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SAT > SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCE TERMS > Flashcards

SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCE TERMS Flashcards

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SAT® Prep flashcards
1
Q

CATALYST

A

in chemistry, a CATALYST is a substance (such as an enzyme) that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction at some temperature, but without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction. In everyday usage a CATALYST is any agent that provokes or triggers change

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2
Q

CAUSTIC

A

in chemistry, a CAUSTIC substance is one that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action. Hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate are examples of CAUSTIC substances. In everyday usage, a CAUSTIC comment is one that hurts or burns

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3
Q

CRYSTALLIZE

A

in chemistry, CRYSTALLIZE is the process by which crystals are formed. In everyday usage, CRYSTALLIZE means to give a definite form to an idea or plan

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4
Q

OSMOSIS

A

in chemistry, OSMOSIS refers to the diffusion of a fluid through a semipermeable membrane until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane. In everyday usage, OSMOSIS refers to a gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation

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5
Q

SEDENTARY

A

in ecology, animals that are SEDENTARY remain or live in one area. In everyday usage, SEDENTARY means settled and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise

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6
Q

VIRULENT

A

in medical science, VIRULENT refers to a disease or toxin that is extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. In everyday usage, VIRULENT refers to language that is bitterly hostile, hateful, and antagonistic

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7
Q

EMPIRICAL

A

in science, EMPIRICAL means originating in or based on direct observation and experience. EMPIRICAL data can then be used to support or reject a hypothesis. In everyday language, EMPIRICAL means to be guided by practical experience, not theory

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8
Q

ENTOMOLOGY

A

the scientific study of insects

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9
Q

GESTATE

A

in science, GESTATE means to carry within the uterus from conception to delivery. In everyday language, GESTATE means to conceive and develop in the mind

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10
Q

PARADIGM

A

in science, a PARADIGM is a framework or model of thought

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11
Q

ENTREPRENEUR

A

a person who organizes and manages a business or enterprise

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12
Q

LUCRATIVE

A

very profitable

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13
Q

EXTRAVAGANT

A

excessive and therefore lacking restraint

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14
Q

AVARICE

A

excessive desire for material wealth; greedy; covetous

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15
Q

GLUT, PLETHORA, SURFEIT

A

a surplus

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16
Q

DESTITUTE, IMPOVERISHED, INDIGENT

A

very poor

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17
Q

AFFLUENT and OPULENT

A

very wealthy

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18
Q

MUNIFICENT

A

very generous

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19
Q

PARSIMONIOUS

A

excessively cheap with money; stingy

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20
Q

DEPRECIATION

A

any decrease or loss in value caused by age, wear, or market conditions

21
Q

REMUNERATE

A

to compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person

22
Q

ACCORD

A

a formal agreement

23
Q

ENLIGHTEN

A

to inform, instruct, illuminate, and thus remove darkness and ignorance

24
Q

APPEASEMENT

A

the policy of granting concessions to maintain peace

25
Q

NULLIFY

A

to make null; declare invalid

26
Q

TRIUMVIRATE

A

a group or association of three leaders

27
Q

PRETEXT

A

an excuse; an alleged cause

28
Q

WATERSHED

A

critical point that marks a change of course; a turning point

29
Q

CONSENSUS

A

a general agreement

30
Q

AUTOCRAT and DESPOT

A

a ruler having unlimited power

31
Q

MANIFESTO

A

a public declaration of beliefs, policies or intentions

32
Q

ENFRANCHISE

A

to receive the right to vote

33
Q

DISENFRANCHISE

A

to lose the right to vote

34
Q

COERCE

A

to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or torture; to compel

35
Q

EGALITARIAN

A

favoring social equality; belief in a society in which all people have equal political, economic, and civil rights

36
Q

DEMARCATION

A

the setting or marking of boundaries or limits as a line of demarcation

37
Q

INQUISITION

A

a severe interrogation; a systematic questioning

38
Q

AMELIORATE

A

to make a situation better

39
Q

EXACERBATE

A

to make a situation worse

40
Q

CONTIGUOUS

A

sharing an edge or boundary; touching

41
Q

DESICCATE

A

thoroughly dried out; lifeless, totally arid

42
Q

PERTINENT

A

relevant; to the point; a clear illustration of a major point

43
Q

COMPLICITY

A

association or participation in a wrongful act

44
Q

EXONERATE and EXCULPATE

A

both mean to free from guilt or blame

45
Q

INDISPUTABLE

A

not open to question; undeniable; irrefutable

46
Q

PRECEDENT

A

an act or instance that is used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances

47
Q

UNPRECEDENTED

A

without previous example; an UNPRECEDENTED event has never happened before

48
Q

MALFEASANCE

A

misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official

SAT (5 decks)

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