Tooth and Nail: A Novel Approach to the SAT (A Harvest Test Preparation Book)
Page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Preface
Off to College
Entrance Examination
Go Fish
First Impressions
Study What You Most Affect
The Prospero Enigma
Fair Play or Foul?
A Shrewd Conversation
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Opportunity Knocks
The Telltale Spelling
To Be or Not to Be Shakespeare
The Gentleman Doth Protest Too Much
Fortune Favors the Hungry
Something Ventured, Something Gained
Poetry, Philosophy, and Pizza
Blood is Thicker Than Ink
Round Up the Usual Suspects
Professor Bibb’s Eminent Domain
Words, Words, Srdow
Clothes Make the Man
XXI XII MDXCIX
Ay, Here’s the Rub
Use Your Dictionary
Up a Tree
One Conjecture is Better Than None
Operation Ganymede
The Method in the Madness
Descent into the Maelstrom
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Epilogue
Exercises
Glossary
Sample Chapter from WORD WORKOUT
About the Authors
Copyright © 2004 by Charles Harrington Elster and Joseph Elliot Glossary copyright © 1994 by Charles Harrington Elster, Joseph Elliot, and Harcourt Brace & Company
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10003.
SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board.
www.hmhco.com
“The Brain—is wider than the Sky—,” by Emily Dickinson, is reprinted by permission of the publishers and the Trustees of Amherst College from The Poems of Emily Dickinson, Thomas H. Johnson, ed., Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Copyright © 1951, 1955, 1979, 1983 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Elster, Charles Harrington.
Tooth and nail: a novel approach to the new SAT / Charles Harrington Elster & Joseph Elliot.
p. cm.—(A Harvest test preparation book)
ISBN 0-15-601382-7
ISBN 978-0-15-601382-6
1. Scholastic aptitude test—Study guides.
I. Elliot, Joseph, 1960–. II. Title. III. Series.
LB2353.57E47 1994
378.1'662—dc20 93–30958
eISBN 978-0-547-54589-9
v1.0814
For Myrna and Anne:
indefatigable partners, beneficent wives.
But thou art all my art and dost advance
As high as learning my rude ignorance.
—Shakespeare, Sonnet 78
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the following persons for their assistance: Chuck Valverde of Wahrenbrock’s Book House in San Diego, for sharing his esoteric knowledge of rare books; Steve Hayes, for help in the early stages; Philip Williams, for sage advice; Philip Turner, for a good tip; Cory Meacham; John Uphouse; Norman Storer and Mary Hiatt; and Nancy and Reinhardt Elster, for putting us up and putting up with us.
Preface
Congratulations. You have just done something very smart—something commendable and meritorious, as the people who write the SAT would probably put it.
Why are you so smart? Because in picking up this book you’ve just taken the first step toward preparing yourself for the verbal sections of the SAT in a refreshing, creative way.
You might also have some fun in the process.
Studying for the SAT, fun? Give me a break, you’re thinking. Well, that’s just what we intend to give you.
The book you’re holding in your hands represents a complete break from the SAT preparation methods of the past. It’s a break from boring lessons. It’s a break from trying to memorize tedious lists of unrelated words. It’s a break from sharpening No. 2 pencils and filling in multiple-choice ovals. It is unlike any other SAT preparation book or program available today.
That’s because Tooth and Nail takes an innovative approach—as the subtitle says, “a novel approach.” It offers you a way to build your vocabulary, improve your reading comprehension skills, and enjoy a good story all at the same time.
If that sounds like a better way to go, read on.
The “Novel Approach” and How it Works
You’ve probably already realized there’s a double meaning in the phrase “a novel approach.” We chose it, of course, to show that Tooth and Nail is unusual in two ways.
First, this book represents an entirely new way to build your vocabulary for the SAT. Second, it’s not a textbook. It’s an actual novel that contains words you’re likely to see on the test. In short, our “novel approach” says good-bye to word lists and lessons and lets you read your way to a stronger vocabulary.
Here’s how it works:
Every boldfaced word in this book (boldface is dark type, like this) is an SAT word. Boldfacing is our subtle way of calling words to your attention without interrupting the flow of your reading. Think of it as a little flag or pop-up window that says, “Hey, here’s one that may come up on the test!”
For example, of the four hundred words you’ve just read, six were boldfaced: commendable, meritorious, tedious, innovative, novel, and subtle. (“Dark type, like this” doesn’t count because it was just an example.) These six and the hundreds of other boldfaced SAT words in Tooth and Nail are defined in the glossary at the back of the book. To quickly find out what a boldfaced word means, just flip to the glossary and look it up. Then reread the passage in which the word occurs to reinforce your understanding of the meaning.
Besides giving definitions, the glossary has two other helpful features:
Cross-referencing of synonyms. Look up adept in the glossary and you’ll find a definition followed by cross-references to four test-word synonyms: adroit, deft, dexterous, and proficient. Checking the definitions of these and all the other cross-referenced synonyms in the glossary will help you build your vocabulary faster by associating groups of related SAT words.
Page references showing where each SAT word occurs in the book. Each entry in the glossary lists the page numbers where you can find that word. If you’re trying to master a certain word, you can easily study every passage where it appears in the book.
For further review and reinforcement, we also included a section of vocabulary-building exercises. These exercises are not like the questions on the SAT and they are not intended to teach you how to take the test. They are designed to solidify your understanding of the words you will learn from reading this book—the words you need to know to analyze the questions on the test and answer them correctly.
We’re convinced that if you peruse
Tooth and Nail, make diligent use of the glossary, and do all the exercises conscientiously, your vocabulary will be in excellent shape for the test.
What Exactly is a “Test Word”?
You may be wondering how we determined which words were “test words,” the ones we’ve boldfaced in this book. Here’s what we did:
We analyzed the verbal sections of thirty-five published SATs and compiled a list of all the words that appeared two or more times on the test. Then, with the help of references teachers use to determine vocabulary grade level, we pared down our big list, eliminating simple words below the eighth-grade level until we were left with all the high school- and college-level words—the most challenging portion of the SAT vocabulary. Our final list contained more than twelve hundred upper-level words, many of which showed up on numerous SATs. These are the words you will find in the pages of Tooth and Nail.
Now, let’s face facts. Because English has more than a million words, and because the particular test you take will be different from the tests we examined, we can’t guarantee that our list contains every tough word you’ll encounter on your test. Based on our breakdown, however, we can assert that all the words in our list have a better-than-average chance of appearing on the SAT. So it stands to reason that learning as many of them as you can will improve your chances of doing well on the test.
But that’s enough about word lists because—we’ll say it again—this book is not about lists. Lists are insipid. They have no vitality. To quote a spokesperson for the SAT, “Word lists are out; reading is in.”
The Key to the SAT: Read, Read, Read
Reading is what Tooth and Nail is all about. It’s also what the SAT is all about. The SAT has always emphasized reading comprehension, and even the College Entrance Examination Board (the people responsible for making you miserable for several hours on a Saturday morning) admits that the best way you can learn the words you need to know for the test is to “read and read widely.”
Since 1994, when SAT I was introduced, about half of all the questions in the verbal sections have been based on the reading comprehension passages. Overall there have been more questions that test “verbal reasoning skills and knowledge of vocabulary in context.”
You don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that there’s only one way to build your knowledge of vocabulary in context: by reading. And that, as we said before, is what Tooth and Nail is all about.
Learning Vocabulary in Context
Think of context (it’s in the glossary—check it out) as a word’s environment. Context is where words dwell.
Studying a word in a vocabulary list is like studying an animal in a cage. You can’t discern its true nature because it’s been removed from its environment. When you study a word in context—in the phrases and sentences and paragraphs where it lives—you learn far more than its definition. You see the word in action, affirming its existence and exerting its special influence on its surroundings. You watch how it behaves and pick up clues about its personality. And as you come to understand how it clarifies or enhances what you’re reading, you discover not only what the word means but also how it works.
Studying a word in context involves two things: (1) scrutinizing all its dictionary definitions to determine which one is applicable and why; and (2) asking yourself some astute questions: What precisely does this word imply, and how does it flavor the passage? Is it positive or negative, abstract or concrete, explicit or obscure? Does it suggest a state of mind or indicate how to interpret an action? Does it tell you something about a person or the quality of a thing? How do the words surrounding it provide clues to its meaning? Every earnest attempt to answer these questions as you read this book will help you develop your ability to ascertain meaning from context and improve your chances of doing well on the SAT.
We could write a lengthy treatise on learning vocabulary in context, but don’t worry, we won’t. Instead we’ll be concise: Other test-preparation books present words out of context. Tooth and Nail puts SAT words in context and helps you befriend them.
Now that’s about as succinct as you can get.
A Few Words to the Wise
You probably will already know some of the boldfaced test words you see in this book. (If you know them well, that’s great; you’re on your way to a better score.) Many other boldfaced words may seem familiar and you may think you know what they mean, but when it comes to filling in those little ovals on exam day, thinking you know the meaning of a word may not be good enough.
We know you’ll check the definitions of unfamiliar words, but it’s also important to look up the words you only think you know. Remember, many words can be used in more than one way, and the SAT specializes in verbal surprises, so don’t take the meaning of any boldfaced word in this book for granted. Analyzing the context for clues, then checking the word’s definition in the glossary, and then reexamining the context is the most effective way to reinforce your knowledge.
Also, be careful not to guess the meaning of a word. For example, many people think that enervated means “filled with energy” because it looks and sounds like energized. In fact, enervated means just the opposite: “weakened, drained of energy.” The point is, your subjective assessment of what a word means may not be reliable. So be sure to check the definition in the glossary and in your dictionary, and then reread the context.
In short, be honest with yourself. If you’re only 50 percent sure what a word means, or even if you’re 99 percent sure, look it up. It’s painless, and no one’s peering over your shoulder in judgment. There’s also an added benefit to checking and rechecking the definitions of words you come across in your reading. Not only will it help you prepare for the SAT, it will also help you build a strong and permanent vocabulary, one that will serve you well through college and beyond.
Extra Credit for the Extra-Serious Reader
Now that we’ve gotten that admonition out of the way, let’s talk about how you can do even more to score high on the test.
In addition to the hundreds of boldfaced SAT words in Tooth and Nail, we have also incorporated numerous “extra-credit” words in the book. Most of them are at or above the eleventh-grade level. Many appeared only once in our analysis of test materials; others we have included because our story required them. For example, decrepit, sodden, cumbersome, interject, amorous, tenuous, circumscribed, redoubtable, conundrum, jocular, and delectation are just a few of the dozens of challenging extra-credit words in Tooth and Nail. They’re all over the book, waiting for you to discover them.
Keep in mind that these extra-credit words are not printed in boldface, which means they’re not defined in the glossary. As you read and look up the boldfaced SAT words in the glossary, also keep an eye out for anything unfamiliar that is not printed in boldface. By keeping your dictionary close by while reading, you can look up the extra-credit words right away. You can also highlight them with a marker and look them up later, after finishing each chapter. (Highlighting is a good idea because it gives you an easy way to find these words again just by flipping through the book.)
We have included these extra-credit words to give you, as a motivated student, more chances to build your vocabulary and prepare for whatever may come your way on the SAT. Consider it a further opportunity for edification and enlightenment. (Go on, check the glossary!)
Two Tips for SAT Success
When studying vocabulary for the SAT, you will learn more, learn faster, and be more likely to retain what you’ve learned if you follow these two precepts:
Get a partner (or two). Working with a partner—a “study buddy”—is an excellent way to solidify your knowledge of the words you learn from reading Tooth and Nail (especially if your partner is reading it too).
Make it fun. Preparing for the SAT doesn’t have to be torture. (That’s why we wrote this book, remember?) Though taking the test may not be one of life’s most pleasurable experiences, learning SAT vocabulary can be both enjoyable and productive.
Here are some ideas that may help:
Read Tooth and Nail with a friend. When you have someone to help you, and someone you can help, it’s a lot easier to stick to a studying schedule and accomplish your goals. Try giving each other a weekly reading assignment, and get together regularly to discuss the book and review the SAT words you’ve learned.
Ask your friend to select a passage at random from Tooth and Nail, one that has several boldfaced SAT words, and read it aloud. Listen, and then define the words. (Use the glossary to check your answers, and use your dictionary to check pronunciation or to research other definitions.) Discuss how the SAT words influence the meaning of the passage. Then reverse the procedure and quiz your friend.
Try learning the vocabulary in reverse—from the definition to the word. Give your friend a list of the words you want to study and ask him or her to read you the definition, either from the glossary or from a dictionary. Then try to come up with the word that matches the definition.
Find a handy place to record your “target words,” the ones you find most difficult and the ones you most want to learn. The classic method (which really works!) is to create flashcards on three-by-five index cards, writing the word on one side and the definition on the other. Carry the cards with you and test yourself by flipping through them between classes, at lunch, on the bus, or wherever. You can also keep your words and definitions in a pocket-sized notebook that’s easy to carry around. If you have access to a computer, you can create a special database of test words you want to learn or of all the challenging words you find in your reading. However you decide to set up your list, be sure to review it at least once or twice a day. Remember also that reviewing involves more than just skimming. For best results, quiz yourself regularly and keep track of your score.