Science & Social Science Words to Know - SAT Reading

Advantageous

providing an advantage

Empirical

relying on hard data

Fauna

animal life

Flora

plant life

Hierarchy

system of rank; opposite of egalitarian

Isotope

alternate form of an element

Indigenous

native

Inhibit

prevent, impede (e.g., a response)

Metabolism

the process of converting food into energy

Methodology

system of methods or procedures

Microbial

relating to microscopic organisms

Pigment

color

Predisposed

having tendency toward

Regenerate

regrow

Replicate

repeat with the same result

Saturate

to become completely soaked with

Simulation

realistic (computer) model

Stimulus (pl., Stimuli)

something that provokes a specific response

Symbiosis

interaction between two organisms living close together, benefits both

Taxonomy

classification system

Trait

characteristic

Vegetation

plants (not vegetables)

Velocity

speed

Astronomy

study of stars and planets

Botany

study of plants

Cognitive Science, Neuroscience

science of the brain

Ecology

study of the natural world

Entomology

study of insects

Epidemiology

study of diseases and public health

Genetics

study of genes

Geology

study of rocks

Ornithology

study of birds

Paleontology

study of fossils

Zoology

study of animals

Anthropology

study of human behavior and social organization, usually on a large scale; can include linguistics, biology, and archaeology

Economics

study of monetary systems

Archaeology

study of historical human activity through recovery of excavation (digging up) physical objects

Ethnography

study of individual cultures

Folklore

study of traditional stories and myths

Sociology

study of everyday human social behaviors and interactions at a specific time