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Interpreting words and phrases in context Videos 27 videos

SAT Reading 1.1 Short Passages
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SAT Reading: Short Passages Drill 1, Problem 1

SAT Reading 2.2 Short Passages
214 Views

SAT Reading: Short Passages Drill 2, Problem 2

The Word "Fostering" in Line 6 Most Nearly Means...What?
211 Views

SAT Reading Long Passages Drill 1, Problem 2

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SAT Reading 2.4 Long Passages 176 Views


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Description:

Reading Long Passages: Drill 2, Problem 4

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

Here's your shmoop du jour... If you need to review your old friend, Mr.

00:06

Long Passage, feel free to press the pause.

00:33

In line 32, "alight" most nearly means...what?

00:37

And here are the potential answers...

00:41

Our narrator's waiting by the train—but

00:43

where's Aunt Georgiana? Oh, she's just busy being the "last of the passengers to alight."

00:51

Though these days "alight" is usually used to describe when something lands from

00:55

the sky--like an airplane or a flying monkey...

00:57

The context of this passage makes it crystal clear that the narrator is simply referring

01:02

to his aunt exiting the train--which apparently took her a very long time.

01:07

What, did she get locked in the bathroom or something?

01:14

Just turn and push, Auntie G. Armed with this context, we can start throwing

01:18

incorrect answers from the train.

01:20

Let's begin by eliminating (C), since she must have had a ticket to board the train

01:24

in the first place--unless she's an evil master of deception.

01:28

We find that quite doubtful. (B) is easy to nix as well. It seems highly

01:32

unlikely that such an old and weathered woman is going to be taking any leaps, or giant

01:36

jumps from the train.

01:38

The narrator probably would have seen her if she went to retrieve her baggage, so (D)

01:42

is out as well.

01:43

"Attend" is usually used to describe when somebody shows up at an event.

01:47

Though Auntie G is showing up somewhere, exiting a train isn't much of an event--for most

01:52

people anyway.

01:53

Really, (A) just doesn't make any sense at all, so ... buh-bye.

01:57

The prefix "dis" can sometimes mean to separate from something, while "embark"

02:02

means "to begin a journey."

02:03

Aunt Georgiana is at last separating herself from this train and heading off to meet her

02:08

nephew. Knowing all this, we're proud to declare (E) the correct answer.

02:12

Maybe Auntie G should take some disembarking lessons before her next train ride.

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