Life of Pi — Vocabulary
Yann Martel
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	8	top 2000
approachapproach → approaching:getting nearer Winter is approaching.more Show sample from book Now we call it Shiva, Krishna, Shakti, Ganesha; we can approach it with some understanding; we can discern certain attributes—loving, merciful, frightening—and we feel the gentle pull of relationship.9 more get near (figuratively, get near understanding) Show general definition for approach (as in: approached the city) to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
	2	top 500
approach#2method (way of doing something) Perhaps I just need to work harder, but I may need an entirely different approach to the problem.more Show sample from book A fish jumping out of water was confronted by a famished boy with a hands-on, no-holds-barred approach to capturing it.9 more technique (way of doing something) Show general definition for approach (as in: use the best approach) a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
	12	top 500
abundantpresent in great quantity Farmers in the region enjoy good soil, moderate temperatures, and an abundant supply of water.more Show sample from book I caught nothing the whole day, not even in the late afternoon, when marine life appeared in abundance.11 more abundant → abundance:large amount or quantity
	4	top 2000
positivecertain I'm positive I've seen her before.more Show sample from book Ten thousand trumpets and twenty thousand drums could not have made as much noise as that bolt of lightning; it was positively deafening.4 more positive → positively:absolutely (used for emphasis) Show general definition for positive (as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
	1	top 100
positive#2positive → positively:in a good or beneficial manner Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.†more Show sample from book I assigned this tension to the new environment of the island; any change, even positive, will make an animal tense.4 more good or beneficial Show general definition for positive (as in: had a positive effect) good or beneficial
	12
carnivorousmeat-eating Lions and other large carnivorous animals are popular at the zoo.more Show sample from book But it seemed to me highly improbable, if not totally incredible, that when brought together these frugiv-orous tree-dwellers and carnivorous savannah-dwellers would so radically carve out their niches as to pay no attention to each other.†11 more Show general definition of an animal that primarily eats meat Show editor's word notes Carnivorous animals (carnivores) are often contrasted to herbivores (plant-eating animals) and omnivores (animals that eat both meat and plants).
	6	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book Everything in an enclosure must be just right—in other words, within the limits of the animal's capacity to adapt.5 more adjust (to fit a different situation) Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	10	top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more Show sample from book That meant I had food rations to last me—31 X 3—93 days!†9 more ration → rations:a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel… Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	2	top 100
reflectreflect → reflects:expresses Which choice best reflects the overall sequence of events in the passage?more Show sample from book Her gestures were slow and tentative and her eyes reflected deep mental confusion.2 more reflect → reflected:expressed or showed Show general definition for reflect (as in: reflect American Values) to show something -- such as to demonstrate, express, or represent The exact meaning of this sense of reflect depends upon its context. For example: "She says the immorality in the movie reflects American values." -- expresses or represents "It reflects the selfishness she had seen growing for years." -- demonstrates "She did not reflect the panic that surrounded her." -- demonstrate or show indication of
	1	top 1000
reflect#2bounce back light from We're replacing all the warning signs with signs that reflect headlights in the dark.more Show sample from book Soon the sun was alone in the sky, and the ocean was a smooth skin reflecting the light with a million mirrors.2 more reflect → reflecting:shining back Show general definition for reflect (as in: reflect the light/heat/sound) bounce back (rather than absorbing)
	1	top 10
illustratemake clear Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.more Show sample from book Each to him was a triumph of logic and mechanics, and nature as a whole was an exceptionally fine illustration of science.1 more illustrate → illustration:something that helps clarify or demonstrate Show general definition for illustrate (as in: as illustrated by this example) to help make clear -- typically by example
	1	top 2000
illustrate#2draw pictures to accompany I write and illustrate children's books.more Show sample from book I suspect she suspected that I had a different take on the matter, but she never said anything when as a child I devoured the comic books of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and an illustrated children's Bible and other stories of the gods.1 more illustrate → illustrated:accompanied by drawings Show general definition for illustrate (as in: an illustrated children's book) to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
	30
pimathematics: an important constant representing the circumference of any circle divided by its diameter (about 3.14) Many schools celebrate Pi Day on March 14th.more Show sample from book Life of Pi — Yann Martel AUTHOR'S NOTE This book was born as I was hungry.†29 more Show general definition mathematics: an important constant representing the circumference of any circle divided by its diameter (about 3.14) Show editor's word notes Pi is about 3.14, but is an irrational number; i.e., with infinite decimals providing a closer approximation.
	26
slotha type of mammal that seldom moves and is very slow when it does move A sloth moves faster than she does.more Show sample from book Our team tested the sleep habits of five wild threetoed sloths by placing on their heads, in the early evening after they had fallen asleep, bright red plastic dishes filled with water.25 more sloth → sloths:mammals of a specific type that seldom move and are typically very slow when they do move
	5	top 100
conventionconvention → conventional:normal It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more Show sample from book But a shark is deaf, conventionally speaking.5 more convention → conventionally:in a normal manner of Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
	1
convention#2written international agreement The European Convention on Human Rights binds about 50 European countries.more Show sample from book CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, had just come into effect, and the window on the trading of captured wild animals had slammed shut.5 more an international agreement Show general definition for convention (as in: The Geneva Convention) a written international agreement
	15
imamthe person who leads prayers in a mosque The imam was trained in Saudi Arabia.more Show sample from book The imam and the priest nodded.14 more a Muslim leader Show general definition Islam: the person who leads prayers in a mosque or for Shiites: a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law, and a spiritual guide
	4	top 500
devourdevour → devoured:ate rapidly and completely She devoured everything on her plate in less than two minutes and asked for more.more Show sample from book He was moving through them, blazing a trail of murder and mayhem, devouring one meerkat after another...4 more devour → devouring:eating rapidly and completely Show general definition for devour (as in: devoured three sandwiches) eat rapidly and completely -- usually due to being very hungry
	1	top 500
devour#2devour → devoured:read with eager interest She devoured everything he wrote.more Show sample from book I suspect she suspected that I had a different take on the matter, but she never said anything when as a child I devoured the comic books of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and an illustrated children's Bible and other stories of the gods.4 more Show general definition for devour (as in: devours crime novels) to read, listen, or watch with eager interest
	9
buoyanttending to float Swimmers are more buoyant in salt water than in fresh water.more Show sample from book In fact, the buoyancy of the life jackets was such that they...8 more buoyant → buoyancy:tendency to float Show general definition for buoyant (as in: buoyant force or market) tending to float or rise; or making other things float