<p>Thanks for the input Hunt. The problem for me is not so much the prose, but rather the manner in which I stretch out the word. As most would know, sensitive means to “quick to detect slight changes”. If I were to take another test in the same context, the chances of me choosing the right answer would be as high as getting the wrong answer. This is because I assumed calibrating, like calibrating a machine, could be applied to people as well. Despite choosing the better “sounding” word for better prose, many times that is the trap, leading me to be as inclined to choose the incorrect word as the correct word, if not strictly out of meaning.</p>
<p>Here’s an example to illustrate my point.</p>
<p>The chief loathed the ---- behavior of some medical students who would---- her excessively in an effort to win her favor. </p>
<p>Now from this, one could assume that the proper first word would be sucking up, more likely “obsequious” or “sycophant” as more SAT oriented words with the second word as compliment or praise, or perhaps a higher level word.</p>
<p>These are the choices
A. Sycophantic . complement
B. Recalcitrant…castigate
C. Obsequious… commend
D. unwitting… antagonize
E. gluttonous… belabor</p>
<p>Now, most who know the definitions of the words would be stuck between A and C</p>
<p>however, commend her excessively sounds more positive than negative, thus I chose A. For example, in association to commend, I thought Commend for her efforts, praise formally, positive, commend an award-winner.</p>
<p>However, if one scrutinized every word carefully, one would realize that for A, complement, as in complementary does not fit. Thus, I am confident I could have gotten this problem correct, although I was not able to because I was distracted by prose and connotation rather than the words themselves. In no way am I trying to criticize good prose, but I wish to point out the SAT does not necessarily always implement good prose, just as the pictures on the math are necessarily accurate, and the sentences in the writing section do not necessarily sound correct or proper, but as long as rules are properly followed, regardless of the sound or connotation, an answer could be correct.</p>
<p>For example, in the writing section,
The oldest known civilization in the Western Hemispher, the Norte Chico civilization—having comprised— many interconnected settlements leading the the Peruvian Coast.
A.having comprised
B. comprising
C. comprised
D. was comprising of
E. had been comprised</p>
<p>I was struggling between C and D, as I usually would use “comprised of” but was D was blatantly wrong, I ignored good prose and whatnot for C, the correct answer. Nonetheless, good prose in useful in 90% of the cases! but for us in cc! nothing less than 100% is acceptable.</p>
<p>Of course, I realize now that sensitive is the “best” answer, and if I had focused for 5 minutes, I could have reached the same conclusions. Unfortunately, the time limit is quite demanding and I rarely have 5 minutes to spare.</p>