PSAT flashcards 1-reading&writing

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key words, grammar rules, and mathematical concepts referenced in the PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test #1 answer explanations.

void (as in “a void space”)

An empty, vacant stretch of space or time.

efficient

Effective and well organized; achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort.

disturbed (contextual meaning)

Alarmed or worried; not bothered by fear.

suggestion (contextual meaning)

A trace or faint indication of something.

creating (art context)

Producing or bringing something into existence.

simply (contextual meaning)

Easily; involving minimal difficulty or effort.

rarely

Infrequently; not often.

saturated with

Thoroughly or completely filled or supplied with something.

nonfinite verb form

A verb form (infinitive, participle, gerund) that does not show tense, person, or number.

to-infinitive

The base form of a verb preceded by “to,” used as a nonfinite verb (e.g., to digest).

present participle

The “-ing” form of a verb used as an adjective or to form continuous tenses (e.g., including).

subject-verb agreement

The rule that a verb must agree in number with its subject.

pronoun-antecedent agreement

Pronouns must match their antecedents in number and gender.

supplementary element (grammar)

A non-essential phrase or clause set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses.

semicolon

Punctuation joining closely related independent clauses or separating complex list items.

colon

Punctuation introducing a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete clause.

dash (em dash)

Punctuation used to set off or emphasize information within a sentence.

comma splice

Error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma.

interrogative sentence

A sentence that asks a direct question and ends with a question mark.

prograde orbit

An orbit that moves in the same direction as a planet’s rotation.

retrograde orbit

An orbit that moves opposite to a planet’s rotation.

eccentric orbit

A highly elongated, non-circular orbital path.

line of best fit

A straight line that best represents data points on a scatterplot.

slope

Rate of change of a line; rise divided by run (Δy/Δx).

y-intercept

The point where a graph crosses the y-axis (0, b).

x-intercept

The point where a graph crosses the x-axis (a, 0).

median (statistics)

The middle value of an ordered data set.

margin of error

The amount that is allowed for in case of miscalculation or change; estimate ± margin gives a plausible range.

angle-angle similarity postulate

If two angles of one triangle are congruent to two of another, the triangles are similar.

tangent (right triangle)

The ratio of the length of the side opposite an acute angle to the length of the adjacent side.

area of a rectangle

Product of length and width (A = lw).

perimeter of a rectangle

Sum of all side lengths; 2(l + w).

volume of a prism

Base area multiplied by height (V = Bh).

slope-intercept form

Linear equation written as y = mx + b.

quadratic formula

x = [-b ± √(b² − 4ac)] ⁄ 2a, solves ax² + bx + c = 0.

vertex form (quadratic)

f(x) = a(x − h)² + k; vertex at (h, k).

zero-product property

If ab = 0, then a = 0 or b = 0.

box-plot median

Shown by the vertical line inside the box of a box-and-whisker plot.

dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with reward, pleasure, and motivation.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

A belt of rising air and heavy rainfall near the equator where trade winds meet.

Great Migration

Early 20th-century relocation of Black Americans from the U.S. South to Northern cities.

domed nest (ornithology)

A bird nest with a roof-like covering that offers protection from weather.

aerogel

A highly porous, lightweight foam noted for excellent insulation properties.

contraction on heating (materials)

Unusual property of some materials that shrink rather than expand when heated.

bufadienolide

A toxic compound found in cane toad eggs.

geoglyph

A large design or motif created on the ground, often visible from above.

“its”

The singular possessive determiner indicating ownership by a non-human or unspecified antecedent.

transition "for example"

Phrase introducing an illustrative instance supporting a preceding statement.

transition "instead"

Connector signaling an alternative or contrast to previous information.