SAT · Reading and Writing · Craft and Structure

Words in Context

Words in Context is part of Craft and Structure in the SAT Reading and Writing section. The questions below are written in the style of the real test, each with the answer and a worked explanation.

Question types you will see here include precise word from context clues, blank governed by a contrast signal, multiple-meaning word in context and connotation among near-synonyms.

Common traps: word with the right sentiment but wrong precision (too strong or too weak); word that fits the topic but not the clue; common word that is plausible out of context.

Sample questions

Question 1
Once a thriving port, the town had become after the river shifted its course, leaving the docks empty.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- A.
  bustling
- B.
  prosperous
- C.
  desolate
- D.
  crowded
Answer: C. desolate
Empty docks and lost trade suggest the town became lonely and empty: "desolate."
Question 2
The botanist noted that the plant is to the region, found nowhere else in the world.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- A.
  incidental
- B.
  hostile
- C.
  foreign
- D.
  endemic
Answer: D. endemic
A species found only in one region is "endemic" to it.
Question 3
The inventor's early prototypes were , frequently breaking down after only a few uses.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- A.
  durable
- B.
  unreliable
- C.
  efficient
- D.
  sturdy
Answer: B. unreliable
Prototypes that frequently broke down were "unreliable."
Question 4
The findings were , but the researchers cautioned that a larger study would be needed to confirm them.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- A.
  disappointing
- B.
  promising
- C.
  irrelevant
- D.
  conclusive
Answer: B. promising
Needing a larger study to confirm suggests the results were encouraging but not final: "promising." "Conclusive" would not need confirmation.
Question 5
Her curiosity led her to ask questions about everything, from the stars to the insects in her backyard.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- A.
  reluctant
- B.
  insatiable
- C.
  limited
- D.
  fleeting
Answer: B. insatiable
Asking about everything shows curiosity that can't be satisfied: "insatiable."

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