In 1986 a spacecraft flying by Uranus reported that the planet’s protective magnetic field appeared to be missing plasma. Puzzled by this unusual data, scientists eventually concluded that the spacecraft’s flyby occurred during a “rare increase in solar activity.”
The passage asked students to find the most logical and precise word to describe this event. Many test-takers incorrectly chose EMPIRICAL because they linked it to the word “data.” EMPIRICAL does mean guided by data. However, the key word “rare” supports EXCEPTIONAL or unusual and therefore rare as the most precise answer.
EXCEPTIONAL – unusual, uncommon, and thus rare
EMPIRICAL – guided by facts and data
BONUS POINTS – The passage also noted that the data was “likely ANOMALOUS.” ANOMALOUS is a classic SAT word that means unusual and thus atypical. ANOMALOUS also supports EXCEPTIONAL as the most logical answer. EXCEPTIONAL is now officially a member of our group of One Hit Wonder words!