Common Core Grades 9–10, List 8

Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 9 and 10. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments.

Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8
19 words 10 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
    Levy discovers she is not exempted from certain hard truths: Fate is arbitrary and beyond our control.New York Times (Apr 3, 2017)
  2. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
    Lee’s mouth was full and benevolent and the flash of gold when he smiled was rich and warm.Cannery Row
  3. coherent
    marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
    I had so many questions it was useless to try to sort them into any coherent order.The Secret History
  4. compensate
    adjust for
    I could make sure that my brother and sisters got all the education they wanted; I could compensate for my shattered dreams by helping them realise theirs.Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography
  5. hypothesis
    a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
    Here’s a hypothesis: Twig wouldn’t take kindly to a newcomer.The Science of Breakable Things
  6. innovation
    a creation resulting from study and experimentation
    The nation’s car culture reached its height in southern California, inspiring innovations such as the world’s first motel and the first drive-in bank.Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
  7. magnitude
    relative importance
    The magnitude of this calamity was so far beyond anything I’d ever imagined that my brain simply shorted out and went dark.Into Thin Air
  8. manipulate
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    “I trust you, I do,” I said, “but I didn’t want you to think that I had forced my way in or manipulated you. I didn’t want you to be afraid of me.”The Darkest Minds
  9. passive
    lacking in energy or will
    “I’m passive. I just sit here watching the world.”Wishtree
  10. pertinent
    having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand
    A professional, I knew exactly how to search a book for pertinent information.Hunger of Memory
  11. random
    lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
    Natural light comes through a tall window and shows a dusty room full of random junk: boxes, discarded furniture, metal folding chairs.A Soft Place to Land
  12. respect
    an attitude of admiration or esteem
    When I walked through the school halls, kids used to look at me with admiration and respect.Linked
  13. simultaneous
    occurring or operating at the same time
    Muhammad and I are at the breakfast nook checking e-mails and eating cereal when both our phones make a simultaneous beeping sound.Saints and Misfits
  14. specify
    be particular about
    He specified that the only patients to be charged were those who could easily afford it, and that any money they brought in should then be spent treating those without money.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
  15. subsequent
    following in time or order
    "Wait. This discussion, and any subsequent discussions, will go much quicker if you just assume I'm always correct."City of the Plague God
  16. suffice
    be adequate, either in quality or quantity
    I jammed my hands into the pockets of my jeans, hoping my explanation would suffice, but Faith just sat there waiting, expecting more.Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet
  17. technique
    skillfulness in the command of fundamentals
    “For the next few weeks,” she says, “you’ll learn stitching techniques. How to hem, how to sew a band, and how to make pockets,” she tells us.Betty Before X
  18. ultimate
    furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
    “Will you accept financial and ultimate responsibility for the dog?”Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
  19. verify
    confirm the truth of
    “Someone must verify that work is actually being done.”Salt to the Sea
Created on August 30, 2022 (updated September 1, 2022)

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