SAT Vocab: bugbear
SAT vocab: What does “bugbear” mean? Definition: Something that is or seems to be always present as a problem, annoyance, or source of dread (Ex: the bugbear of obesity in the modern U.S.). An...
View ArticleSAT Vocab: albatross
SAT vocab: What does “albatross” mean? Definition: Something that makes it hard to succeed or progress, especially something persistent or difficult to rid oneself of (Ex: alcoholism can be a great...
View ArticleSAT Vocab: flounder
SAT vocab: What does “flounder” mean? Definitions: The noun: A type of food fish that is relatively flat. The verb: To move clumsily, ineffectively, and irregularly (Ex: to flounder around in the dark...
View ArticleSAT Vocab: ferret
SAT vocab: What does “ferret” mean? Definition: The noun: A type of domesticated mammal that looks like a weasel and is often bred to hunt small game. The verb: To find after searching (Ex: to ferret...
View ArticleSAT Vocab: ironic
SAT vocab: What does “ironic” mean? Definition: contrary in a poignant, improbable, and often humorous way to what might have been expected (Ex: it was ironic that the fitness expert died at a young...
View Articleheard vs. heard of
Here’s a common exchange in class at TestMagic: Ray, do you know what ironic means? ironic? No… But I’ve heard of it. I’ll confess that the first few times I heard this usage, I imagined a group of...
View ArticleSAT Vocab: comprehensive
comprehensive Part of Speech: adj Pronunciations: kom-pree-HEN-siv IPA: /kɒm.prɪ.ˈhɛn.sɪv/ Definition: including all or a great amount, especially as related to knowledge or learning (Ex: a...
View ArticleDefinition and examples of the word “moot”
Word: moot Part of Speech: adj noun Pronunciations: IPA: /mut/ Glossary-style: [moot] Definition: adj: having no practical importance; being only a mental exercise (Ex: a moot discussion). open to...
View ArticleIdentifying sentence errors: In a lawsuit…
Try this practice SAT question: In a lawsuit involving a woman whose nightgown and robe awere ignited by an open-flame gas heater, the United States Court of Appeals bheld cthat that accident did not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to improve your vocabulary
Page from the vocabulary journal I used in college. I’ve been a teacher now for just about two decades, and one of the most commonly-asked questions is How can I learn more vocabulary words? I hear...
View Article