SAT Vocabulary
Context Clues
What is the SAT?
Trigonometry
Main Idea/Tone/ Author's Purpose
100
Tobias thinks comics are better than movies, but he's never seen a movie before. Out of the three words listed below, what best describes Tobias?
A) esoteric
B) pragmatic
C) biased
What is C) biased
Biased is the right answer. Tobias's opinion is not neutral, and prejudiced. Biased individuals tend to have opinions based on one viewpoint, which is similar to Tobias' situation, who has never watched a movie, yet claims he prefers comics over movies.
100
Charlie is revising her essay for a school assignment, ensuring that the _____ nature of her writing is not lost despite the topic itself being informal.
Which the following works the best in terms of the context of the passage?
A) scholarly
B) carefree
C) depressing
What is A) scholarly
Scholarly would be the most fitting answer for this passage as it relates to the kind of essay Charlie is writing, which is for a school assignment. The text provides further context by mentioning what Charlie wants to avoid, which is an informal essay.The only option that is the opposite or furthest away from an informal essay is option A.
100
What does the SAT stand for?
What is Scholastic Aptitude Test.
Fun Fact: Only up until recently, College Board has taken away the acronym and "SAT" is simply the trademarked name of the test.
100
Which of the following functions involves dividing the opposite value of the adjacent value on a right triangle in relation to an angle/side?
A) sine
B) cosine
C) tangent
What is C) tangent
100
What is a main idea?
What is the main message given by the author?
What is the main selling point of the story?
What is the most important message/thought of a story?
200
Michael is working on his essay. He asks his friend, Bella, to revise it. "I think you should revise your introduction. You don't have a thesis.", Bella suggests. Even after ample consideration, Michael rejects the advice and turns his essay.
Which of the following below could be best used to describe Michael?
A) loyal
B) steadfast
C) incoherent
What is B) Steadfast
To be steadfast means to be unchanging and firm. In the example provided, despite the suggestions from his friend Bella, Michael refuses to change his essay and stays constant or true to himself.
200
Jackson doesn't really care, but Jane keeps asking. "Red or blue?", she asks again. Jackson looks away. Colors are colors. If anything, he's ___________.
Which of the following best fits the sentence fragment above?
A) stoic
B) unserious
C) indifferent
What is C) indifferent
The correct answer is C because indifferent means to hold no opinion or preference. The passage provides us with context clues by mentioning that Jackson "doesn't really care". This clue should lead readers to option C.
200
How many modules are on the SAT?
What are four modules.
200
Which of the following functions involves dividing the value of the hypotenuse and adjacent value on a right triangle in relation to an angle/side?
A) sine
B) cosine
C) tangent
What is B) cosine
200
Identify the author's purpose in the following passage.
Computers will always be a distraction for students during school hours. As long as a screen is in front of their faces, they will always find a way to eventually get off-task. In order to keep student retention and participation consistent, an alternative to computer usage should be found.
A) To convince schools to continue to use computers
B) To convince schools to donate all of their computers to homeless shelters.
C) To convince schools to stop issuing computers to their students as a learning tool.
What is C) To convince schools to stop issuing computers to their students as a learning tool?
The given passage describes how computers will be a distraction to students. This supports a negative view towards computers, so the option talking about the continued use of computers would not make sense. The other option, B, talks about donating computers, which has little relation to the passage as a whole.
300
Tristan is trying to become a famous author. Unfortunately, her books are seen as _________, so she never sells more than fifty copies a year.
Which of the following words best fits in the context of the passage?
A) prosaic
B) engaging
C) inspiring
What is A) prosaic
To describe something as prosaic means that the object is dull, or uninspired. For example, a prosaic book title would be considered boring, or a commonplace, so many would simply look over it.
300
Everyone avoided her. She had committed one of the most shameful acts one could imagine. After what she did last year, just being around her was downright terrifying.
Which of the following would be a better alternative for the word highlighted in italics?
A) reprehensible
B) avoidable
C) none of the above
What is A) reprehensible
The correct answer is A, as describing someone or something by this word would mean they/it was shameful, bad, or deserving of rebuke/censure. The passage given offers context clues by mentioning how she "committed one of the most shameful acts one could imagine.".
300
How many sections are in the SAT, and what are they?
What is the Reading/Writing Section and Math Section? (2 Total)
300
Which of the following functions involves dividing the value of the hypotenuse and opposite value on a right triangle in relation to an angle/side?
A) sine
B) cosine
C) tangent
What is A) sine
300
Identify the tone of the following passage.
The vast majority of all plants on Earth obtain energy and sustain themselves through a process known as photosynthesis. In said process, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water is absorbed by the plant and converted into a form of sugar known as glucose.
A) Rigid, agitated
B) Formal, informative
C) Excited, loud
What is B) Formal, informative
The overall diction (word choice) of the provided passage is very formal, and provides substantial information regarding photosynthesis. Readers are informed of a scientific process, making the passage informative.
400
Stoic is to passionate as verbose is to ________.
Which of the following makes the most sense in the context of the sentence provided above?
A) inconsiderate
B) esoteric
C) taciturn
What is C) taciturn
To be taciturn means to be quiet and say little. Verbose means to be wordy and redundant. These two words have an opposite relationship, where one word is the exact opposite of the other. The relationship between the words "stoic" and "passionate" are opposite as well.
400
Jasmine is so ________. I had made a joke earlier, and she took is so seriously! Now I have to go and clear things up. I can't believe she really believed that.
Which of the following best fits the blank in the sentence fragment above.
A) gullible
B) invested
C) funny
What is A) gullible
To describe someone as gullible means that they are overly trusting, or willing to believe anything. The passage gives us context clues for guessing the correct adjective for Jasmine by mentioning how she takes the joke "so seriously".
400
How many questions are on the SAT?
What are 98 questions.
400
What should all of the interior angles add up to in a right triangle?
What is 180 degrees?
Explanation: It is a fact that two right triangles make up a complete square. All of the interior angles of a square (4 right angles/4 90 degree angles) add to 360 degrees. Since a square creates two right triangles, the interior angles of those two triangles should add up to 180 degrees exactly. (360/2 =180).
400
True or False: Diction and tone are the same thing.
What is False?
Explanation: While the tone is affected by the diction, tone is the attitude of the author towards a subject matter while diction is the specific word choice.
500
I see a red bird fly by my window everyday. Sometimes it'll come in the morning. Other instances in the afternoon. The other night, it woke me up half past midnight by swooping from tree to tree.
Which of the following words below best describes the behavior of the bird?
A) sporadic
B) irregular
C) consistent
What is A) sporadic
When a process is sporadic, it means it occurs in scatter, infrequent instances. There is no perceived pattern or repetition. The same could be said for the red bird's behavior, as the narrator mentions how they see the bird during different parts of the day.
500
The plan was poor. Actually, it was _________. It had no clear direction, so everyone involved was confused. The plan was relying on pure chance rather than strategy, and overall, there was no clear order to anything.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate word to fill in the blank above?
A) indescribable
B) haphazard
C) dangerous
What is B) haphazard
B would be the correct choice because the plan describes the passage lacks any proper order or direction. Haphazard fits this description entirely.
500
How much time does a student get to complete each math module?
What is 35 minutes?
500
True or false: The basic SOH - CAH - TOA can be used for non-right triangles.
What is False.
While the sine and cosine can be used on non-right triangles, the functions are used in different equations.
500
Identify the main idea of the provided passage below.
Art is a fun pass time many enjoy. Some prefer using markers, while others make use of colored pencils. Some people like to use paint, whether it is acrylic, watercolor, or oil-based. Many just stick to sketching or the charcoal pencil.
The following answers below or given answers similar to what is listed below are accepted as correct:
1) There are many different kinds of mediums artists use.
2) Many different kinds of art materials are used.
3) There are many different tools artists can use day-to-day.
As long as the the individual mentions anything around the lines of "a diverse array of available materials", then their response can be considered correct.