LA9 Semester 1
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Name __________________________ Period ______
LA9 Semester 1 SAT word vocabulary
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: Without turnitin.com, it makes it harder
Allegation
for me to make the allegation that a student has plagiarized.
(adj) To accuse without proof
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Apathy
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: Students who show constant apathy
make it harder for me to do my job.
(n) indifferent, lack of emotion, Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
interest, motivation, or
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enthusiasm—general can’t be
bothered to care
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Irrelevant
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: The student’s question about the
restroom was irrelevant in the middle of my lecture on analysis.
(adj) off topic, not pertaining
to the current situation
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Liability
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: My children are my liability, because as
their mother, I am responsible for their safety and behavior.
(n) being responsible or legally
obligated to do
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Nuance
(n) a slight degree of
difference in meaning, feeling,
or tone
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: The superpack (big political money not
tied directly to a candidate) had to present a nuanced argument as to
make their guy look better than the other very similar guy he was
running against.
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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LA9 Semester 1
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: Some may say IPod classic is obsolete,
Obsolete
because of the IPhone, but it still works, and I use it.
(adj) no longer in use; outdated Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: It is my plight to suffer that I am the
Plight
only one in my house who values clean and tidy.
(n) a bad or unfortunate
situation; your problem
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: I reciprocated my neighbor’ kindness of
Reciprocate
fresh chicken eggs by delivering home-baked pumpkin bread.
(v) to show, feel, or give in
response
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Supplement
Mrs. Connelly’s sample sentence: My children love taking the gummy
vitamin C supplements.
My husband supplements our income by working a lot of overtime.
(n) something additional added
(v) to add something
Vocab word in a sentence about your life:
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Name __________________________
Date _____________
Period ______
Word:
Advocate
Definition:
(v) to speak, plead,
or argue in favor of
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The book American Born
Chinese advocates for people being sensitive to the thoughts of others.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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LA9 Semester 1
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Altercation
Definition:
(n) a very angry fight
or run-in
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: After the Monkey King was
kicked out of the party, there was an altercation with his rejecters. He
beat up everyone in sight.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Assail
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: When Danny is fed up with
Chin-Kee, he assails him by punching him.
Definition:
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
(v) to attack
physically or verbally
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Autonomy
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King thinks he
is totally autonomous and pees on Tze Yo Tzuh.
Definition:
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
(n) independence,
either as an individual ______________________________________________________________
or as a group
Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Dilemma
Definition:
(n) a situation that
requires a choice
between two equally
unfavorable things
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The dilemma Jin Wang
faces is whether to make a move on Amelia or continue to be shy, but
hopeful.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Disdain
Definition:
(n) + (v) to despise,
consider beneath
oneself
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The gods at the party in the
beginning of the book have disdain for monkeys and think they’re all poo
flingers.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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LA9 Semester 1
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Disparage
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: Timmy made disparaging
remarks about Chinese people when he accused them all of eating dog.
Definition:
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
(v) to speak of in a
disrespectful way,
belittle, reduce in
esteem
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Eloquent
Definition:
(adj) using powerful
or moving words to
keep the audience’s
attention
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The book American Born
Chinese is an eloquent story that teaches as one of its lessons the less than
eloquent message of “get over yourself.”
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Euphemism
Definition:
(n) substituting a less
direct, vague term
for one considered
blunt or offensive
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: Chin-Kee would never be
sensitive enough to use a euphemism for Melanie’s boobs like “lovely
figure” instead he says, “bountiful Amellican bosom”.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Exempt
Definition:
(adj) to excuse from
a requirement others
must do
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King thinks he
should be exempt from stereotyping and bad treatment, because he’s a
king.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Integral
Definition:
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: Stereotyping is an integral
part of the story, American Born Chinese.
LA9 Semester 1
(adj) essential or
necessary for
completion; a
necessary part
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word:
Irrevocable
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: Timmy does irrevocable
harm to Jin Wang’s self-confidence with his “eats dog” comment.
Definition:
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
(adj) impossible to
retract or take back;
unchangeable
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Oblivious
Definition:
(adj) lacking
awareness to
surroundings
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: Timmy is oblivious to Jin
Wang’s feeling and doesn’t notice or care that he’s made someone feel
bad.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Presumptuous
Definition:
(adj) boldly taking
too much for
granted, overconfident
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King was
totally presumptuous when he thought he didn’t need God, Tze-Yo-Tzuh.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Quest
Definition:
(n) a difficult journey
to find something/do
something important
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King goes on a
quest to prove he is the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Refute
Definition:
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The book American Born
Chinese refutes by showing them so boldly.
LA9 Semester 1
(v) to prove to be
false, deny the truth
of
SAT word vocabulary with American Born Chinese reference
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Tenacious
Definition:
(adj) holding
persistently to
something; refusal to
let go
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King is
tenacious in his goal to prove he is the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Transformation
Definition:
(n) a complete
change in someone
or something
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The Monkey King goes
through a complete physical and mental transformation from a happy
monkey to an angry Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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Word: Vague
Definition:
(adj) not clearly
expressed, lacking
definite shape,
indistinct, without
detail
Sample sentence from American Born Chinese: The book American Born
Chinese is not vague in showcasing the damage that can be done by stupid
comments.
Your sentence referencing ABC:___________________________________
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Vocab word in a sentence about your life: ___________________________
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