SAT: The Language of the Test: Language of the Test, List 3

The word purpose shows up often on the Reading Test of the SAT. When you are being asked about purpose, you are trying to get inside a writer's head — trying to figure out why he or she made certain decisions during the writing process. You are sometimes asked to identify a reading passage's overall purpose, or you could also be asked about the purpose of a single paragraph or instance of word choice.

Think of a magnifying glass enlarging an image. That's what a writer does for a reader when he or she focuses on a particular idea; that idea becomes dominant. On the SAT, the word focus could be used in a question or in an answer. A question could begin, "Over the course of the passage, the main focus of the narrative shifts from..." Then, your job would be to figure out how the focus changed in the passage.

You will most likely see the word central before the word claim on the new SAT.Central in this context means "main." If you are asked to identify an argument's central claim, then you are trying to figure out the main point the writer is trying to get across.

If you flip point of view around and take out of, you get viewpoint. Your point of view is your viewpoint, your perspective, the way you see things either physically or mentally. On the SAT, if you encounter the term point of view, it will most likely refer to a writer's mental stance on an issue. In an argument, the writer's point of view is usually evident in the central claim.

To emphasize is to stress or call attention to something. Writers are always trying to emphasize certain ideas, so this word could show up often in answer choices in Reading Test questions on the SAT. Why does a writer use rhetorical devices? To EMPHASIZE, of course! (The hard part is trying to figure out WHAT they are emphasizing.)

To highlight is to emphasize. Think of when you use a highlighter to make certain words stand out in color. Writers highlight ideas without highlighters; they use language. On the SAT, you may be asked a question like "The main purpose of the passage is to..." and an answer option could begin, "to highlight..." Those crafty SAT writers have to come up with multiple ways to say the same thing: highlight, emphasize, stress, underscore, etc.

To underscore something is to give it emphasis, a little extra oomph. Think about underlining something that you are reading because you want it to stand out. Authors underscore ideas by using strong word choice or rhetorical devices. This word has a lot in common with highlight; you may see either or both of these words on the SAT — used to refer to how an author makes certain ideas stand out in a passage.

When you adapt a text, you change or tweak it in some way. You may see the word adapted in SAT reading directions to let you know that what you are about to read has been adapted from an original text. Just remember that you are not expected to know anything about the original form of the text; you are only being tested on your analysis of the adapted reading passage on the exam.

When you support the truth or value of something, you validate it. On the SAT, you may see that one passage validates an idea asserted in another passage. Or you may read about a scientific experiment that validates a particular principle. Validating is the name of the game when you are trying to prove a point.

Although the word address might make you think of your street address, when you see address on the SAT, it is most likely referring to the verb meaning to address a topic or issue. For example, a reading passage may address the significance of pollution on the environment. It's a formal way of saying the reading passage is "about" the particular topic.

On the SAT Reading Test, you'll see refer a lot, especially in questions that read, "The author refers to x primarily to suggest..." In this context refers to is a more formal way to say "brings up." You might also see the noun form reference used in a similar way (e.g., The author's reference to x ...).

The verb cite has nothing to do with the nouns sight or site. When you cite something, you are giving credit where credit is due in a piece of writing. You can cite a source formally with a citation (like you would in a research paper) or you can informally cite something as you refer to it in a piece of writing. An SAT Reading question could begin, "Which choice does the author explicitly cite as...." In this case, head back to the passage to find the direct reference.