Word Knowledge
Word Knowledge tests whether you can identify the meaning of a word as it is used in a short sentence or phrase. The exam favors precise vocabulary, so a word that merely fits the topic is not enough; it must match the sentence's meaning, tone, and intensity.
Use the sentence
Look for restatement clues, contrast clues, and cause-effect clues. Words such as but, although, and yet signal an opposite meaning. Words such as because and therefore signal a result. Replace the target word with each answer choice and test the whole sentence, not just the blank.
Word parts
Prefixes and roots can narrow the choices: bene- means good, mal- means bad, ante- means before, post- means after, and circum- means around. Common roots include cred (believe), fer (carry), spec (look), and dict (say). Suffixes show part of speech, such as -tion for nouns or -ous for adjectives.
Worked example
The inspector was adamant that the valve be replaced before the line reopened. Adamant describes a fixed position, not merely an emotion. A good synonym is unyielding or firm. Angry, uncertain, and curious may fit the situation but not the word's core meaning. The sentence says the inspector insisted, so the answer must convey refusal to change position.
Traps
Do not choose a word because it is associated with the topic. Match connotation: stubborn is negative, firm can be neutral. Do not ignore intensity: annoyed is weaker than furious. Watch homophones and near-synonyms that differ in usage.