SAT STUDY GROUP
This is your first list of SAT VOCABUALRY words. You need to learn all 25 words by
Friday.
An idea…learn 7 words on Monday, 6 on Tuesday, 6 on Wednesday, and 6 on Thursday.
Each week you will receive a new list. Keep all lists together in a binder.
We will have contests and/or quizzes at the end of each week. Some weeks may be
individual competitions and other weeks may be independent.
I need everyone’s e-mail addresses. I will be sending study tips and SAT articles to you
via e-mail.
The SAT test is May 2. We have plenty of time to learn lots of words.
I am using the following book as my guide to choosing the words. You will see
references to them throughout the list of words.
1
Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT: Volume 1
by Larry Krieger
2
Direct Hits Toughest Vocabulary of the SAT: Volume 2
by Larry Krieger
3
Vocabulary Cartoons: SAT Word Power
by Samuel A. Burchers Jr. (Author), Samuel A. Burchers III (Author), Bryan Burchers (Author)
4
Vocabulary Cartoons II: SAT Word Power
by Sam Burchers (Author), Bryan E. Burchers (Author)
5
500 Key Words for the SAT, and How to Remember Them Forever!
by Charles Gulotta (Author)
1. AMBIVALENT: contradictory, having mixed feelings, indecision, feeling of
being pulled in two different directions
In the movie “Gladiator,” Emperor Commodus is AMBIVALENT about giving the order to
kill Maximus at the Coliseum. He wants to eliminate a hated rival. At the same time, he also
wants to please the pro-Maximus crowd that is cheering for their triumphant gladiator. (1 - p.2)
In the movie “The Notebook,” Allie has to choose between Noah and Lon. She is emotionally
torn by her AMBIVALENT feelings as she tells Noah, “There is no easy way, no matter what I
do, somebody gets hurt.” She later reiterates her AMBIVALENT feelings when she tells Lon,
“When I’m with Noah I feel like one person and when I’m with you I feel like someone totally
different.” (1)
Jim’s ABMIVALENCE toward his boss made him regret the day he accepted the job. (4 – p.29)
Farmer French was AMBIVALENT about whether to plant tomatoes or peppers. (4 – p. 29)
(5 – p.11)
2. ANOMALY: deviation from the norm, something that is atypical
In the Harry Potter series, Vernon Dursley prides himself on being perfectly normal. In the
opening scenes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, however, Dursley notices several
strange ANOMALIES or what he calls “funny stuff.” He spots a cat that appears to be reading a
map. He also notices people who are dressed in colorful robes. Flocks of owls can be seen flying
during the daytime. (1 – p.2)
3. SARCASTIC and SARDONIC: mocking, derisive comments that taunt and
sting; humorous, but humor tinged with sarcasm or disdain; cynical
Winston Churchill was famous for his SARCASTIC and SARDONIC comments.
Nancy Astor: Sir, if you were my husband I would give you poison.
Churchill: If I were your husband, I would take it.
Bessie Braddock: Sir, you are a drunk.
Churchill: Madame, you are ugly. In the morning, I shall be sober, and you will still be ugly.
(1 – p.3)
Picture this: A sardine named Nick who’s working as a stand-up comedian. Much of his
act consists of sardonic, sarcastic humor. (5 – p.93)
4. DEARTH and PAUCITY: a scarcity or shortage of something; lack of
In her book Silent Spring (1962), Rachael Cason warned that the indiscriminate use of synthetic
pesticides such as DDT was a threat to wildlife and especially birds. Carson’s GRAPHIC (very
vivid) description of the growing DEARTH of robins and PAUCITY of other songbirds sparked a
public outcry that led to the banning of most uses of DDT. (1 – p.3)
There is DEARTH of Earth in the middle of the ocean.
A DEARTH of rain last summer led to many failed crops, especially corn and cotton in the
valley.
There always seems to be DEARTH of homework turned in the day after “Twilight” shows.
There always seems to be a DEARTH of food in the house after the boys visit. (3 – p. 115)
5. PRATTLE: to speak in a foolish manner, to babble incessantly, to talk
meaninglessly
In the movie “Office Space,” Milton continuously PRATTLES to himself about how he is abused
by management and how his co-workers repeatedly borrow his stapler. (1 – p.4)
Celina likes to PRATTLE about anything and everything. She PRATTLED for three hours
without anyone listening to her.
After Ted awoke from his coma, he began to PRATTLE about the accident.
Chelsea PRATTLES so endlessly I barely can understand what she is talking about. (4 – p. 258)
The rattle-snake prattled so much that he was sentenced to live the rest of his life in GTMO.
6. WRY: dry, humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony
Seth Cohen (“The O.C.”) and Chandler (“Friends”) are both known for their WRY sense of
humor.
Seth: What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico.
Ryan: What happens in Mexico?
Seth: I don’t know, because it stays there. That’s why we have to go.
Ross:
I’m going on a trip to China.
Joey:
Wow, you’ll get to eat lots of Chinese food.
Chandler: Or as they call it – food. (1 – p. 4)
7. UNCONVENTIONAL and UNORTHODOX: not ordinary or typical;
characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors.
In “High School Musical,” Zeke, Martha, and the Skaterdude all have
UNCONVENTIONAL passions. Zeke is a basketball star who loves to bake. Martha is
a brainiac who loves hip hop. Skaterdude is a slacker who plays cello. (1 – P. 5)
ORTHODOX: conventional, doing it by the book, sticking to established principles
An ORTHODOX religion is one that holds fast to historical views that have not changed.
The doctor’s treatment for Gordon’s broken hand was ORTHODOX. He X-rayed the
finger, set it in a splint, and told him to come back in a week. BJ’s doctor was
UNORTHODOX. He had BJ hold his hand in a tank of piranhas until they chewed off
the broken hand. (3 – p. 259)
8. PAINSTAKING and METICULOUS: extremely careful; very exacting;
extremely careful about details
Michelangelo’s Pieta is one of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces. In 1972 a
mentally disturbed man walked into Saint Peter’s Cathedral and smashed it with a
hammer. Experts METICULOUSLY gathered each broken fragment and
PAINSTAKINGLY restored the work. Today, the Pieta is protected by a bulletproof
acrylic glass panel. (1 – p.5)
9. AUDACIOUS: fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
In the movie “21” Ben Campbell is a math whiz who joins a secret team of math whizzes.
They AUCACIOUSLY plan to use a card counting system and hand signals to win a
fortune in Las Vegas. (1 – p. 60)
10. INDIFFERENT and APATHETIC: marked by a lack of interest or concern
In the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the economics teacher Ben Stein explains the
House of Representatives, but his students are INDIFFERENT and won’t ask or answer
questions. Some are so APATHETIC that they actually fall asleep in class. (1 – p. 6)
Angel is INDIFFERENT towards Pepper.
APATHY: lack of interest or concern
Sounds like: apple tree
Picture this: George Washington’s father is questioning him about the apple tree that has
been chopped down. Young George, arms folded, replies “I cannot tell a lie. I really
don’t care who chopped down the apple tree.”
Many citizens are apathetic about elections and just don’t vote. (5 – p. 13)
11. DIFFIDENT: lacking self-confidence; self-effacing; NOT assertive; timid
What do Sarah (“Save the Last Dance”) and Peter Parker (“Spider-Man”) have in
common? Originally, they were both DIFFIDENT, but overcame their DIFFIDENCE.
Sarah becomes a great dancer and Peter Parker becomes Spicer-Man. (1 – p. 6)
The DIFFIDENT boy always sat alone in the galley.
The DIFFIDENT kitty, Fluffy, was stuck in a tree for hours after Pepper scared her. (4 –
p.110)
12. PRAGMATIC: practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic
Justin is PRAGMATIC and does not believe in love at first sight. Romeo is idealistic and
does believe in love at first sight. (1 – p.7)
13. EVOCATION: an imaginative re-creation
Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie “Ray” is a vivid EVOCATION of
the life and times of the legendary blues singer. The movie “The Titanic” is a remarkable
EVOCATION of what it was like to be a passenger on the sinking ship. (1 – p. 7)
EVOKE: to summon forth, call to mind, awaken, produce, suggest
Sometimes a song, a picture, even a Coke, can EVOKE the most poignant of youthful
memories. (3 – p. 166)
The squeaky sounds EVOKED memories of the bananas rats running around the Bay
View patio on Mongolian Night.
Jackie tried to EVOKE a smile from Terrance by tickling his chin.
14. PRESUMPTUOUS: overbearing; impertinently bold; characterized by brashly
overstepping ones place
In the movie “300,” Queen Gorgo boldly told the Persian envoy, “Do not be coy or
stupid, Persian. You can afford neither in Sparta.” Shocked by the Spartan Queen’s
PRESUMPTUOUS statement, the envoy questions, “What makes this woman think she
can speak among men?” (1 – p. 8)
15. RECALCITRANT: marked by stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority
or guidance; obstinate
Singer, Amy Winehouse needs to go to rehab. Her family and friends begged to go.
Instead, she is defiantly RECALCITRANT and in her song “Rehab” sings “no, no, no.”
(1 – p. 8)
16. BOON: a timely benefit; blessing
BANE: a source of harm and ruin
Fifty Cent was shot 9 times and lived! Was the shooting a BANE or a BOON for his
career? At first it was a BANE because it was excruciating, and he had to spend weeks in
a hospital. Then it turned out to be a BOON because it gave him “street cred” and lots of
publicity. (1 – p. 9)
The week long rain was a BOON to Guantanamo Bay and the place turned green.
The banana rats were a BANE to the gardeners of GTMO because they ate all the pretty
plants.
The banana truck wreck was a BOON for the baboons. (4 – p.61)
17. CLANDESTINE and SURREPTITIOUS: secret; covert; not open;
Men in Black and Dumbledore’s Army are CLANDESTINE groups and conduct
SURREPTITIOUS activities. Men in Black SURREPTITIOUSLY regulate alien life
forms on Earth. Dumbledore’s Army teaches Hogwart’s students how to defend
themselves against the Dart Arts. (1 – p. 9)
SURREPTITIOUS: done or acting in a secret, sly manner
Some people SURREPTITIIOUSLY crept out of the bowling alley, picked up a pink
Geo, and turned it around.
Some kids went on a CLANDESTINE mission to Ferry Landing to celebrate New Year’s
Eve and SURREPTITIOUSLY took the ferry on a joyride through the water gate to the
Republic of Cuba. ((3 – p. 308)
BIENVENIDOS MIS AMIGOS
18. AFFABLE, AMIABLE, GENIAL, GREGARIOUS: agreeable; marked by a
pleasing personality; warm and friendly
As Student Government president, Major feels it is his job to be AMIABLE to incoming
students.
AMENABLE: agreeable, responsible to authority, pleasant, willing to give in to the
wishes of another
The matador tried to be AMENABLE to the mean bull.
Major, the AMENABLE young man, help the new girl carry her suitcases to the U-Boat. (3 –
p.38)
GREGARIOUS: seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable
Pepper was so GREGARIOUS that he was always trying to make friends with other dogs like
Angel and Burton, but they wouldn’t hang out with him. Halo, on the other hand was not
GREGARIOUS and would not bark to any of the other dogs on the bay. (4 – p. 167)
Gordon’s GREGARIOUS nature made him a joy to be around.
Sounds like: Greg, Gary, and us.
Picture this: Sam and Courtney are on their ferry on their way to catch a plane. Sam is so
GREGARIOUS that she invited a couple of guys to go on their trip. Courtney asks, “Who’s
going with us?” Sam says, “Greg, Gary, and us. (5 – p. 48)
GREGARIOUS people make the best teachers!!
AFFABLE: friendly; easygoing
Looks like: a fable
Think of: Aesop’s Fables. Aesop was very AFFABLE. He used to hang around his Greek
village waving at people passing by. One day he was waving at people, and he saw a turtle name
“Peanut Butter” run by. That’s where he got the idea for “The Tortoise and the Hare”. (5 – p. 9)
GENIAL: friendly; gracious; kind
Sounds like: Genie Al
Picture this: Genie Al has just come out of his lantern. He is extremely friendly. He is so
friendly and kind that he offers Lais a ride to Brazil in his lantern. (5 – p. 47)
19. CONFOUNDED: puzzled; confused; bewildered; very perplexed
The movie “Cloverfield” opens with a group of friends having fun at a surprise party.
Suddenly the building starts to shake and the lights flicker. They run to the rooftop.
They are stunned to see buildings exploding and the Statue of Liberty crashing to the
street. The group of friends is frightened and CONFOUNDED. (1 – p. 10)
Bella is CONFOUNDED when Edward saves her from being smashed to death by an
oncoming car.
Sounds like: gun found
Picture this: An MA is investigating a murder. The victim was found in a windowless room with
the door locked. The gun is found in a locked drawer, along with both the keys to the drawer and
the door. “I’m CONFOUNDED,” admits the MA. “How did this happen?” (5 – p. 26)
20. PRODIGIOUS: huge; massive; enormous; marvelous; amazing
Following a hurricane in GTMO, the waves at Windmill Beach crest at over 2 feet while
the most PRODIGIOUS ones crest at 7 feet.
The largest animal to ever live on our planet, the blue whale can weigh as mush as 200
tons and grow up to 80 feet in length. The blue whale’s PRODIGIOUS tongue is as large
as an elephant and its PRODIGIOUS heart is the size of a car. (1 – p. 10)
The Cooper Field project was PRODIGIOUS.
The trainer was able to escape a PRODIGIOUS boa by jumping in the bay. (4 – p. 263)
Sounds like: pro dishes
Picture this: a really big dish. After attacking his trainer at Sea World, Shampoo was so
hungry that he needed a PRODICIOUS dish for his spaghetti. So he ate his spaghetti out
of the T.V. satellite dish. (5 – p. 85)
21. AMBIGUOUS: unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not
definite
The final scene of “The Sopranos” was deliberately AMBIGUOUS. Tony, Carmela,
and AJ are sitting at a table eating onion rings. “Don’t Stop Believing” is playing on the
jukebox. A man, possible, an assassin gets up from the table and goes into the restroom.
Meadow enters the diner. A black screen suddenly appears abruptly ending the scene and
the series. What will happen next? Will Tony greet his daughter, Meadow, or be shot?
We don’t know, because the ending is AMBIGUOUS.
22. REPROACH: to express disapproval; scold; rebuke; to express disapproval of
In the movie “Billy Madison,” Ms. Vaughn REPROACHES Billy for making fun of a 3rd
grade student who is having trouble reading.
At the last Student Government meeting, Mrs. Kemp REPROACHED Major and Cinco
for having a paper fight while she was on the phone. (1 – p.11)
Katie’s favorite teacher wrote a letter of recommendation for her because her work had
always been above REPROACH.
The mother REPROACHED her son for being at Cable Beach with unsavory characters
after midnight. (4 – p. 279)
23. NOSTALGIA: a sentimental longing for the past
The power of NOSTALGIA can be seen in the number of bands that have be reunited for
reunion tours. Reunited bands include Stone Temple Pilots (split in 2003) and New Kids
on the Block (split in 1994). (1 – p.12)
The power of NOSTALGIA makes people long to return to GTMO after they graduate.
NOSTALGIC: wishing for a return to the way things used to be; longing for the
past; homesick
Sounds like: nose tell cheek
Picture this: The face has a new pair of fashionable glasses. The nose tells cheek, “I
miss the old glasses.”
Seeing pictures of his old school made Walter feel NOSTALGIC. (5 – p. 73)
24. CONJECTURE: an inference based upon guesswork;
On “Friends” Dr. Ross Geller makes CONJECTURES about how the dinosaurs
communicated with each other.
Gossip columnists make CONJECTURES about who Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus may
be dating. (1 – p. 12)
In GTMO, it is very common for people to make CONJECTURES before knowing the
facts and the truth. This leads to many versions of the same incident.
25. OBSOLETE: no longer in use; outmoded in design or style
What do the typewriter, the mimeograph machine, and the walkman all have in common?
All three are OBSOLETE. They have been replaced by faster, more effective machines.
The computer’s word processor has replaced the typewriter. The mimeograph machine
has been replaced by high-powered photocopiers. The iPod has replaced the walkman.
Since the mimeograph machine was replaced, students no longer have delightful papers
to smell. (1 – p. 13)
The typewriter Mrs. Kemp used to type her papers in college is now OBSOLETE. It is so
OBLSOLETE that it is in a museum.
Some “GTMO specials” would be considered OBSOLETE to teen-agers in the states.
Air Sunshine would be considered OBSOLETE to non-residents of GTMO.