PSAT 89

Many words have multiple meanings; the correct meaning depends on how the word is used in the particular sentence. On the digital test, most vocabulary questions present a passage with a blank and ask which choice "completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase."

ContextClue	HowItWorks	Example
Definition	Theauthordefinesthewordorgivesasynonym	Thefossilwasancient orextremelyold , .
	nearby
Example	Examplesillustratetheword'smeaning	Nocturnalanimals suchasowlsandbats huntat , ,
		night .
Contrast	Anoppositeorcontrastingideaispresented	Unlikehisgregarioussister Sampreferredtobe ,
		alone .
Inference	Meaningmustbededucedfromtheoverallsituation	Afterthethirddelay thepassengersgrew ,
	ortone	exasperated .

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And the sentences around it

Definition, example, contrast,

Put your own word in the blank

Test the choice that matches

inference

your prediction

Connotation and Tone

Words carry a denotative meaning (the dictionary definition) and a connotative meaning (the emotional associations). "Thrifty," "economical," and "cheap" all relate to spending less money, but "thrifty" is positive, "economical" is neutral, and "cheap" is negative.

Diction	WhatItSuggests
Technical	Expertiseorspecialization
Emotional	Passionorstrongfeeling

Vocabulary in Different Contexts

Academic vocabulary is used across many disciplines; understanding these words is essential for comprehending academic texts:

analyze evaluate synthesize interpret significant factor evidence theory hypothesis contradict infer assert Domain-specific vocabulary depends on the subject: science passages use terms from biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science; history passages use terms related to governance, economics, and social movements; literary passages use terms related to narrative structure and figurative language.

Precision in word choice: when a question asks why an author chose a particular word, consider the shade of meaning it conveys, how it fits the passage's tone, whether it is more or less intense than alternatives, and whether it is more or less specific.

Author's Purpose

Purpose	WhattheAuthorDoes
Toinform	Providesfactsandinformationobjectively
Topersuade	Convincesreaderstoacceptapositionortakeaction
Toentertain	Engagesreadersthroughstorytellingorhumor
Toexplain	Clarifiesaconceptorprocess
Toanalyze	Examinesatopicindepthbybreakingitintoparts

To identify purpose, consider where the text might be published, the language and tone the author uses, what the author wants readers to think, feel, or do, and which evidence and examples the author includes. Many digital questions ask for the "main purpose" of a text or the "function" of one sentence; the function describes what the sentence does (introduces a claim, gives an example, presents a counterpoint), not what it says.

Point of View and Perspective

PointofView Pronouns Effect
Firstperson I we Presentstheauthor'sownexperienceoropinion ,
Secondperson you Addressesthereaderdirectly
Thirdperson he she it they Presentsinformationobjectivelyordescribesothers' , , , 1 experiences llauthorswritefromperspectivesshapedbytheirbackgroundsandbeliefs Recognizingperspectivehelpsyoujudge . owcompleteandreliableinformationis;biasoccurswhenperspectiveleadstounfairorunbalancedtreatmentofa pic

All authors write from perspectives shaped by their backgrounds and beliefs. Recognizing perspective helps you judge how complete and reliable information is; bias occurs when perspective leads to unfair or unbalanced treatment of a topic.

Text Structure

Structure	HowtheTextIsOrganized
Chronological	Eventsintimeorder
Spatial	Byphysicallocationorarrangement
Orderofimportance	Frommosttoleastsignificant orthereverse ,
Compareandcontrast	Similaritiesanddifferencesbetweensubjects
Causeandeffect	Howeventsorconditionsleadtoresults
Problemandsolution	Anissuefollowedbywaystoaddressit

When analyzing structure, ask why the author chose it, how it helps achieve the author's purpose, and how it shapes your understanding as a reader.

Rhetorical Strategies

Logos					Pathos					Ethos
Logicalappeal:facts statistics and , ,					Emotionalappeal:languagethatevokes					Ethicalappeal:establishestheauthor's
reasoning .					feelingsinreaders .					credibilityandtrustworthiness .

Device	Purpose	Example
Repetition	Emphasizeskeyideasthroughrestatement	"Everychart everygraph everytrendline " , , …
Rhetoricalquestion	Engagesreaderswithaquestionnotmeanttobe	"Isthatthelegacywewanttoleavebehind?"
	answered
Parallelism	Createsrhythmandemphasisthroughsimilar	"Wecame wesaw welearned" , , .
	structures
Analogy	Clarifiesanunfamiliarideabycomparisontoa	"Likeacitywithoutroads acellwithouttransport ,
	familiarone	proteins " …
Anecdote	Usesabriefstorytoillustrateapoint	"Lastspring ourclassplantedagarden " , …
Hypotheticalscenario	Asksthereadertoimagineasituation	"Imagineaworldwithoutlibraries " …

Audience Awareness

Authors tailor texts to their audience. Identify the intended audience from the vocabulary level, the background knowledge assumed, the tone and formality, and where the text would likely be published. Technical audiences receive specialized vocabulary and detailed explanations; general audiences receive accessible language and more context; academic audiences receive formal language and rigorous evidence; popular audiences receive engaging language and relatable examples.

Cross-Text Connections

Some questions present two short texts on the same topic and ask how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to a claim in Text 1. Identify each author's main claim first, then decide whether the second author would agree, disagree, or qualify the first author's position.

For paired texts, write a four- or five-word summary of each author's position before you read the choices. The correct answer reflects the specific point of agreement or disagreement, not simply the shared topic.