Here we go again! RECONCILE is yet another word with multiple and unexpected meanings. AMENABLE is commonly used to describe a person who is willing to agree, cooperate, or accept suggestions. BUT, it can also mean capable of being acted upon, tested, or changed in a specific way.
The August 22, 2026 SAT included a disputed question that used AMENABLE in its second and lesser-known usage. Let’s take a look!
The passage describes research about plants that my “preferentially absorb copper” from soil. This suggests that copper-contaminated soil may be especially AMENABLE to decontamination by plants. Remember, AMENABLE means susceptible or receptive to a process. The passage makes logical sense if you substitute the phrase “able to” into the blank.
A majority of students posters on Reddit chose PERTINENT as the best answer. PERTINENT means relevant. RELEVANCE attaches to a topic, a question, or a discussion. Soil is not relevant to decontamination by plants.
AMENABLE – capable of being acted upon, tested, or changed in a specific way
PERTINENT – relevant; directly appropriate to the matter being discussed