Critical Reading Vocabulary Words

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Why This Matters

On the PSAT, you're not just being tested on whether you know what a word means—you're being tested on whether you can recognize how that word functions in context. These vocabulary terms appear constantly in reading passages, answer choices, and question stems. Understanding them helps you decode author's tone, identify character traits, analyze arguments, and distinguish between similar-sounding answer choices. The difference between scoring well and scoring great often comes down to vocabulary precision.

Think of these words as tools for analysis, comparison, and evaluation. Each term connects to broader reading skills: identifying tone and attitude, understanding character motivation, recognizing rhetorical strategies, and evaluating evidence. Don't just memorize definitions—know what kind of passage or question each word helps you tackle. When you see "enigmatic" in an answer choice, you should immediately think mystery, ambiguity, deliberate uncertainty. That's the level of fluency that earns points.

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Words for Describing Tone and Attitude

These words help you identify how an author or character feels about a subject. Tone questions are among the most common on the PSAT, so recognizing these terms in answer choices is essential.

Candid

• Honest and straightforward in expression—signals an author or character who holds nothing back
• Contrasts with evasive or diplomatic tones; a candid narrator reveals uncomfortable truths directly
• Common in answer choices describing memoir excerpts or opinion pieces with a confessional quality

Impartial

• Unbiased and fair in judgment—describes authors who present multiple perspectives without taking sides
• Key for evaluating sources; an impartial tone suggests objectivity and reliability
• Watch for this in science passages where authors present evidence without emotional language

Laconic

• Using very few words; concise to the point of seeming curt—often signals confidence or emotional restraint
• Opposite of verbose or elaborate; laconic dialogue can reveal a character's stoicism or detachment
• Appears in character analysis questions asking about communication style or personality

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Words for Describing Character Traits

These terms frequently appear when you need to characterize individuals in passages or understand their motivations.

Benevolent

• Kind, generous, and well-meaning—describes characters motivated by concern for others' welfare
• Often contrasted with self-interested or malevolent characters in literary passages
• Signals themes of altruism and moral goodness in character-driven narratives

Diligent

• Showing careful, persistent effort over time—indicates dedication and conscientiousness
• Key trait in passages about achievement or overcoming obstacles through hard work
• Connects to themes of perseverance; diligent characters earn success rather than stumbling into it

Gregarious

• Sociable and fond of company—describes characters who thrive in group settings
• Influences plot through social interactions; gregarious characters often drive dialogue-heavy scenes
• Opposite of reserved or solitary; useful for contrasting character types

Resilient

• Able to recover quickly from setbacks—describes mental or emotional toughness
• Central to narratives about adversity and personal growth
• Stronger than "adaptable"; resilience implies bouncing back from genuine hardship

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Words for Describing Complexity and Clarity

These terms help you discuss whether ideas, language, or characters are clear or deliberately difficult to interpret.

Ambiguous

• Open to multiple interpretations—signals intentional or unintentional lack of clarity
• Critical for identifying unclear language in passages or answer choices
• Different from "wrong"; ambiguous statements aren't false, just uncertain

Enigmatic

• Mysterious and difficult to understand—suggests deliberate concealment or complexity
• Often describes characters whose motivations remain hidden throughout a narrative
• Stronger than ambiguous; enigmatic implies intrigue rather than mere confusion

Obscure

• Not clearly expressed or easily understood—can describe language, references, or themes
• May indicate specialized knowledge required to understand a passage fully
• Also means "little-known"; an obscure reference is one most readers won't recognize

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Words for Analytical Techniques

These terms describe methods of reasoning, comparison, and argumentation that authors use and that you'll need to identify.

Analogous

• Similar or comparable in certain respects—used to draw parallels between different things
• Key analytical tool for understanding unfamiliar concepts through familiar comparisons
• Watch for this in science passages where complex processes are explained through everyday examples

Juxtapose

• Place side by side to highlight comparison or contrast—a deliberate rhetorical technique
• Authors juxtapose to emphasize differences or reveal unexpected similarities
• Common in FRQ-style questions asking how an author develops an argument or theme

Hypothetical

• Based on a proposed scenario rather than established fact—used to explore possibilities
• Signals conditional reasoning; hypothetical examples test ideas without claiming truth
• Important for argument analysis; hypothetical evidence is weaker than empirical evidence

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Words for Describing Approaches and Values

These terms characterize how people think, make decisions, or prioritize—essential for understanding character motivation and thematic arguments.

Pragmatic

• Focused on practical results over theoretical ideals—describes a realistic, sensible approach
• Often contrasted with idealistic characters or arguments in passage comparisons
• Key for paired passage questions where authors take different approaches to the same problem

Frugal

• Economical and avoiding waste—describes careful use of resources
• Can characterize values or lifestyle; frugal characters prioritize necessity over luxury
• Connects to themes of sustainability, restraint, and practical wisdom

Meticulous

• Extremely careful and precise about details—suggests thoroughness and high standards
• Describes both people and processes; meticulous research is comprehensive and accurate
• Stronger than "careful"; meticulous implies almost obsessive attention to detail

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Words for Describing Secrecy and Presence

These terms help you discuss visibility, concealment, and how widespread something is.

Surreptitious

• Done secretly, especially to avoid detection or disapproval—implies sneakiness or stealth
• Key for passages involving deception, hidden motives, or forbidden actions
• Carries negative connotation; surreptitious behavior suggests something to hide

Ubiquitous

• Present everywhere; constantly encountered—describes widespread presence or influence
• Often used in social commentary passages discussing trends, technology, or cultural phenomena
• Neutral connotation; ubiquitous things aren't necessarily good or bad, just unavoidable

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Words for Describing Ideals and Examples

These terms help you discuss how things represent broader categories or evoke emotional responses.

Quintessential

• The most perfect or typical example of a category—represents an ideal or archetype
• Useful for discussing representative examples in literature or argument
• Stronger than "typical"; quintessential means the defining example, not just a common one

Nostalgia

• Sentimental longing for the past—describes an emotional, often idealized view of earlier times
• Key for understanding character motivation when past experiences drive present actions
• Can be positive or bittersweet; nostalgia involves both pleasure and loss

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two words both describe difficulty understanding something but differ in whether the confusion is intentional? How would you distinguish them in an answer choice?

2. A passage describes a character who works steadily toward a goal despite repeated failures. Would you characterize this person as diligent, resilient, or both? Explain the distinction.

3. Compare pragmatic and meticulous. In what situation might these traits actually conflict with each other?

4. If an author places two contrasting scenes side by side without commentary, what technique are they using? What vocabulary word describes this, and how does it differ from simply noting that two things are analogous?

5. A question asks you to identify the tone of a passage where the author reveals uncomfortable truths directly but uses very few words. Would you choose candid, laconic, or both? What's the difference, and how would you decide?