SAT Reading & Writing Quiz: Words in Context

Question 1

Passage: Although the scientist's claim was initially met with skepticism, later experiments gave it considerable support. As used in the passage, "considerable" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

substantial

Question 2

Passage: The director's remarks were brief but candid, leaving no doubt about the team's shortcomings. In this context, "candid" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

frank

Question 3

Passage: The committee's decision to postpone the vote reflected a desire for a more thorough review. As used here, "reflected" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

revealed

Question 4

Passage: The new policy was praised as pragmatic because it balanced ideal goals with practical limits. As used in the passage, "pragmatic" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

realistic

Question 5

Passage: While the novelist's early work was verbose, her later writing became markedly concise. In this context, "verbose" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

wordy

Question 6

Passage: The manager's approach was methodical; she completed each task in a logical sequence before moving to the next. As used here, "methodical" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

systematic

Question 7

Passage: The athlete's recovery from the injury was remarkable, defying the expectations of even the most experienced doctors. As used here, "remarkable" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

extraordinary

Question 8

Passage: The proposal was met with widespread skepticism, as many board members doubted its feasibility. As used here, "feasibility" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

practicality

Question 9

Passage: The evidence was compelling, persuading even the most doubtful jurors to change their minds. As used here, "compelling" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

convincing

Question 10

Passage: The biographer portrays the inventor not as a lone genius but as someone whose achievements were cumulative, building on decades of shared research. As used here, "cumulative" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

accumulating over time

Question 11

Passage: The archaeologist remained circumspect when reporters asked about the discovery, noting that preliminary findings can be misleading. In context, "circumspect" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

cautious

Question 12

Passage: Critics argued that the mural was derivative, echoing familiar motifs without adding a distinct perspective. As used in the passage, "derivative" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

uncreative

Question 13

Passage: The columnist's rebuttal was measured rather than polemical, aiming to persuade through evidence. As used here, "polemical" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

aggressively argumentative

Question 14

Passage: By publishing the raw data set, the lab made its process transparent and invited independent verification. In context, "transparent" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

open and clear

Question 15

Passage: The organization's guidelines were deliberately stringent to ensure the highest possible safety standards. As used here, "stringent" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

strict

Question 16

Passage: The scientist's analysis of the problem was cursory, touching on only the most obvious factors without examining underlying causes. As used here, "cursory" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

hasty and superficial

Question 17

Passage: The company's efforts to attract new customers proved futile; despite a major advertising campaign, sales continued to decline. As used here, "futile" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

pointless

Question 18

Passage: The findings of the investigation were inconclusive; neither theory could be definitively confirmed or denied. As used here, "inconclusive" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

not leading to a firm conclusion

Question 19

Passage: Despite the harsh conditions, the community showed remarkable resilience, rebuilding after each storm and maintaining their traditions. As used here, "resilience" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

ability to recover

Question 20

Passage: The author's treatment of the topic was superficial, barely scratching the surface of an issue that demanded deeper analysis. As used here, "superficial" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

shallow

Question 21

Passage: The philosopher's argument had a profound impact on ethical theory, fundamentally changing how scholars approached questions of justice. As used here, "profound" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

deep and far-reaching

Question 22

Passage: The concept of dark matter remains elusive; despite decades of research, scientists have been unable to directly detect it. As used here, "elusive" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

difficult to find or define

Question 23

Passage: The new tax law had several implicit consequences that were not immediately obvious to the public but would significantly affect middle-income families. As used here, "implicit" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

implied but not directly expressed

Question 24

Passage: The election results were pivotal, marking a turning point in the country's political history. As used here, "pivotal" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

of crucial importance

Question 25

Passage: The explanation the witness provided was plausible but not proven; without additional evidence, the jury could not determine whether it was actually true. As used here, "plausible" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

seemingly reasonable

Question 26

Passage: The ideas in the research paper were highly abstract, dealing with theoretical constructs that had little connection to everyday experience. As used here, "abstract" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

existing in thought rather than physical form

Question 27

Passage: The benefits of the new policy were tangible: reduced wait times, lower costs, and increased patient satisfaction. As used here, "tangible" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

clear and definite

Question 28

Passage: The speaker's explanation contained redundant information, repeating the same points in slightly different words throughout the presentation. As used here, "redundant" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

unnecessarily repetitive

Question 29

Passage: The economic situation was volatile, with markets fluctuating dramatically from day to day due to political uncertainty. As used here, "volatile" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

unpredictable and rapidly changing

Question 30

Passage: The tumor appeared benign after the initial tests, showing no signs of aggressive growth or spread to surrounding tissue. As used here, "benign" most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

harmless

SAT Reading & Writing Quiz: Words in Context

SAT Reading & Writing Quiz: Words in Context

How to Use This Quiz Effectively

What You Will Practice: Vocabulary