Words in Context Digital SAT

The following text is adapted from Agatha Christie's 1923 novel The Big Four. The narrator is speaking with Hercule Poirot, a notoriously stubborn detective.

"Don't go," I urged. "Cancel your passage and come out on the same boat with me."

Poirot drew himself up and glanced at me reproachfully.

"Ah, it is that you do not understand! I have passed my word, you comprehend—the word of Hercule Poirot. Nothing but a matter of life or death could detain me now."

"And that's not likely to occur," I murmured ruefully.

As used in the text, what does the word "reproachfully" most nearly mean?

• Disapprovingly

• Indifferently

• Dully

• Compassionately

The following text is adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1837 story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.” The main character, a physician, is experimenting with rehydrating a dried flower. At first [the rose] lay lightly on the surface of the fluid, appearing to imbibe none of its moisture. Soon, however, a singular change began to be visible. The crushed and dried petals stirred and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber. As used in the text, what does the phrase “a singular” most nearly mean?

• A lonely

• A disagreeable

• An acceptable

• An extraordinary

In the mid-nineteenth century, some abolitionist newspapers ______ westward migration in the United States; by printing a letter that described the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California during the Gold Rush, Frederick Douglass’s newspaper North Star was one such publication that inspired readers to relocate. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

• stimulated

• opposed

• disregarded

• assigned

The following text is adapted from Mohsin Hamid’s 2017 novel Exit West. Saeed lives with his mother and father.

On cloudless nights after a daytime rain, Saeed’s father would sometimes bring out the telescope, and the family would sip green tea on their balcony, enjoying a breeze, and take turns to look up at objects whose light, often, had been emitted before any of these three viewers had been born—light from other centuries, only now reaching Earth.

©2017 by Mohsin Hamid

As used in the text, what does the word “reaching” most nearly mean?

• Consulting with

• Arriving at

• Clinging to

• Running to

In 2008 a complete set of ancient pessoi (glass game pieces) was uncovered from beneath a paving stone in modern-day Israel. Due to their small size, pessoi were easily misplaced, making a whole set a rare find. This has led some experts to suggest that the set may have been buried intentionally; however, without clear evidence, archaeologists are left to ______ what happened. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

• dismiss

• catalog

• speculate about

• expand on

The following text is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. [Jay Gatsby] was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American—that comes, I suppose, with the absence of lifting work in youth and, even more, with the formless grace of our nervous, sporadic games. This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness. As used in the text, what does the word "quality" most nearly mean?

• characteristic

• standard

• prestige

• accomplishment

The following text is adapted from Zora Neale Hurston's 1921 short story "John Redding Goes to Sea." John wants to travel far beyond the village where he lives near his mother, Matty.[John] had on several occasions attempted to reconcile his mother to the notion, but found it a difficult task. Matty always took refuge in self-pity and tears. Her son's desires were incomprehensible to her, that was all. As used in the text, what does the phrase "reconcile his mother to" most nearly mean?

• get his mother to accept

• get his mother to apologize for

• get his mother to match

• get his mother to reunite with

The following text is adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1837 story "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment." The main character, a physician, is experimenting with rehydrating a dried flower. At first [the rose] lay lightly on the surface of the fluid, appearing to imbibe none of its moisture. Soon, however, a singular change began to be visible. The crushed and dried petals stirred and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber. As used in the text, what does the phrase "a singular" most nearly mean?

• a lonely

• a disagreeable

• an acceptable

• an extraordinary

Visual artist Gabriela Alemán states that the bold colors of comics, pop art, and Latinx culture have always fascinated her. This passion for the rich history and colors of her Latinx community translates into the ______ artworks she produces.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

• unknown

• reserved

• definite

• vivid

• 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