SAT Vocabulary Ep. 4: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.4 Words in Context - Set 4

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Innate Neutral	adjective	Existing in someone from birth; inborn rather than learned	"Some researchers argue that a basic sense of fairness may be innate, appearing in children before they receive any formal instruction."
Feasible Positive	adjective	Possible to do easily or practically	"The committee concluded that a shorter school week was feasible only if the district adjusted its transportation schedule."
Prudent Positive	adjective	Acting with care and thought for the future; sensible and cautious	"Financial advisors generally consider it prudent to set aside several months of expenses before making a major purchase."
Reticent Negative	adjective	Reluctant to speak about one's thoughts or feelings; reserved	"Despite repeated questions from reporters, the spokesperson remained reticent about the details of the merger."
Volatile Negative	adjective	Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse	"Analysts warned that the region's volatile currency made long-term investment planning unusually difficult."
Cogent Positive	adjective	Clear, logical, and convincing	"The lawyer's cogent closing argument tied every piece of evidence back to a single, coherent narrative."
Ambivalent Negative	adjective	Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something	"The survey revealed that residents felt ambivalent about the new development, valuing the jobs it promised but fearing the added traffic."
Plausible Neutral	adjective	Seeming reasonable or probable; believable	"The detective considered several plausible explanations before settling on the one supported by the strongest evidence."
Anomaly Neutral	noun	Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected	"The unusually high reading turned out to be an anomaly caused by a temporary sensor malfunction, not a real change in temperature."
Paradox Neutral	noun	A statement or situation that seems contradictory but may nonetheless be true	"The essay explores the paradox that stricter rules sometimes produce less discipline, not more."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Feasible

Describes whether something can practically be done.

Plausible

Describes whether something seems believable or likely to be true.

Tip: Feasible is about whether something can be done. Plausible is about whether something sounds true or believable.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Prudent

Careful, stable decision-making focused on the future.

Volatile

Unstable and likely to change suddenly, often for the worse.

Tip: Prudent describes cautious, well-considered choices. Volatile describes conditions that shift unpredictably, with little warning.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Anomaly

A single unusual data point or event that breaks an expected pattern.

Paradox

A statement or situation that seems to contradict itself, yet may still be true.

Tip: An anomaly is an unexpected exception within data or events. A paradox is a logical contradiction within an idea or statement.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.4

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.4 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

Some psychologists believe a preference for symmetrical faces may be __________, appearing even in very young infants.

Question 2 of 13

After reviewing the budget, the planners decided the expansion was __________ only if construction began before winter.

Question 3 of 13

Given the uncertain market, the board considered it __________ to delay the acquisition until next quarter.

Question 4 of 13

The witness remained __________ on the stand, answering only the questions asked and offering nothing further.

Question 5 of 13

Traders described the stock as __________, since its price swung sharply within a single trading session.

Question 6 of 13

The professor praised the student's __________ argument, noting that each point built logically on the last.

Question 7 of 13

Many employees felt __________ about the merger, drawn to the new benefits but wary of losing their current team.

Question 8 of 13

Of the three theories presented, only one remained __________ once the new data was taken into account.

Question 9 of 13

Scientists initially dismissed the reading as a mere __________, but repeated tests showed the pattern was real.

Question 10 of 13

The article examines the __________ that reducing study time sometimes leads to better test scores.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: An engineer confirms that a bridge design can actually be built within budget and on schedule. This is best described as confirming the design is __________, not simply that it sounds reasonable.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: An investor spreads money across several stable, well-researched accounts rather than chasing a single unpredictable stock. This approach is best described as __________, not volatile.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A single day of snow in a desert town that has not seen snow in decades is best described as an __________, rather than a paradox.

out of 13 correct

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