SAT: The Language of the Test: Language of the Test, List 11

To mimic is to imitate, and you may see these words used interchangeably on the SAT. Mimic could also be used to describe similarities between things, events, or results. If one species acts just like another under a given set of circumstances, you might say that the species mimic each other in their behavior.

To be distinct is to be separate or different from something else. When you move out of the room you shared with your little brother, it is usually because you want your own distinct space. On the SAT, you will be asked to identify when things are distinct from one another and often asked to choose a reason why that difference is so clear.

When you decide what something means, you interpret it. On the SAT, you may read a science passage where a scientist interprets the results of an experiment, and you may have to identify the evidence that led the scientist to his interpretation. Or, you may be asked to choose, from several interpretations, which particular one makes the most sense based on the reading passage.

When you establish something in writing, you make it clear. The word establish will come up often in answer options for questions regarding a passage's purpose. For example: Why did the author use we? Possible answer: to establish a sense of togetherness. A writer can establish tone, perspective, facts, etc. You name it. Using the word establish in this sense almost means "accomplish."

Any detail or feature of something can be called a trait. Traits are things that separate, or distinguish, one thing from another, and objects or animals can also be grouped by traits they have in common. The SAT may ask you to keep track of traits that things have in common or traits that distinguish things from one another over the course of a reading passage.

A theory is an explanation. It should include evidence and be backed by an authority. Scientific theories develop from careful observation and testing over the course of years by different people. On the SAT, it can be important to recognize when something is just a single thought and when something has grown into a detailed theory. The word theory can be used non-scientifically too; it can mean just an explanation that doesn't have to be confirmed by any outside source.

The word development on the SAT will most likely refer to the development of ideas throughout a reading passage. In other words, an author may not be able to persuade you of his or her opinion in one sentence. Instead, he or she builds or develops an argument through logical reasoning and evidence. Tracing that development of ideas will be a large part of your work on the Reading Test.

The verb favor means to prefer something, to like one thing more than another. A good way to remember this meaning of favor is that it makes up most of the word favorite (think of favoring as choosing your favorite). On the SAT, the verb favor is often used to express an author's or character's preference for something. Or, you may also read that an author or character rejects one thing "in favor of" something else.

Influence means "to have an effect on." Influence is a word that pops up on the SAT when they want to draw your attention to how one thing acts upon another. For example, What is the influence of A on B? Does A strengthen the effect of B or does A weaken the effect of B? Since influence is a general word to describe all kinds of interactions, so you may see it used a lot.

The adjective accompanying refers to going along with, or being a part of something. On the SAT Reading Test, graphics (tables, graphs, etc.) will accompany some reading passages, and the questions on those passages will address both the text and the accompanying graphics.

In reading passages on the SAT, it is important to be able to describe the function (or purpose) a certain paragraph serves in the passage as a whole. For example, the paragraph may provide support for the main claim of the argument, or it may provide a counterargument to be later refuted. The word function often pops up in question stems like the following: "What function does the discussion of x serve in Passage 2?"

Something significant is important or meaningful. It's a word to cue to take notice. On the SAT, if you see the word significant, you should consider why the word was used. You may be told that a scientist's findings are significant and then it will be your job to determine why — based on evidence from the reading passage.

When something is hypothetical, it is not real or hasn't actually happened. The opposite of hypothetical is empirical, meaning real and testable by science. Because some of the SAT reading passages deal with science, it's a good idea to keep track of things that are empirical and things that are just theoretical, or hypothetical.