SAT Words in Context 1

• displaying

• indicating

• documenting

• taping

Answer explanation

if you had not applied the 5 line rule, recording generally means taping- like you record something on a tape of some kind- but reading the text indicates the scientists want to document the data for further research purposes

• controlled

• automated

• isolated

• aloof

Answer explanation

this word can indeed mean 'aloof' as in a person acting remote. A could also be a choice if you didn't read the context, like a remote control- but it really means that is is far away from where the scientists are.

• caused

• levered

• harmed

• pulled

• exacting

• peculiar

• meticulous

• specific

Answer explanation

C might cause issues if you don't know that word- same with maybe B. A could be a distractor since particular could mean exacting- someone might be very particular or exacting about how they like things done- but in this case, it is specific (d)

• lumbers

• strikes

• weighs

• crushes

Answer explanation

the distractor here is C, since many people know pounds as a unit of measurement. But according to the context, the surf is striking the shore in a strong manner, so it is used here as a descriptive verb.

• device

• musical object

• pawn

• utensil

Answer explanation

B is most likely the distractor, as a musical object is usually called an instrument. But in looking at the context, you can see it is really a device for measuring science-y thingies

• relegating

• incubating

• devising

• laying

Answer explanation

D may be a commonly mistaken answer- since chickens lay eggs that hatch. But A and B are different issues- they may be unfamiliar words to you, or B may be chosen because you incubate an egg to hatch it- but really the context indicates it is a plan that someone is coming up with, or devising a plan

• criticisms

• fissures

• errors

• defects

Answer explanation

if you don't know what a fissure is you may not pick this one! All of the other three are possible connotations of 'faults" but in the context it really means a line or small tear in something- like skin or earth

• gleam

• plank

• glisten

• transmit

• fallen

• weak

• unsteady

• wilted

Answer explanation

A or C might be commonly chosen if you think of faint as in passing out- you might fall or be unsteady- but in this context they mean it is not easy to see the waves since they are weaker than seeing something on an x-ray- look at the use of the word BUT.