English Vocabulary · SAT Preparation Live Review Preview
SAT Vocabulary Words
The current digital SAT Reading and Writing section uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Its Craft and Structure questions ask students to determine the meaning of high-utility words in context and to choose the most logical and precise word or phrase. Vocabulary also supports evidence, inference, rhetorical synthesis, transitions, and clear Standard English expression across the section.
This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum is arranged in twenty-three pages of up to thirty-five words. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions drawn only from that enhanced range; words 501–800 remain fully visible and editable while the expanded practice layer is developed. Each row includes a passage-field label and an editable word-study note about a transparent affix, compound structure, capitalization, or dictionary base form. The list is an unofficial KSSR learning resource and is not endorsed by or affiliated with College Board. SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.
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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 491 | nascent | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nascent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 新生的 | The nascent movement had enthusiasm but little organization. |
| 492 | nefarious | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 恶 | Investigators uncovered a nefarious scheme to sell forged medicine. |
| 493 | negligible | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Suffix focus: -ible means capable of, suitable for, or able to be affected. | 可忽视 | The second treatment produced a negligible improvement. |
| 494 | neophyte | noun StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: neophyte is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 新手 | As a neophyte, he asked questions that veterans had stopped considering. |
| 495 | noisome | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: noisome is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 恶臭的 2. 讨厌的 | A noisome odor rose from the polluted canal. |
| 496 | nominal | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nominal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 命名的 | She remained the nominal leader while advisers made every decision. |
| 497 | nostalgia | noun StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nostalgia is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 懷舊 2. 懷古 3. 怀旧 | The advertisement uses nostalgia to sell a modern product. |
| 498 | novel | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: novel is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 新穎 2. 小說 3. 小说 | The researchers proposed a novel method of filtering seawater. |
| 499 | noxious | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 有害的 | The factory released noxious fumes into the valley. |
| 500 | obdurate | adjective StudyField: SAT transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: obdurate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 顽固的 | The obdurate ruler rejected every appeal for mercy. |
| 501 | obfuscate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obfuscate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 混淆 2. 弄亂 3. 搞亂 | Dense terminology can obfuscate a weak argument. |
| 502 | oblique | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oblique is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 斜 2. 偏斜 | Her oblique reference to the scandal puzzled new readers. |
| 503 | obsequious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 服从 | The manager's obsequious praise made the visiting official uncomfortable. |
| 504 | obstinate | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obstinate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 頑固 2. 顽固的 | The obstinate negotiator ignored every compromise. |
| 505 | obviate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obviate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 消除 | Remote sensors may obviate the need for daily site visits. |
| 506 | occlude | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: occlude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 遮挡 | A blood clot can occlude a narrow artery. |
| 507 | odious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: odious is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 可憎的 | The law's odious discrimination provoked widespread resistance. |
| 508 | officious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 多管闲事的 | An officious clerk demanded forms that the policy did not require. |
| 509 | onerous | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 力 | Small charities struggled with the onerous reporting rules. |
| 510 | opulent | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: opulent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 闊綽 | The ruler's opulent palace contrasted with nearby hunger. |
| 511 | orthodox | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: orthodox is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 正統 | The discovery challenged the orthodox explanation of migration. |
| 512 | oscillate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oscillate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 振盪 | Public opinion may oscillate as new evidence appears. |
| 513 | ostentatious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 財大氣粗 | The donor avoided an ostentatious ceremony. |
| 514 | ostracize | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply. | 1. 放逐 2. 流放 | Classmates began to ostracize anyone who questioned the rumor. |
| 515 | pacify | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pacify is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 平 | The agreement failed to pacify communities that lacked representation. |
| 516 | palliative | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: palliative is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 緩和 2. 姑息 | The subsidy was a temporary palliative, not an economic solution. |
| 517 | panacea | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: panacea is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 靈丹妙藥 2. 万灵药 | Technology is not a panacea for unequal access to education. |
| 518 | paradigmatic | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: paradigmatic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 范式的 | The case became paradigmatic of failures in corporate oversight. |
| 519 | parochial | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: parochial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 狹隘 2. 窄 | A parochial approach ignored the river's importance across borders. |
| 520 | parody | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: parody is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 戏仿 | The sketch is a parody of solemn campaign advertisements. |
| 521 | parsimonious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 慳吝的（人) | The parsimonious board delayed necessary repairs. |
| 522 | patent | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: patent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 专利 | The claim's patent absurdity drew immediate criticism. |
| 523 | paucity | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | 1. 少量 2. 缺乏 | A paucity of evidence makes the conclusion uncertain. |
| 524 | pedantic | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pedantic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 卖弄学问的人 | The pedantic review corrected commas but ignored the argument. |
| 525 | penchant | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penchant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 愛好 2. 傾向 3. 趋势 | The director has a penchant for adapting obscure novels. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
Page 15 vocabulary review
Review five selected words from page 15.
English reading
Reading passage is being prepared.
Simplified Chinese translation
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Vocabulary quiz
Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.
Vocabulary chart page
This page focuses on the word chart. Reading passages appear once in each three-page group, while cloze quizzes remain in the established enhanced range for this level.
About the digital SAT
The digital SAT Reading and Writing section measures comprehension, analysis, synthesis, rhetoric, and command of language. Its Words in Context questions ask students to determine a word’s meaning or choose the most logical and precise word for a particular passage. That means SAT vocabulary study should focus on useful academic words, multiple meanings, tone, and exact usage—not on memorizing rare words in isolation.
Use this list as one part of SAT preparation. Read each example closely, compare near-synonyms, and notice how surrounding sentences control meaning. The lesson readings and questions are designed to practise the same habits of contextual reasoning, while official College Board questions remain the best guide to the test’s exact format.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- College Board: The SAT Reading and Writing Section
- College Board: Student Question Bank — Reading and Writing
- College Board: Digital SAT Suite Assessment Framework
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words