CO100 Flashcards
DIMINUTIVE
Very small The 2012 Summer Olympics coverage featured the latest team of DIMINUTIVE gymnasts, five American girls who averaged 16 years old, 5’1” tall, and 104 pounds, and who performed astounding feats of strength, agility, and precision. Led by Gabby Douglas, who also took first place in the individual all-around event, the DIMINUTIVE Fab Five brought home the women’s team gold medal for the first time since 1996. Gabby, at 4’11’ and 90 pounds the most DIMINUTIVE of the bunch, was dubbed “the flying squirrel” by Marta Karolyi, the U.S. national team coordinator. Given the rigors of the intense training, the high incidence of injuries, and the other sacrifices required in order to reach the highest level of the sport, women gymnasts have a short shelf life. But in August 2012, DIMINUTIVE Gabby Douglas won the hearts of Americans everywhere.
TRIVIAL
& MINUTIAE
TRIVIAL = Trifling; unimportant; insignificant
MINUTIAE = Minor everyday details
Drake is one of the world’s most popular hip hop artists. While Drake would prefer to concentrate on creating music, his zealous fans often focus on interesting but TRIVIAL MINUTIAE about his personal life. For example, Drake was raised by a Jewish mother and had a Bar Mitzvah. And online rumors continue to link him with Rihanna!
EXHORT
To encourage; urge; give a pep talk; IMPLORE
American League baseball player Derek Jeter has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees. Naturally, New York fans love him. When Jeter began to approach the COVETED (Word 32) 3,000 hit milestone, his teammates and fans EXHORTED him to continue to play well so he could reach the ELUSIVE (Word 161) milestone. The EXHORTATIONS worked. On July 9, 2011 he became the first New York Yankee to reach the 3,000 hit mark. Even sweeter, his 3,000th hit was a home run!
ANTIPATHY
Strong dislike; ill will; the state of DETESTING someone; ENMITY; RANCOR
In The Social Network, League Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and their business partner, Divya Narendra, approached Mark Zuckerberg with an idea they called “HarvardConnection,” an online social network exclusively for Harvard University students and alumni. Zuckerberg broke his agreement with the HarvardConnection team and approached his friend Eduardo Saverin about a nearly identical website idea called “Thefacebook.” The first website to allow the entire campus to communicate and socialize with ease, Facebook skyrocketed in popularity.
Can you imagine the ANTIPATHY that the Winklevoss brothers and Narendra felt upon seeing their idea becoming successful without them? In the movie scene, Narendra discovered Zuckerberg’s Thefacebook, slammed his laptop closed, and, filled with ENMITY, stormed out of the room to inform the Winklevoss brothers of Zuckerberg’s betrayal.
DIGRESS
To depart from a subject; wander; ramble
Have you ever listened to someone who repeatedly wanders off a topic? If so, then you know how confusing and annoying it is when a speaker DIGRESSES from a subject. In the movie Office Space, Milton is NOTORIOUS (widely but unfavorably known) for his long-winded DIGRESSIONS. DIGRESSING is not limited to speaking. Writers sometimes DIGRESS or wander off a topic. On the SAT I, your first task will be to write an essay. Readers reward essays that are well-organized and deduct points from essays that DIGRESS from the topic.
KNOW YOUR ROOTS
LATIN ROOT:
GRESS | to step
PROGRESS to step forward
REGRESS to step back
TRANSGRESS to step across the line that divides right from wrong
EGRESS to step out, to exit (or as a noun, an exit)
AGGRESSIVE tending to attack, encroach, or step on others
TENACIOUS
Characterized by holding fast to something valued; showing great determination
The 2006 film Amazing Grace tells the story of the 20-year campaign against the British slave trade led by the TENACIOUS Member of Parliament William Wilberforce. Through Wilberforce’s TENACITY and determination, the battle CULMINATED (reached completion) in the 1807 bill that abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. Though the film is not totally accurate historically, itidt TCU does make the inspiring point of the effectiveness of sheer TENACITY in the face of almost impossible odds.
Think too about the TENACITY of a dog with a bone, never letting go. That might remind you of the word DOGGED (pronounced with two syllables), which means having the TENACITY of a dog. You can also use TENACIOUSNESS instead of TENACITY; they mean the same thing.
The root of TENACIOUS is the Latin root TEN, “to hold.” You can find it in TENET, an opinion, idea, or principle HELD true by a person or organization. It’s also in TENABLE,
which means capable of being HELD, defended, and logically supported, as in a TENABLE argument or thesis.
INDULGENT
Characterized by excessive generosity; overly tolerant
In the movie Mean Girls, Regina George’s mother prides herself on being INDULGENT. She proudly tells Regina and Cady, “I just want you to know, if you ever need anything, don’t be shy, OK?
There are NO rules in the house. I’m not like a ‘regular’ mom. I’m a ‘cool’ mom.” Mrs. George should have said, “I’m a super-INDULGENT mom who lets Regina do anything she wishes.”
POLARIZE
- To create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or groups; to be*
- DIVISIVE*
Americans have a long and distinguished record of settling differences by reaching a compromise. However, some issues are so DIVISIVE and POLARIZING that a compromise is impossible. Before the Civil War, the issue of slavery POLARIZED Americans into two groups: those who defended the South’s “peculiar institution” and those who demanded that slavery be abolished. As Lincoln eloquently noted: “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.”
NEBULOUS
Vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully developed form
Have you read the Epilogue in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? If you found it rather vague, then J.K. Rowling achieved her goal. In an interview, Rowling stated that the Epilogue is deliberately “NEBULOUS.” She wanted readers to feel as if they were looking at Platform 9 3/4 through the mist, unable to make out exactly who was there and who was not.
ANALOGY
A similarity or likeness between things—events, ideas, actions, trends—that are otherwise unrelated
ANALOGOUS
Comparable or similar in certain respects
Did you know that for most of its history the SAT included a number of ANALOGY questions? For example, students were asked to see the ANALOGY or similarity between a tree and a forest and a star and a galaxy. The ANALOGY is that a tree is part of a forest in the same way that a star is part of a galaxy. Although the College Board removed analogies in 2005, SAT test writers still expect students to recognize ANALOGIES in critical readings. Don’t be confused by the phrase “is most ANALOGOUS to.” The question is asking you to identify a situation or example that is most similar to the one in the reading passage.
EPHEMERAL, FLEETING, EVANESCENT
Very brief; lasting for a short time; transient
PERENNIAL
Returning year after year; enduring
What do the following groups and their hit songs have in common: “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by Baha Men, “Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel, and “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls? All three groups were “one-hit wonders” who had a single hit song and then disappeared. Their popularity was EVANESCENT. They were EPHEMERAL—here today and gone tomorrow.
On the contrary, bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel have remained PERENNIAL favorites. The Beatles’ albums continue to be bestsellers on iTunes. The Beach Boys still maintain a busy tour schedule, and the songs of Simon & Garfunkel remain staples of popular culture. Paul Simon was even asked to perform their hit song “The Sound of Silence” at the 9/11 tenth anniversary memorial service. All three of these bands have maintained immense popularity throughout the decades.
PENCHANT, PREDILECTION, PROPENSITY
A liking or preference for something; a BENT (Word 299); an INCLINATION
What do film star Angelina Jolie and rap artist Lil Wayne have in common? Both have a well-known PENCHANT for tattoos. Angelina’s tattoos include a prayer of Buddhist Sanskrit symbols to honor her first adopted son, Maddox, coordinates representing the geographic neddddntain ave locations of her children’s birthplaces, and the statement “know your rights.” Lil Wayne’s PREDILECTION for tattoos has led him to cover his face and torso with tattoos. For example, a red tattoo above his right eyebrow states, “I am music,” emphasizing his love of music. The numbers 9 27 82 on his right forearm are his date of birth.
CAPRICIOUS, MERCURIAL, FICKLE
Very changeable; characterized by constantly-shifting moods
When the gossip magazine Us Weekly published a story and photos of Twilight’s Kristen Stewart cheating on her boyfriend Robert Pattinson, passionate Twilight fans responded in disbelief on their Twitter accounts. The outraged fans LAMBASTED (Word 310) the magazine and insisted that the photos of Stewart were fake. However, Stewart released a statement apologizing for her “momentary indiscretion” and declaring her love for Pattinson. The FICKLE fans turned CAPRICIOUSLY from supporting Stewart to CASTIGATING (severely criticizing ) her and mourning the end of their favorite celebrity couple. Fans added MAUDLIN (Word 142) videos and social media posts online, BEMOANING (to express grief over) the breakup of “Robsten.”
Medieval Humours
In medieval times, it was believed that people’s personalities or moods were determined by the relative amounts of the four bodily fluids (or HUMOURS) in their bodies. Though we no longer believe in the physiological basis, we still use the words to describe people.
Predominant Fluid
Temperament
Aspects
Blood SANGUINE cheerful, hopeful, optimistic
Black bile MELANCHOLY gloomy, depressed, DESPONDENT, PENSIVE
Yellow bile CHOLERIC angry, irritable, IRASCIBLE self-possessed, imperturbable, calm, APATHETIC,
Phlegm PHLEGMATIC sluggish
Fluctuating among all four fluids MERCURIAL volatile, changeable, FICKLE
BOORISH, UNCOUTH, CRASS
Vulgar; characterized by crude behavior and deplorable manners; unrefined Billy Madison ( Billy Madison), Ron Burgundy ( Anchorman), Borat ( Borat), and Ben Stone ( Knocked Up) all demonstrated BOORISH manners and behaviors. However, none of these UNCOUTH characters quite equaled Bluto in Animal House. In a classic scene, Bluto piled food onto h” tttt Tis cafeteria plate while stuffing food in his pockets. He then sat down uninvited at a cafeteria table. Disgusted by Bluto’s outrageous appearance and CRASS manners, Mandy called him a “P-I-G, pig.” Undeterred by Mandy’s insult, Bluto stuffed mashed potatoes into his mouth and asked Mandy and her INCREDULOUS (Word 363) friends, “See if you can guess what I am now.” He then pressed his hands against his cheeks, causing the mashed potatoes to spray onto the shocked diners. Pleased with his BOORISH antics, Bluto proudly answered his own question by announcing, “I’m a zit! Get it?”
INDIGNANT
Characterized by outrage at something that is perceived as unjust
What do Andrew Jackson’s supporters in 1824 and Al Gore’s supporters in 2000 have in common?
Both were INDIGNANT at the outcomes of presidential elections. Following the election of 1824,
Andrew Jackson’s INDIGNANT supporters accused John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay of stealing the election from Old Hickory. Following the election of 2000, Al Gore’s INDIGNANT supporters accused George W. Bush and the U.S. Supreme Court of stealing the election from Gore.
INNUENDO
A veiled reference; an insinuation
At the beginning of The Godfather, Kay does not understand the workings of the Corleone family business, and she asks Michael how his father managed a business deal. Michael responds with an INNUENDO: “My father made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.” His response insinuates that Don Vito uses coercion and threats in his business dealings. Michael’s INNUENDO suggests that his father is a powerful mob boss.
THWART, STYMIE
To stop; to frustrate; to prevent
In the Harry Potter SAGA (Word 236) Lilly Potter’s love THWARTED Lord Voldemort’s attempt to kill her one-year-old son, Harry. With the help of Ron and Hermione, Harry repeatedly THWARTED the Dark Lord’s attempts to kill him.
At the Paris Peace Conference at the end of World War I, which CULMINATED (concluded) in the Treaty of Versailles, most of President Woodrow Wilson’s proposals for a “Just Peace” were THWARTED by the other world leaders, who were more interested in RETRIBUTION (punishment, vengeance). They did approve his plan for a League of Nations, which he hoped would be able to prevent future wars. When Wilson presented the treaty to the U.S. Senate, there was much opposition. The treaty went down to defeat, Wilson’s efforts were again STYMIED, and the weak League of Nations never achieved its goals, lacking the participatihe tton of the world’s newest superpower.
After the CHICANERY (Word 339) that came to light in 2011, new security measures have been implemented by both the SAT and the ACT to STYMIE those who might wish to take an exam for someone else. Students will now be required to upload a photo of themselves when registering for these exams. The photos will appear on the students’ admission tickets and on the test site rosters available to proctors. Then the photos will be attached to any score reports sent to high schools and colleges.
ADROIT, DEFT, ADEPT
Having or showing great skill; DEXTEROUS; nimble
What do 16-year-old Austin Wierschke and action star Chuck Norris have in common? Austin has DEXTEROUS hands, and Chuck has ADROIT legs. Austin won the U.S. National Texting Championship two years in a row. He beat out 11 other finalists by DEFTLY texting blindfolded, texting with his hands behind his back, and by enduring rounds of marathon texting. As everyone knows, Chuck Norris is ADEPT at using a roundhouse kick to escape even the toughest situations. In fact, it is rumored that if someone were DEFT enough to harness the energy from a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick, he or she could power the entire country of Australia for 44 minutes.
TIP
Are you right-handed or lefthanded? Right-handed people were once thought to be more ADROIT and DEXTEROUS than left-handed people. This bias can be seen in the etymology of these two words. The English word ADROIT is actually derived from the French word droit meaning right, as opposed to left. So if you are MALADROIT, you are not skillful. The ancient Romans shared the same positive view of right-handed people. The Latin word dexter means right, as opposed to left.
ADMONISH
To earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
First sung in November 1934, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” celebrates Santa’s much-anticipated arrival on Christmas Eve. However, while Santa may be very MUNIFICENT (Word 258), he is also very VIGILANT (watchful, alert). He keeps a list, and he knows “who’s naughty or nice.” The song earnestly ADMONISHES children to “be good for goodness sake.”
KNOW YOUR ROOTS
LATIN ROOT:
MON | to warn, remind
ADMONITION a warning or reproof, a reminder
PREMONITION a warning in advance, PRESENTIMENT (hint) of something evil, foreboding
MONITOR a person or a device that reminds or checks (like a study hall monitor, a heart monitor, or an audio monitor for performers on a stage)
MONUMENT a sepulchre, memorial , edifice to commemorate something or someone notable, something that reminds (literally)
INCONTROVERTIBLE
Impossible to deny or disprove; demonstrably true
In recent years the global warming debate has grown increasingly heated (no pun intended), politicized, and POLARIZED (Word 58). Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, presented statistics that many people challenge. But it is becoming clear that global warming is an INCONTROVERTIBLE fact. What is less clear has been the cause of the climatic changes. Many CONCEDE (admit) the existence of the trend but claim that the current trend is merely part of a natural METEOROLOGICAL (having to do with weather) cycle. Others lay the blame on humans’ emission of greenhouse gases. According to Richard A. Muller, a former SKEPTIC (Word 102) whose Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project has persuaded him of human CULPABILITY (blameworthiness) in global warming, the changes are too great to be ASCRIBED (attributed) to urban heating, solar activity, world population, normal fluctuations, or manipulation of data. Only changes in the carbon dioxide curve match the changes in world temperatures. So, the SKEPTIC has been persuaded that man is, INCONTROVERTIBLY, playing a part in the climate changes we are now experiencing.
