SAT Words in Context: 20 Words and Original Practice Questions
For SAT words in context, identify the sentence's logic first, predict a plain-language meaning, and only then compare the choices.
Context questions reward a repeatable habit: read for the relationship between ideas, predict what belongs in the blank, and then test each option for meaning and degree.
Twenty words worth being able to retrieve
to confirm or give supporting evidence for a claim, statement, or theory
Two independent witnesses corroborated her account of the accident.
to correct something that is wrong
The committee revised the totals to rectify the counting error.
to spread information widely
The lab used a public archive to disseminate its findings.
to find a way around an obstacle or rule
The new route circumvents the flooded section of road.
focused on practical results rather than theory
Her pragmatic proposal solved the immediate problem first.
calm and undisturbed, free from noise or agitation
The lake was tranquil at dawn, its surface unbroken by wind.
able to recover or adapt after difficulty
The resilient seedlings survived an unusually dry month.
likely to cause public disagreement
The council postponed its most controversial proposal.
too slight to be noticed
The color shift was almost imperceptible at first.
clearly true and impossible to reject
The second trial produced undeniable evidence of improvement.
to give a task or responsibility to someone else to carry out
A good manager knows how to delegate instead of doing everything alone.
to explain or decide the meaning of something
Two readers can interpret the same ending in opposite ways.
to formally give up or reject
The leader refused to renounce the claim without new evidence.
lawful, valid, or reasonable
Cost is a legitimate concern when comparing the two plans.
strongly convincing or captivating
The researchers offered a compelling explanation for the pattern.
impossible to pass through or understand
Without a legend, the dense chart seemed impenetrable.
impossible to read or interpret
Water damage left the final line indecipherable.
fair and not favoring either side
An impartial panel reviewed both proposals.
required by a rule or authority
Safety training is mandatory for every new volunteer.
to prevent progress or make a task very difficult
Missing records could stymie the investigation.
Five quick context checks
Question 1
The second survey did not prove the claim, but it did _____ the first survey's finding.
- renounce
- corroborate
- circumvent
- disparage
Answer and explanation
B. corroborate. The second survey supplies supporting evidence.
Question 2
The committee adopted a _____ solution that could be implemented before winter.
- pragmatic
- impenetrable
- tranquil
- incongruous
Answer and explanation
A. pragmatic. The clue is the focus on an immediately workable solution.
Question 3
A narrow access road allowed trucks to _____ the damaged bridge.
- rectify
- interpret
- circumvent
- renounce
Answer and explanation
C. circumvent. The road lets the trucks go around an obstacle.
Question 4
Because the handwriting had faded, the final paragraph was nearly _____.
- mandatory
- indecipherable
- impartial
- undeniable
Answer and explanation
B. indecipherable. Faded writing can become impossible to read.
Question 5
The mediator remained _____ and gave each side equal time.
- compelling
- controversial
- impartial
- shrewd
Answer and explanation
C. impartial. Equal treatment signals an absence of favoritism.
These questions imitate the reasoning skill, not College Board wording. For more official practice, filter the Student Question Bank to Reading and Writing, Craft and Structure, then Words in Context.
