Vocabulary in Context
These items ask you to determine what a word means as it is used in a specific sentence. Because context guides the answer, a word can shade toward one of its meanings over another. Building a broad vocabulary and reading each sentence carefully are the keys.
Use the Sentence, Not Just the Dictionary
A word's intended meaning is fixed by the surrounding sentence, so read for contrast and consequence. When a sentence says an endorsement was 'forgotten by the next news cycle,' 'ephemeral' clearly means short-lived. Let the context steer you away from tempting but off-target choices.
Learn Words in Families
Grouping words by shared roots and themes helps you recall them under time pressure. Terms like 'tenacious,' 'steadfast,' and 'persistent' cluster around determination, while 'candid' and 'frank' cluster around honesty. Studying clusters makes fine distinctions easier to see.