SAT Prep | Dealing with Positive Value Words
Positive value words are usually easy to recognize. They usually convey a meaning which can be equated with gain, advantage, liveliness, intelligence, virtue, and positive emotions, conditions, or actions.
The ability to recognize positive and negative word values, however, will not bring you very far if you do not understand how to apply it to your advantage in Sentence Completions. Below you will find examples of how to do this, first with a study of positive value Sentence Completions, then with a study of negative value Sentence Completions. The following is an example of a Level I question.
An expert skateboarder, Tom is truly _____ ; he smoothly blends timing with balance.
| (A) coordinated | (D) supportive |
| (B) erudite | (E) casual |
| (C) a novice |
As you know, the context clue is the clause after the word in question, which acts as a modifier. Naturally, anyone who “smoothly blends” is creating a positive situation. Look for the positive answer.
An expert skateboarder, Tom is truly + he smoothly blends timing with balance.
| +(A) coordinated | +(D) supportive |
| +(B) erudite | –(E) casual |
| –(C) a novice |
Coordinated (A), a positive value word that means ordering two or more things, fits the sentence perfectly. Erudite (B) is positive, but it is too difficult to be a Level I answer. A novice (C) in this context is negative. Supportive (D) and casual (E) don’t fulfill the definition of the context clue, and casual is negative, implying a lack of attention. Notice that eliminating negatives immediately reduces the number of options from which you have to choose. This raises the odds of selecting the correct answer. (One of the analytic skills you should develop for the SAT I is being able to see the hidden vocabulary question in any exercise.)
A Level II question may appear as follows:
Despite their supposedly primitive lifestyle, Australian aborigines developed the boomerang, a _____ and _____ hunting tool that maximizes gain with minimum effort.
| (A) ponderous . . . expensive | (D) sophisticated . . . efficient |
| (B) clean . . . dynamic | (E) useful . . . attractive |
| (C) dangerous . . . formidable |
In this case, the context clues begin and end the sentence (in italics below).
Despite their supposedly primitive lifestyle, Australian aborigines developed the boomerang, a + and + hunting tool that maximizes gain with minimum effort.
| –(A) ponderous . . . expensive | +(D) sophisticated . . . efficient |
| +(B) clean . . . dynamic | +(E) useful . . . attractive |
| –(C) dangerous . . . formidable |
The first context clue (despite) helps you determine that this exercise entails an antonym relationship with the word primitive, which means simple or crude. The second context clues offer a definition of the missing words. Since the meaning of primitive in this context is a negative word value, you can be fairly confident that the answer will be a pair of positive word values. Sophisticated . . . efficient (D) is positive and it satisfies the definition of the latter context clue. This is the best answer. Ponderous . . . expensive (A) is not correct. Clean . . . dynamic (B) is positive, but does not meet the definition of the latter context clues. Dangerous . . . formidable (C) is negative. Useful . . . attractive (E) is positive, but it does not work with the latter context clues.
Here is a Level III example.
When physicians describe illnesses to colleagues, they must speak an _____ language, using professional terms and concepts understood mostly by members of the profession.
| (A) extrinsic | (D) esoteric |
| (B) inordinate | (E) abbreviated |
| (C) ambulatory |
Looking at this question, we can see an important context clue. This appears in italics below.
When physicians describe illnesses to colleagues, they must speak an + language, using professional terms and concepts understood mostly by members of the profession.
| +(A) extrinsic | +(D) esoteric |
| –(B) inordinate | –(E) abbreviated |
| +(C) ambulatory |
This clue gives us a definition of the missing word. Begin by eliminating the two obvious negatives, inordinate (B) and abbreviated (E). This leaves us with three positives. Because this is a Level III exercise, at first you may be intimidated by the level of vocabulary. In the section on etymology you will be given insights into how to handle difficult word problems. For now, note that esoteric (D) is the best answer, since it is an adjective that means inside or part of a group. Ambulatory (C) is positive, but it is a trap. It seems like an easy association with the world of medicine. In Level III there are no easy word associations. Extrinsic (A) is positive, but it means outside of, which would not satisfy the logic of the sentence.
