Vocab in Context Rdg Lesson 1 23

Vocabulary in Context (VIC)

Context, or words surrounding the unfamiliar word, provides clues to the word's meaning. Remember, many of the SAT's VIC questions will be about words with multiple meanings, so you can never trust what you know the word to mean. There are 4 basic types of context clues we're going to learn about & practice today:

​Examples

​Synonyms

​Antonyms

​General sense of the passage

​

​There are about 10 VIC questions on the SAT, which is 2 per passage, or 15% total

​Let's try a few!

Multiple Choice

Many of us have ambivalent feelings about our politicians, admiring but also distrusting them. Ambivalent means:

• mixed

• critical

• approving

Multiple Choice

The officer tried to ascertain the truth about the accident by questioning each witness separately. Ascertain means:

• create

• avoid

• discover

Multiple Choice

I prefer the occasional disturbance of ear-splitting thunder to the incessant dripping of our kitchen sink. Incessant means:

• harmless

• exciting

• nonstop

• annoying

Examples as Context Clues

​Examples within the sentence or in the surrounding sentences may help you know the meaning of an unknown word. They are often introduced with signal words & phrases like:

​For example

​For instance

​Including

​Such as

​Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly developed senses that enable them to function in the dark. Nocturnal means:

• feathered

• living

• wise

• active in the dark

Multiple Choice

The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness, nausea, and headaches, have caused it to be withdrawn from the market. Adverse means:

• deadly

• harmful

• expensive

• fatal

Multiple Choice

Instances of common euphemisms include "final resting place" (for the grave), "intoxicated" (for drunk), and "restroom" (for toilet). Euphemism means:

• offensive

• nicknames

• substitutes for offensive terms

​Synonyms as Context Clues

​Context clues are often available as synonyms (words that mean the same or almost the same as the unknown word). Examples:

​

​Fresh garlic may not enhance the breath, but it does improve the sauce.

​

​As soon as I made a flippant remark to my boss, I regretted sounding so disrespectful.

​

​Although the cashier tried to assuage the angry customer, there was no way to soothe that Karen.

​Synonyms & Antonyms

​Antonyms as Context Clues

Antonyms, or words that mean the opposite of another word, can be useful context clues. Signal words to help identify them include:

​But

​Yet

​However

​On the other hand

​In contrast

​Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

Trying to control everything your teens do can impede their growth. To advance their development, allow them to make some decisions on their own. Impede means:

• block

• change

• improve

• assist

Multiple Choice

During their training, police officers respond to simulated emergencies in preparation for dealing with real ones. Simulated means:

• made up

• exciting

• actual

• mild

​General Sense of the Passage as Context

​All of the Vocabulary in Context questions you will encounter on the SAT will be based on a passage. Again, many of the types of context clues may be present, but you can rely on your understanding of the text to help guide you to the best meaning of the word in question.

​

​Yup, you guessed it, let's practice.

Multiple Choice

A former employee, irate over having been fired, broke into the plant and deliberately wrecked several machines. Irate means:

• sad

• furious

• undecided

• excited

Multiple Choice

Despite the proximity of Ron's house to his sister's, he rarely sees her. Proximity means:

• similarity

• nearness

• superiority

• distance

Multiple Choice

The car wash we organized to raise funds was a fiasco-it rained all day. Fiasco means:

• success

• surprise

• disaster

• party

Multiple Select

From the following choices, select the types of context clues discussed in today's lesson:

• Synonyms (words that mean the same)

• Antonyms (words that mean the opposite)

• General sense of the passage (clues in surrounding sentences)

• Examples (for instance, including, for example, such as)

• Interference (guess based on clues found in the text)