| Words to Know |
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Analogy – (noun): a statement based on things that are similar in some way, or are partly similar.
EX. The author made an analogy between people and plants stating that both plants and people succeed or fail
according to the environment in which they live.
Synonyms: comparison, correlation, correspondence, equivalence, likeness, resemblance, similarity.
Analogous – (adjective): alike in some way.
EX. The author stated that people and plants are analogous.
Synonyms: comparable, corresponding, equivalent, like, related, similar.
Argue – (verb): give reasons to agree or disagree with something.
EX. Some pedestrians (people who walk) argue that a motorist should stop to allow them to cross a street even if
they are not in a crosswalk.
Synonyms: contend, make a case, reason.
Argument – (noun): a statement giving reasons to agree or disagree with something.
EX. The pedestrians’ argument that a driver should always stop to allow them to cross the street is unpopular with
many motorists.
Synonyms: case, contention, line of reasoning, reason.
Assess – (verb): decide the value, validity (truth), or importance of something.
EX. The school board will assess our argument that students need recess.
Synonyms: appraise, determine, evaluate, judge.
Assessment – (noun): a decision on the value, validity (truth), or importance of something.
EX. We hope the school board’s assessment will be in our favor.
Synonyms: appraisal, determination, evaluation, judgment.
Assumption – (noun): something that is thought of as true even though it is unproven.
EX. The early assumption that the Earth is flat prevented large-scale exploration.
Synonym: supposition.
Claim – (noun): a statement that something is true.
EX. The veterinarian’s claim that pets should be allowed outdoors appeared in a recent medical journal.
Synonyms: allegation, assertion, averment, declaration, profession, statement.
Claim – (verb): state that something is true.
EX. At least one veterinarian (animal doctor) claims that pets are healthier when allowed to spend time outdoors.
Synonyms: allege, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, state.
Chronological – (adjective): arranged according to the time things occurred.
EX. This biography of Marie Antoinette is in chronological order; it begins with her birth and ends with her death.
Synonym: sequential.
Conclude – (verb): develop a belief or opinion through reason.
EX. After considering the research, the panel concluded that soda should be banned from school property.
Synonyms: decide, deduce.
Conclusion – (noun): a belief or opinion developed through reason.
EX. The panel’s conclusion that soda should be banned from school property was reached after hearing
arguments from two dentists, a nutritionist, and the school nurse.
Synonyms: decision, deduction.
Consequence – (noun): result; importance.
EX. One of the consequences of growing raspberries is the bird-life they attract [result].
These raspberry bushes produce so many berries that the few the birds eat are of no consequence [importance].
Synonyms: corollary, effect, outcome, upshot [result];
import, significance, value [importance].
Controversial – (adjective): causing active, public debate.
EX. Global warming is one of today’s most controversial issues; there are so many opinions on this topic.
Synonyms: contentious, divisive.
Controversy – (noun): a topic that causes active, public debate.
EX. The controversy over global warming is sparking lively discussions all over the world.
Synonym: debate.
Evidence – (noun): facts, opinions, and other information offered as proof of something.
EX. To many, the most compelling evidence supporting global warming is the rapid melting of the polar ice-cap.
Synonyms: data, substantiation, support, verification.
Express – (verb): put into words, show.
EX. The senator expressed her approval the new law using words like ‘innovative’, ‘brilliant’, and ‘far-reaching’.
Synonyms: articulate, communicate, convey, put across, state.
Inconsequential – (adjective): of no importance.
EX. Fortunately the damage from the hurricane was inconsequential; no lives were lost and no homes were
destroyed.
Synonyms: insignificant, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant.
Problematic – (adjective): causing a problem, raising questions.
EX. The problematic issue of dealing with truancy kept the school board working until after midnight.
Synonyms: challenging, difficult, knotty, tricky.
Refutation – (noun): the act of proving someone or something wrong.
EX. The new book, “A Refutation of Dieting” attempts to prove that dieting, not over-eating, makes people gain
weight.
Synonym: negation.
Refute – (verb): prove someone or something wrong.
EX. The author attempts to refute the assumption that dieting is the best way to lose weight by proving that most
people who diet tend to actually gain weight.
Synonyms: confute, disprove, invalidate.
EX. The author made an analogy between people and plants stating that both plants and people succeed or fail
according to the environment in which they live.
Synonyms: comparison, correlation, correspondence, equivalence, likeness, resemblance, similarity.
Analogous – (adjective): alike in some way.
EX. The author stated that people and plants are analogous.
Synonyms: comparable, corresponding, equivalent, like, related, similar.
Argue – (verb): give reasons to agree or disagree with something.
EX. Some pedestrians (people who walk) argue that a motorist should stop to allow them to cross a street even if
they are not in a crosswalk.
Synonyms: contend, make a case, reason.
Argument – (noun): a statement giving reasons to agree or disagree with something.
EX. The pedestrians’ argument that a driver should always stop to allow them to cross the street is unpopular with
many motorists.
Synonyms: case, contention, line of reasoning, reason.
Assess – (verb): decide the value, validity (truth), or importance of something.
EX. The school board will assess our argument that students need recess.
Synonyms: appraise, determine, evaluate, judge.
Assessment – (noun): a decision on the value, validity (truth), or importance of something.
EX. We hope the school board’s assessment will be in our favor.
Synonyms: appraisal, determination, evaluation, judgment.
Assumption – (noun): something that is thought of as true even though it is unproven.
EX. The early assumption that the Earth is flat prevented large-scale exploration.
Synonym: supposition.
Claim – (noun): a statement that something is true.
EX. The veterinarian’s claim that pets should be allowed outdoors appeared in a recent medical journal.
Synonyms: allegation, assertion, averment, declaration, profession, statement.
Claim – (verb): state that something is true.
EX. At least one veterinarian (animal doctor) claims that pets are healthier when allowed to spend time outdoors.
Synonyms: allege, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, state.
Chronological – (adjective): arranged according to the time things occurred.
EX. This biography of Marie Antoinette is in chronological order; it begins with her birth and ends with her death.
Synonym: sequential.
Conclude – (verb): develop a belief or opinion through reason.
EX. After considering the research, the panel concluded that soda should be banned from school property.
Synonyms: decide, deduce.
Conclusion – (noun): a belief or opinion developed through reason.
EX. The panel’s conclusion that soda should be banned from school property was reached after hearing
arguments from two dentists, a nutritionist, and the school nurse.
Synonyms: decision, deduction.
Consequence – (noun): result; importance.
EX. One of the consequences of growing raspberries is the bird-life they attract [result].
These raspberry bushes produce so many berries that the few the birds eat are of no consequence [importance].
Synonyms: corollary, effect, outcome, upshot [result];
import, significance, value [importance].
Controversial – (adjective): causing active, public debate.
EX. Global warming is one of today’s most controversial issues; there are so many opinions on this topic.
Synonyms: contentious, divisive.
Controversy – (noun): a topic that causes active, public debate.
EX. The controversy over global warming is sparking lively discussions all over the world.
Synonym: debate.
Evidence – (noun): facts, opinions, and other information offered as proof of something.
EX. To many, the most compelling evidence supporting global warming is the rapid melting of the polar ice-cap.
Synonyms: data, substantiation, support, verification.
Express – (verb): put into words, show.
EX. The senator expressed her approval the new law using words like ‘innovative’, ‘brilliant’, and ‘far-reaching’.
Synonyms: articulate, communicate, convey, put across, state.
Inconsequential – (adjective): of no importance.
EX. Fortunately the damage from the hurricane was inconsequential; no lives were lost and no homes were
destroyed.
Synonyms: insignificant, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant.
Problematic – (adjective): causing a problem, raising questions.
EX. The problematic issue of dealing with truancy kept the school board working until after midnight.
Synonyms: challenging, difficult, knotty, tricky.
Refutation – (noun): the act of proving someone or something wrong.
EX. The new book, “A Refutation of Dieting” attempts to prove that dieting, not over-eating, makes people gain
weight.
Synonym: negation.
Refute – (verb): prove someone or something wrong.
EX. The author attempts to refute the assumption that dieting is the best way to lose weight by proving that most
people who diet tend to actually gain weight.
Synonyms: confute, disprove, invalidate.
| Become familiar with these words; they may show up on your Praxis I Reading Test. |
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