All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify the best definition of “draft” in: “A cold draft slipped under the door.”
Answer: A current of air. Cold air under the door describes a breeze, aligning with the airflow meaning.
Flashcard 2: What part of a sentence most strongly narrows a word’s meaning when selecting a definition?
Answer: The immediate context: nearby words, phrases, and the sentence’s purpose. Immediate elements like surrounding words and sentence intent provide precise clues to refine the word's meaning.
Flashcard 3: Which context clue type uses examples introduced by phrases like “such as” or “for instance”?
Answer: Example clue. Examples clarify unfamiliar words by illustrating their application through specific instances.
Flashcard 4: Which context clue type gives a restatement with commas, dashes, parentheses, or “that is”?
Answer: Definition or appositive clue. Restatements directly explain the word, often set off by punctuation for clarity.
Flashcard 5: Which context clue type signals an opposite meaning using words like “but,” “however,” or “yet”?
Answer: Contrast clue. Opposing ideas highlight the word's meaning by contrasting it with known concepts.
Flashcard 6: Which context clue type shows meaning through results, indicated by “therefore,” “thus,” or “as a result”?
Answer: Cause-and-effect clue. Results or consequences reveal the word's implications through logical outcomes.
Flashcard 7: Identify the best definition of “draft” in: “She revised the first draft of her essay.”
Answer: A preliminary version of a text. Revising an essay refers to an initial written version, not air or conscription.
Flashcard 8: Identify the best definition of “yield” in: “After hours of questioning, the witness finally yielded.”
Answer: To give in or submit. Questioning leading to submission fits the sense of conceding or relenting.
Flashcard 9: Identify the best definition of “yield” in: “The new fertilizer increased the farm’s yield.”
Answer: The amount produced; output. Fertilizer improving farm output specifies production quantity, not traffic or surrender.
Flashcard 10: Identify the best definition of “fast” in: “He held fast to his principles despite criticism.”
Answer: Firmly; securely. Holding to principles despite criticism implies steadfastness, not speed.
Flashcard 11: What should you do when two answer choices seem plausible for a word’s meaning in context?
Answer: Eliminate any choice that does not fit the tone, logic, or details of the passage. Consistency with the passage's overall elements ensures the most accurate interpretation.
Flashcard 12: What is the best strategy when you recognize a word but the passage uses it unusually?
Answer: Ignore the familiar meaning and re-derive the meaning from context clues. Context clues override prior knowledge to reveal the passage-specific usage.
Flashcard 13: What is the primary rule for choosing a word definition in a passage-based vocabulary question?
Answer: Choose the meaning that matches the passage context, not the most common meaning. Context ensures the definition aligns with the passage's specific usage, prioritizing fit over familiarity.
Flashcard 14: What is a connotation, and why does it matter for selecting the best definition?
Answer: A word’s emotional association; it must match the passage’s tone and attitude. Connotation conveys subtle attitudes, ensuring the definition matches the passage's emotional nuance.
Flashcard 15: What is denotation, and how is it used in choosing a definition in context?
Answer: A word’s literal meaning; choose the literal sense that fits the passage logic. Denotation provides the core meaning, selected based on logical fit within the context.
Flashcard 16: Which option is usually correct when a word is used figuratively rather than literally in a passage?
Answer: The definition that captures the figurative sense suggested by the context. Figurative usage relies on contextual metaphors or symbols to convey non-literal intent.
Flashcard 17: What does it mean if the passage provides a synonym nearby for a difficult word?
Answer: The synonym is a direct clue to the intended definition. Nearby synonyms explicitly guide toward the precise definition intended in the passage.
Flashcard 18: Identify the best definition of “sanction” in: “The committee sanctioned the new policy after debate.”
Answer: To approve or authorize. The context of committee approval indicates endorsement rather than punishment.
Flashcard 19: Identify the best definition of “sanction” in: “The nation faced sanctions for violating the treaty.”
Answer: A penalty imposed to punish or pressure. The treaty violation implies punitive measures, fitting the penalty definition.
Flashcard 20: Identify the best definition of “table” in: “The senators voted to table the bill until next month.”
Answer: To postpone consideration. Legislative context uses 'table' to mean delaying discussion, not a physical object.
Flashcard 21: Identify the best definition of “table” in: “She spread the maps across the table to plan the route.”
Answer: A piece of furniture with a flat top. The planning scenario describes a physical surface, aligning with the furniture meaning.
Flashcard 22: Identify the best definition of “novel” in: “The scientist proposed a novel method to detect the virus.”
Answer: New or original. The scientific proposal emphasizes innovation, suiting the adjective form.
Flashcard 23: Identify the best definition of “novel” in: “He packed a novel to read on the train.”
Answer: A long fictional narrative book. Packing for reading specifies the book genre, not an adjective.
Flashcard 24: Identify the best definition of “temper” in: “Years of practice tempered her impatience.”
Answer: To moderate or soften. Practice reducing impatience fits the verb sense of moderating behavior.
Flashcard 25: Identify the best definition of “temper” in: “His temper flared when the decision was announced.”
Answer: A tendency toward anger; a mood. Flaring during announcement indicates an emotional outburst, matching the noun mood.