierarchy, hierarchical''' (n., adv.)
*= an estimate, theory
* an organization or system of ranking
*or, an idea or situation that is not real but could be
* levels of importance, authority or significance
*used to test a "hypothesis" or theoretical prediction or observation that has not been tested in reality
* classification
*SAT Reading section uses it frequently for inference questions
 
''' 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...''"
**i.e., "''Given the hypothetical condition, then...''" = "''if this were true, then...''"


=== '''merely''' ===
''' merely''' (adj.)
*= "only"
* = "only"
*the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word
* the SAT frequently measures student comprehension of this word
*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''' ===
''' 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


=== '''skeptical''' ===
''' 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 '''
''' skeptical, skeptic'''
adj., noun
*= doubtful, uncertain of, seeing as unproven
*= doubtful, uncertain of, seeing as unproven
*a "skeptic" is one who doubts or questions the veracity of something
*a "skeptic" is one who doubts or questions the veracity of something
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***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


=== '''tone''' ===
''' 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
* "author's tone" or "passage's tone'" refers to the "feeling" or "atmosphere" of a passage
* different "tones" may include:
* different "tones" may include:
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** narrative (story-telling)
** narrative (story-telling)
** satirical, comedic, ironic
** satirical, comedic, ironic
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== Other terms to know ==
== Other terms to know ==


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* see:[[Transition words translations]]
* see:[[Transition words translations]]


== Digital SAT Vocabulary from official practice tests (2023) ==
== Homophones & homonyms ==
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) ==
Words taken from Vocabulary questions (selected not inclusive):
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abrupt
abrupt
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elusive
elusive
ensured


exasperate / exasperated
exasperate / exasperated
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== Homophones & homonyms ==
affect v effect


assure v. ensure


it's, its
== Digital SAT Vocabulary terms used in passages ==
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prey v. pray


their, there, they're
[[Category:SAT prep]]
[[Category:SAT prep]]
[[Category:SAT verbal]]
[[Category:SAT verbal]]
[[Category:SAT Reading]]
[[Category:SAT Reading]]
[[Category:SAT Writing]]
[[Category:SAT Writing]]