SAT Vocabulary Ep. 36: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

SAT high-frequency vocabulary Set 36: assumption, circumspect, contingent, contradictory, erroneous, and 5 more words with definitions, look-alike word pairs, and a 13-question practice quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.36 Words in Context - Set 36

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Assumption Neutral	noun	Something accepted as true without proof, used as a basis for reasoning	"The argument's central weakness lies in an unstated assumption about how consumers actually behave."
Circumspect Positive	adjective	Careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences before acting	"Given how the last announcement had been received, the spokesperson stayed noticeably circumspect during the press conference."
Contingent Neutral	adjective	Dependent on certain conditions or circumstances for its occurrence	"The scholarship remains contingent on the student maintaining a minimum grade point average each semester."
Contradictory Negative	adjective	Directly opposed or inconsistent with another statement or fact	"The witness gave contradictory accounts of the evening, first placing herself at home and later at the restaurant."
Erroneous Negative	adjective	Incorrect or mistaken, especially due to faulty reasoning or information	"The correction notice explained that the article's original figures had been erroneous due to a data entry mistake."
Hypothesis Neutral	noun	A proposed explanation made as a starting point for further investigation	"The team designed the experiment specifically to test their hypothesis about how temperature affects the reaction rate."
Skew Negative	verb	To distort or bias something, especially data or perception, in a particular direction	"Critics argued that the survey's wording was likely to skew responses toward one particular answer."
Superficial Negative	adjective	Existing or occurring at the surface level; lacking depth or thoroughness	"The report's superficial treatment of the budget crisis left several major questions completely unaddressed."
Validate Positive	verb	To confirm or prove that something is true, accurate, or well-founded	"The follow-up study was designed specifically to validate the surprising results of the original experiment."
Verifiable Positive	adjective	Able to be checked or confirmed as true	"The editor insisted that every claim in the article be backed by verifiable sources before publication."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Validate

To confirm or prove that something is true or well-founded.

Verifiable

Able to be checked or confirmed as true.

Tip: Validate is the act of confirming something. Verifiable describes whether something even has the potential to be confirmed in the first place.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Assumption

Something accepted as true without proof, often without being stated outright.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation put forward specifically to be tested.

Tip: An assumption is often invisible, quietly underlying an argument. A hypothesis is stated openly and built to be tested.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Superficial

Staying at the surface level, without real depth or thoroughness.

Circumspect

Carefully considering every angle before acting or speaking.

Tip: Superficial treatment skips over the details. Circumspect behavior slows down to examine every one of them.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.36

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.36 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

The argument's central weakness lies in an unstated __________ about how consumers behave.

Question 2 of 13

Given how the last announcement had been received, the spokesperson stayed noticeably __________.

Question 3 of 13

The scholarship remains __________ on the student maintaining a minimum GPA each semester.

Question 4 of 13

The witness gave __________ accounts of the evening, first placing herself at home and later at the restaurant.

Question 5 of 13

The correction notice explained that the original figures had been __________ due to a data entry mistake.

Question 6 of 13

The team designed the experiment specifically to test their __________ about temperature and reaction rate.

Question 7 of 13

Critics argued that the survey's wording was likely to __________ responses toward one answer.

Question 8 of 13

The report's __________ treatment of the budget crisis left major questions unaddressed.

Question 9 of 13

The follow-up study was designed specifically to __________ the surprising results of the original experiment.

Question 10 of 13

The editor insisted that every claim be backed by __________ sources before publication.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A claim that could theoretically be checked against public records, whether or not anyone has actually done so, is __________, distinct from a claim that has already been validated.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A scientist who writes down a specific, testable prediction before running an experiment has formed a __________, rather than simply making a quiet assumption.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: An editor who reads a manuscript once quickly before approving it is being __________, the opposite of a colleague who checks every citation twice before signing off.

out of 13 correct

Full explanations for every question appear below after you check your answers.

Answer Key & Explanations

1Assumption. An unstated belief underlying an argument's weakness is exactly what assumption means.

2Circumspect. Staying cautious after a poorly received announcement is exactly what circumspect describes.

3Contingent. A scholarship depending on maintaining a GPA is exactly what contingent means.

4Contradictory. Two accounts that don't match each other are exactly what contradictory describes.

5Erroneous. Figures that were wrong due to a data entry mistake are exactly what erroneous means.

6Hypothesis. A proposed explanation designed to be tested experimentally is exactly what hypothesis describes.

7Skew. Wording likely to bias responses toward one answer is exactly what skew means.

8Superficial. Coverage that leaves major questions unaddressed is exactly what superficial describes.

9Validate. A study designed to confirm earlier results is exactly what validate means.

10Verifiable. Sources that can be checked before publication are exactly what verifiable describes.

11Verifiable. A claim that could be checked against records, whether or not it has been yet, is verifiable, distinct from validate, which is the act of actually confirming it.

12Hypothesis. A specific, testable prediction written down in advance is a hypothesis, distinct from an assumption, which is quieter and unstated.

13Superficial. Reading a manuscript once quickly is superficial, the shallow opposite of circumspect, which means carefully considering every detail.

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