The following words frequently appear in the Reading and Writing section of the SAT and the Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE. In the passage-based question section, there are often questions about the author's tone.
The tone may be that of
objectivity
objective adj. unbiased; n. a goal
impartial adj. unbiased, unprejudiced
neutral adj. not aligned with either side
dispassionate adj. not influenced by emotion
impersonal adj. showing no emotion, having no personal connection
or could convey the following
feelings
wistful adj. wishful, yearning, melancholic
nostalgic adj. bittersweet desire for the past
indignation n. anger aroused by cruelty/ injustice
harmony n. agreement; pleasing combination
tranquil adj. peaceful
wary adj. watchful, guarded
provocative adj. stimulating
lament v. to feel sorrow
cantankerous adj. ill-tempered
somber adj. gloomy
complacent adj. content, self-satisfied
sanguine adj. cheerful, confident
However, the tone is not likely one of
disinterest
apathetic adj. lack of interest or concern
indifferent adj. lack of interest or concern
detachment n. indifferent, aloof
Questions may be posed about what the author
believes
affirm v. to declare, confirm
allege v. to claim, assert as true
justify v. to give reasons for
validate v. to confirm, justify
assert v. to affirm, state positively, declare
speculate v. to conjecture, infer, consider
presume v. assume, take for granted, speculate
infer v. to deduce, ascertain, assume
derive v. deduce, infer, obtain from a source
hypothesis n. tentative explanation that accounts for facts, conjecture
These words indicate
clarity, or lack thereof
lucid adj clear, easily understood
explicit adj clearly expressed
articulate adj using clear language
unequivocal adj. clear, unambiguous
equivocate v. to avoid making a clear statement
elusive adj. hard to grasp
convoluted adj. complicated
cryptic adj. puzzling
ambiguous adj. uncertain, open to interpretation
ambivalent adj. uncertain, indecisive, having opposing feelings
The following words convey
support or respect
substantiate v. to support with evidence
extol v. to praise highly, to acclaim
advocate v. to support
endorse v. to give approval
laud v. to praise highly
venerate v. to revere
empathy n. understanding another's feelings
reverent adj. respectful
tolerant adj. respectful; enduring
foster v. to nurture or aid
eulogy n. praise highly in speech or writing
In contrast, these words connote
rejection or disapproval
refute v. to disprove
belie v. to contradict, to misrepresent
renounce v. to reject, to give up
disdain v. to despise
dismissive adj. disdainful
condescending adj. disdainful
contempt n. scorn; disrespect of a court’s will
condemn v. to denounce; to sentence
undermine v. to weaken or impair
divisive adj. creating disagreement
repudiate v. to deny, reject, disavow
discredited adj. disbelieved, disgraced
defy v. rebel, go against orders
impugn v. dispute, question, contradict
insolent adj. rude, disrespectful
These words are
questioning
skeptical adj. doubting, questioning
cynical adj. skeptical about human behavior
incredulous adj. skeptical
implausible adj. doubtful
dubious adj. doubtful
While these are
mocking
parody n. a satire or lampoon
mock v. ridicule
satire n. irony used to show human folly
facetious adj. humorous, flippant, insincere
deride v. ridicule, mock
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