Useful PSAT Vocabulary

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

The findings of Worthing's experiment substantiated previous research about the loggerhead turtle's migration habits based on the earth's magnetic field, leading to much more accurate predictions that could help to preserve the endangered species.

• rendered

• corroborated

• preceded

• precluded

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

The protestors' cryptic language and sporadic displays nevertheless pressured state officials to reconsider banning the sale of alcohol on Sundays through the sheer number of people who participated in their protests.

• laudatory

• ambiguous

• didactic

• elaborate

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

When conservation efforts ignore the balance between natural events such as forest fires and the reseeding and fertilization which results, humans endanger the ecosystem just as surely as if they employed clear-cutting on the entire forest.

• correlation

• scope

• condescension

• rendering

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized words in the sentence below most nearly mean...

A dutiful and moral leader must spell out not only what issues he or she will support when he or she is in office, but how large goals will be pursued, as it is not only the outcome that matters but the path taken to achieve that outcome.

• enumerate

• corroborate

• elaborate

• preclude

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

Postliminary polling did not correlate with the voting results reported at the state level and that is why politicians and voters demanded a recount.

• Subsequent

• Respective

• Ambiguous

• Ambivalent

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

When she was not awarded the full ride to the University of Minnesota, her lack of funds obviated her first choice, so she selected a community college for her first two years before planning reapplication.

• precluded

• preceded

• corroborated

• enumerated

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

Upon Dean Smith's retirement, commendatory speeches recalled her 22 years of contribution to the school and her stalwart leadership despite two separate strikes during her tenure.

• laudatory

• condescending

• correlating

• ambivalent

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

Decades following the government's choice to ignore the treaty and take back tribal lands for gold mining, Obama's presidency hoped to make apologies and restitution in the form of financial support for tribal initiatives.

• render

• enumerate

• corroborate

• precede

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

Due to the breadth of the UN's decree, industries around the world had to completely reevaluate their production and transportation of goods to meet the expectations for reducing emissions and slowing climate change.

• scope

• elaboration

• ambivalence

• correlation

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The italicized word in the sentence below most nearly means...

A kindly old fellow who lived in a world as small and as mighty as the space between his own ears, Mr. Tiltaworth never intended condescension, but his pedagogic style of speech generally offended those less literary or quickly put listeners to sleep.

• didactic

• ambiguous

• ambivalent

• laudatory

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4