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How Word Knowledge works
Word Knowledge is the fastest section of the test: on paper, 35 words in 11 minutes. You will not have time to think long about any of them, so what matters is knowing the two formats and having a routine for the words you are not sure about.
Two formats, one fast clock
Diligent most nearly means: (A) lazy (B) hardworking (C) clever (D) quiet
The hikers were weary after the long climb. Weary most nearly means: (A) tired (B) excited (C) lost (D) angry
Decide in seconds, never in minutes
If you know the word, answer and move on. If you don’t, use the sentence, eliminate what cannot be right, make your best choice and go. A minute spent on one word is three other words you never see.
How to solve them
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1
The two formats
Either the word stands alone and you pick the closest meaning, or it appears in a sentence that gives you clues. Both ask the same thing: which choice means the same as the word.
Next step: Why fluent speakers missAloneCandid most nearly means…
You need to know the word
In a sentenceThe hikers were weary after the long climb.
The sentence helps: tired
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2
Why fluent speakers still miss these words
The test words are mostly formal words you read more than you say: candid, prudent, meager, scrutinize. Speaking English well does not mean you have met them often. That is good news: they can be learned.
Next step: The routineEveryday wordhonest
you say it often
Test wordcandid
same meaning, but formal
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3
A routine for words you are not sure about
Run the same quick steps every time, and stop as soon as one gives you the answer.
1 · Sentence cluescontextwhat does the sentence need?2 · Plus or minustoneis the word good or bad?3 · Word partsrootsa prefix or root you know?4 · Eliminatecross outopposites and unrelated choicesNext step: EliminateExample“The old map was so fragile that it tore when we unfolded it.”
- Sentence clue: it tore easily.
- Choices: valuable, colorful, large, delicate. Only delicate explains the tearing.
Answer Delicate
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4
Eliminate the opposite and the unrelated
One wrong choice is often the opposite of the word (to catch people who misremember it). Others have nothing to do with it. Crossing them out turns a guess into a much better guess.
Next step: Never blankDiligentlazy
The opposite: out
Diligentquiet
Unrelated: out
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5
Never leave an answer blank
A wrong answer does not cost you extra points, so a blank is always worse than a guess. If time is running out, fill in every remaining answer.
Next step: How to improveShortcutYour best guess
After eliminating, pick the remaining choice that would fit the sentence most naturally, or the one that matches the word’s positive or negative feel.
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6
How to get better before test day
Vocabulary grows with steady, small daily practice: learning words in sentences, testing yourself, and learning common roots that unlock many words at once. The other Word Knowledge topics here cover each of those.
ConnotationIs the word positive or negative?
Removes half the choices
Word partsbene- = good, mal- = bad
Unlocks dozens of words
4 traps in the answer choices
The test writes its wrong answers on purpose: each one is what you get if you make one of these mistakes.
Spending too long on one word
You stare at “prudent” for a minute:
Wrongthree other words lost
Rightroutine, best guess, move on
Choosing the opposite
Diligent most nearly means:
Wronglazy
Righthardworking
Ignoring the sentence
“The hikers were weary after the long climb.”
Wrongweary = excited
Rightweary = tired
Leaving answers blank
Time is running out:
Wrongstop and leave the rest
Rightfill in every answer
5 questions at test level
Pick an answer, then read why. No timer, no account.
Diligent most nearly means:
Show the answer
B. A diligent student works carefully and steadily. Lazy is the opposite. Diligent most nearly means hardworking.
The hikers were weary after the long climb. Weary most nearly means:
Show the answer
A. After a long climb, people are worn out. The sentence points straight to it. Weary most nearly means tired.
Candid most nearly means:
Show the answer
C. A candid answer is open and honest, holding nothing back. Secret is close to the opposite. Candid most nearly means frank.
The old map was so fragile that it tore when we unfolded it. Fragile most nearly means:
Show the answer
D. It tore just from being unfolded, so it breaks easily. An old map may be valuable, but that does not explain the tearing. Fragile most nearly means delicate.
Prudent most nearly means:
Show the answer
A. A prudent decision is careful and sensible, made with an eye to the future. Proud only looks similar. Prudent most nearly means wise.
10 flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Keep the ones you miss until they stick.
All 10 cards known.
You finished how word knowledge works.
Practice score: not taken yet Take the practice
Next topic: ConnotationSee this topic move.
In the course, every topic is drawn step by step on a whiteboard while a voice explains it, with timed practice tests and a plan for your test date. The first lessons of every module are free.
