Student posts on Reddit are indicating that April School Days tests include a particularly challenging vocabulary in context question. Here’s what we know and what we don’t know:
We know that ELIDE, PERMEATE, and CIRCUMVENT are possible answers. ELIDE is making its first appearance on any SAT test! It means to omit or delete. For example, the director ELIDED several scenes in order to reduce the film’s length. PERMEATE is a part of the Hawaiian Literature Cluster. For example, stories of the Kanaka, the Native Hawaiian people, PERMEATE Hawaiian culture. And finally, CIRCUMVENT means to evade or find a way around. For example, Al Capone used illegal speakeasies to CIRCUMVENT laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages.
We don’t know any context for this question. SAT test writers could have constructed a passage in which ELIDE, PERMEATE, or CIRCUMVENT could be the correct answers. As always, CONTEXT is everything!!
ELIDE – to omit; delete
PERMEATE – to spread throughout; pervade
CIRCUMVENT – to find a way around; evade