SAT Prep 2-25-08

1. SAT Prep 2-25-08 Vocabulary/ Reading Comprehension

2. Vocabulary • Ambiguous- Uncertain; subject to multiple interpretations • Being ambiguous about your future is not a good thing. • Ambivalence-attitude of uncertainty; conflicting emotions • There was a heightened sense of ambivalence as the trial was coming to a close and still with no sure sign of what the verdict may be.

3. Amenable- agreeable; cooperative • The amenable contract brought many happy faces to the class room. • Amenity- pleasantness; something increasing comfort • Many people desire to have free amenities when they rent an apartment, but they can’t.

4. Bisect- to cut into two (usually equal) parts • He wanted to bisect the costs so that each individual could pay less. • Blight- to afflict; destroy • He wanted to blight the situation, so he lit the room on fire.

5. Bonanza- extremely large amount; something profitable • There was a bonanza at the mall today. You need to go and buy something now. • Bonhomie- good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer • Think of homies with bonds are usually cheerful.

6. Citadel- Fortress or stronghold • The citadel was missing a wall, so the enemy overtook the stronghold quickly. • Clamor- to make a noisy outcry • There was much clamor in the classroom after the teacher surprised everyone with a quiz.

7. Demographics- data relating to study of human population • The demographics shows that many students are trying harder than ever to get accepted into colleges. • Demote- to reduce to a lower grade or rank • He was demoted after a poor showing at yesterday’s event

8. Denounce- to accuse; blame • The students denounced the teacher after news broke out that the teacher was grading unfairly • Denude- to make bare, uncover, undress • To make the store look ready for the grand opening, the workers were ask to denude the models and to put on the latest fashion.

9. Encipher- to translate a message into code • In order to avoid spies, the US enciphered their message with the Navajo language. • Encumber- to hinder, burden, restrict motion • Many students complain about the teachers encumbering them with homework

10. Enjoin- To urge, order, command; forbid or prohibit, as by judicial order • The judge enjoined that the parties make an out of court agreement or else the defendant will be severely punished. • Ennui- boredom, lack of interest and energy • Students are annoyed when it is ennui.

11. Filibuster- use of obstructive tactics in a legislative assembly to prevent adoption of a measure • The filibuster went for hours until everyone in the Senate voted. • Finicky- fussy; difficult to please • Many parents are finicky about their student’s grades.

12. Gibe- to make a heckling, taunting remarks • The fans were gibing the player to the point he barked back a profane statement. • Girth- distance around something • The earth’s girth is quite large. • Glower- to glare, stare angrily and intensely • After looking at her test score, she glowered at her nemesis.

13. Gluttony- eating and drinking to excess • Many college freshmen struggle with gluttony, thus why many gain the “Freshmen 15.” • Heterodox- unorthodox, not widely accepted • The church rejected the heterodox teaching that was occurring.

14. Review • Reading Comprehension • The whole point of this portion is to test your ability to comprehend, analyze, and even evaluate small passages of reading. • Always ask yourself if a particular choice is irrelevant (correct, but not answering the question) or extreme (takes a conclusion too far or makes a leap of faith)

15. Review • First Step: Believe that the answer is in the text. • Second Step: READ THE QUESTIONS • There are about 7 different types that you will face on the exam. • WARNING: Since there are different types of questions, that means you must learn to identify the type of question as quickly as possible. This will only come by through practice.

16. Review • Basic Comprehension Questions • Comprehension questions test you on your ability to recall and understand what you read in a passage. • When reading any passage, you should be able to answer the following questions. • Who is speaking? • Who is the speaker addressing? • What is the speaker’s main point? • How does the speaker articulate his point?

17. Analytical Question • The second type of question is the analytical question. • Analysis questions actually test your ability to examine an author’s intent, thoughts, and purposes in a passage. Analysis questions also ask you to extend the information presented in a passage to another setting or even infer from the passage

18. Analytical Questions • 1 Looking back now, it seems that US attitude • 2 toward nuclear war was downright silly back • 3 then. Kids hiding under desks, bomb shelters • 4 beneath homes, and “massive retaliation” are • 5 all memories from those turbulent times. Yet • 6 it seems that we were probably right to be • 7 anxious about the Soviets and their will to • 8 use the bomb. Even in the 60’s, Soviet leader • 9 Kruschev launched a bid to move missiles • 10 to Cuba. Nuclear war was, in fact, always • 11 an imminent possibility – and, no matter • 12 how flippant it may seem now, it was better • 13 to be prepared than to be annihilated.

19. Analytical Questions • First, determine what the question is really asking. • Most of the time, you will need to breakdown the question you are facing. • In other words, simplify the point of the question. What is the question aiming for? • Example • With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree? • What’s the author’s attitude toward the war?

20. Analytical Questions • Second, answer that driving question yourself. • Not that you answer it from your own perspective, but answer from the text (stay in the box). • In this case, he recognizes that nuclear war was a real possibility (line 11 – “imminent possibility”) and basically agrees with the approach to nuclear war that the US took “back then,” saying that it is “better to be prepared.”

21. Analytical Questions • Third, use the statement you developed to address the choices. • A) Nuclear war is a larger problem now than it was in the 60’s • B) Kruschev would never actually use a nuclear weapon • C) The US was prepared for all-out nuclear war in the 60’s • D) The US took the threat of nuclear war seriously in the 60’s • E) Cuba would not have launched a nuclear attack

22. Analytical Questions • A) Nuclear war is a larger problem now than it was in the 60’s • B) Kruschev would never actually use a nuclear weapon • C) The US was prepared for all-out nuclear war in the 60’s • D) The US took the threat of nuclear war seriously in the 60’s • E) Cuba would not have launched a nuclear attack

23. Analytical Questions • 1 Betty and I looked into the foyer. It was • 2 a dark, musky kind of room, full of • 3 cobwebs covering ancient photographs. • 4 It wasn’t really our house – sure, we • 5 moved in, but there was a presence to • 6 the house, a sense that we were not • 7 welcome in the “humble abode.” We • 8 were trespassers in this edification, • 9 and no matter how much we touched • 10 the place up, it was still just not ours.

24. Analytical Questions • Which of the following words best describes the narrator’s attitude toward the house? • 1st Step- What is the question asking? • How does the narrator feel about the house? • 2nd Step- Apply the question to the text

25. Analytical Questions • A) Reverent • B) Conceited • C) Malicious • D) Distant • E) Malignant • Apply the 3rd step