Vocabulary Questions

What Are Vocabulary Questions?

Vocabulary questions are multiple-choice and always have a single correct answer. In the passage, all words that you’ll have to define are highlighted to help you find them quickly and see the context easily.

The wording is almost always: “The word ‘______’ in the passage is closest in meaning to” followed by four answer choices.

Time-Saving Tip: If you already know the word’s definition, you can often identify the correct answer without looking at the text. Still check the context to be sure!

Step-by-Step Strategy for Unknown Words

  1. Read the passage from beginning to end
  2. Cover the highlighted word and read the sentence again
  3. Substitute a word that makes sense in the context
  4. Think about possible meanings, related words, or word roots
  5. Look at answer choices and select the one matching your expected meaning
  6. Eliminate obviously wrong answers and test remaining options

Example from the Study Material:

“The word or phrase in question might be a relatively common word you’re familiar with already, or it might be a more technical phrase.”

Question: The meaning of the word “technical” in the passage is closest in meaning to:

Answer: B. specialized

Explanation: The root “tech-” relates to technology or specialized knowledge. “Specialized” fits the context of phrases that require specific knowledge.

Inference Questions

What Are Inferences?

Inferences are often referred to as “reading between the lines.” They are what the author implies or suggests without stating directly. When the author implies something, the reader has to infer it.

Inferences happen all the time in reading. For example, when you see Scar in The Lion King trapping a mouse, you infer he’s a villain even though no one says “He’s evil.”

Key Principle: Use only the information provided by the author. Don’t bring in outside knowledge or personal experiences.

Example from the Study Material:

“Shelly really likes to help people. She loves her job because she gets to help people every single day. However, Shelly has to work long hours and she can get called in the middle of the night for emergencies. She wears a white lab coat at work and usually she carries a stethoscope.”

Question: What is most likely Shelly’s job?

Answer: C. Doctor

Explanation: Context clues: helps people, long hours, night emergencies, white lab coat, stethoscope. These all point to a medical profession.

Common Inference Pitfalls

  • Bringing outside knowledge: Don’t use information not in the passage
  • Overinterpreting: Don’t read more into the passage than is there
  • Ignoring context clues: All inferences must be supported by the text
  • Selective reading: Consider the entire passage, not just parts

Context Clue Types

Definition Clues

The author directly defines the word

Example: “An omnivore, an animal that eats both plants and meat…”

Example Clues

The author provides examples of the word

Example: “Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and relish…”

Synonym Clues

The author uses a similar word nearby

Example: “Her melancholy, or sadness, was evident…”

Antonym Clues

The author uses an opposite word

Example: “Unlike her gregarious sister, she was quite shy.”

Inference Clues

You must infer meaning from context

Example: “The arid desert had no vegetation for miles.”

Time Management Strategies

Saving Time on Vocabulary Questions

Because vocabulary questions are about single word definitions and not the whole passage, if you’re running out of time, answer all vocabulary questions first without reading the entire passage.

Exam Strategy: If you know the word, answer immediately. If not, use context clues from the sentence where the word appears.

When to Use This Strategy:

  • When time is running out in the reading section
  • When you’re confident about your vocabulary knowledge
  • When the passage is particularly long or difficult

Practice Passage Analysis

G20 Meeting Passage (from study material):

“It is tempting to dismiss the G20 meeting as a piece of political theatre. Presidents and prime ministers from a score of rich and emerging economies will descend on Washington, DC, ostensibly to remake the rules of global finance…”

Question: The passage supports which of the following inferences?

Options:

  • A. The writer dismisses G20 meeting as a mere farce.
  • B. Bretton Woods conference was attended by world leaders from rich and emerging economies.
  • C. G7 group of countries is a better forum for global economic cooperation than the G20.
  • D. The comparison of G20 meeting with Bretton Woods Conference is preposterous.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: The passage states that Bretton Woods had years of preparation while G20 has little preparation, making the comparison “preposterous” (lacking order or value).