PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Vocabulary in Context 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence 'The scientist's hypothesis was deemed *speculative* by her peers,' what does 'speculative' most nearly mean?
- Based on observation
- Based on assumption rather than proof (Correct answer)
- Widely accepted
- Experimentally verified
Correct answer: Based on assumption rather than proof
Speculative means based on conjecture or assumption rather than on established evidence.
Question 2: As used in context, 'The governor's *conciliatory* speech helped ease tensions between the two groups,' the word 'conciliatory' most nearly means:
- Aggressive
- Intended to reduce hostility (Correct answer)
- Politically motivated
- Lengthy and detailed
Correct answer: Intended to reduce hostility
Conciliatory describes actions or words intended to make an angry or hostile party more friendly.
Question 3: In the passage 'Her *pragmatic* approach to the budget crisis impressed the board,' the word 'pragmatic' most nearly means:
- Idealistic
- Emotional
- Dealing with things practically (Correct answer)
- Overly cautious
Correct answer: Dealing with things practically
Pragmatic means dealing with problems in a realistic, practical way rather than following fixed theories.
Question 4: The word 'ephemeral' in 'Social media trends are often *ephemeral*, disappearing as quickly as they arise' most nearly means:
- Enduring
- Short-lived (Correct answer)
- Controversial
- Influential
Correct answer: Short-lived
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time, which aligns with trends that disappear quickly.
Question 5: As used in 'The judge's *impartial* ruling satisfied both sides of the dispute,' the word 'impartial' most nearly means:
- Biased toward the plaintiff
- Unfair
- Not favoring one side over another (Correct answer)
- Strictly legal
Correct answer: Not favoring one side over another
Impartial means treating all rivals or disputants equally and fairly without bias.
Question 6: In 'The author's *verbose* style made the novel difficult to read,' the word 'verbose' most nearly means:
- Using more words than necessary (Correct answer)
- Poetic and lyrical
- Highly technical
- Clear and concise
Correct answer: Using more words than necessary
Verbose means using more words than needed, making text unnecessarily long-winded.
PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Vocabulary in Context 1
In the sentence 'The scientist's hypothesis was deemed *speculative* by her peers,' what does 'speculative' most nearly mean?