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SAT Natural Sciences - Mental Capacities and Failures

Here you will learn some English words related to mental capacities and failures, such as "astute", "psyche", "whim", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Vocabulary for Natural Sciences
ambition
ambition
[noun]

the will to obtain wealth, power, success, etc.

Ex: Fueled by boundless ambition, the young entrepreneur launched her tech startup despite the crowded market. 
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whim
whim
[noun]

a sudden and impulsive decision or desire that someone has without much thought or reason behind it

Ex: On a whim, she decided to drive to the beach instead of going to work. 
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competence

the ability to perform tasks effectively and efficiently, demonstrating both physical and intellectual readiness

Ex: His competence in handling financial matters ensured the company's stability during economic downturns. 
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acuteness
acuteness
[noun]

a sharp intelligence, able to understand things deeply and quickly

Ex: His acuteness in math helped him solve problems quickly. 
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initiative

the willingness to take action and start new things without being prompted or directed

Ex: Her initiative in organizing the event impressed everyone. 
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precaution

the tendency or habit of exercising caution and foresight to prevent problems

Ex: Her precaution saved the team from potential errors. 
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psyche
psyche
[noun]

the immaterial or nonphysical aspect of a person

Ex: Many cultures believe the psyche survives after death. 
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to recall
to recall
[Verb]

to bring back something from the memory

Ex: She could recall the details of the conversation with remarkable clarity. 
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to recollect

to bring to mind past memories or experiences

Ex: The author's memoir helped readers recollect the historical events of that era. 
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to improvise

to create and perform words of a play, music, etc. on impulse and without preparation, particularly because one is forced to do so

Ex: When the actor forgot his lines, he had to improvise to keep the scene going. 
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to beware
to beware
[Verb]

to warn someone to be cautious of a dangerous person or thing

Ex: Beware of the icy conditions on the roads; drive carefully. 
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to distract

to cause someone to lose their focus or attention from something they were doing or thinking about

Ex: During the important meeting, the constant tapping of a pen began to distract everyone in the room. 
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to familiarize

to make someone acquainted with something

Ex: The guide familiarized the tourists with the history of the ancient monument. 
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to foretell

to predict or say in advance what will happen in the future

Ex: She said her grandmother had the ability to foretell when someone was about to visit. 
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to foresee

to know or predict something before it happens

Ex: Despite all their planning, they didn't foresee the power outage during the event. 
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to heed
to heed
[Verb]

to be attentive to advice or a warning

Ex: It's important to heed the advice of experienced hikers when trekking in unfamiliar terrain. 
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impressionable
impressionable
[Adjective]

easily influenced or affected by others or external factors, especially due to a lack of experience or critical judgment

Ex: Young children are often impressionable, absorbing ideas and behaviors from their surroundings. 
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impervious
impervious
[Adjective]

resistant to being affected or damaged by something

Ex: His thick skin seemed impervious to criticism. 
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cognizant
cognizant
[Adjective]

having knowledge or awareness about something

Ex: She was cognizant of the importance of punctuality in her profession. 
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astute
astute
[Adjective]

having a clever and practical ability to make wise and effective decisions

Ex: Having an astute understanding of business, she made shrewd investment decisions. 
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savvy
savvy
[Adjective]

possessing practical knowledge, expertise, or understanding in a particular domain

Ex: She is a savvy investor, always knowing when to buy and sell stocks for maximum profit. 
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sagacious
sagacious
[Adjective]

having keen, farsighted judgment and the ability to discern deeply and wisely

Ex: The sagacious leader quickly identified the root of the problem and implemented effective solutions. 
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shrewd
shrewd
[Adjective]

having or showing good judgement, especially in business or politics

Ex: The shrewd businessman knew when to invest and when to hold back, ensuring steady growth for his company. 
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sentient
sentient
[Adjective]

possessing the ability to experience, feel, or perceive things through the senses

Ex: The robot was designed to mimic human behavior but was not truly sentient. 
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conscious
conscious
[Adjective]

aware of and responsive to one's surroundings

Ex: After the fall, she was fully conscious and able to speak. 
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perceptive
perceptive
[Adjective]

(of a person) able to quickly and accurately understand or notice things due to keen awareness and insight

Ex: She is very perceptive and notices details others overlook. 
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imaginative
imaginative
[Adjective]

displaying or having creativity or originality

Ex: The children's imaginative play transformed the living room into a magical kingdom. 
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acumen
acumen
[noun]

sharp judgment and quick decision-making, especially in practical or professional matters

Ex: Her business acumen helped the company grow quickly. 
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attentiveness

the quality of being alert and paying close attention to things

Ex: Her attentiveness in class earned her high grades on exams. 
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vigilance
vigilance
[noun]

the state or quality of being watchful and attentive, especially to detect potential danger or problems

Ex: The security guard's vigilance prevented unauthorized access to the building. 
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inference
inference
[noun]

a conclusion one reaches from the existing evidence or known facts

Ex: The detective made a crucial inference about the suspect's alibi based on the new evidence. 
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cognition
cognition
[noun]

the result of a mental processing or understanding

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deduction
deduction
[noun]

the process of using general rules or ideas to make a specific conclusion

Ex: The detective used logical deduction to identify the culprit from the available clues. 
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facility
facility
[noun]

the quality of performing tasks or activities with ease and without difficulty

Ex: She played the piano with such facility that it seemed effortless. 
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instinct
instinct
[noun]

a natural reaction or behavior that occurs automatically, without conscious thought or reasoning

Ex: The mother bird followed her instinct to build a nest and protect her eggs. 
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intuition
intuition
[noun]

the ability to understand or know something immediately, without conscious reasoning or evidence

Ex: She had an intuition that the plan would succeed. 
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genius
genius
[noun]

an exceptional mental ability or talent that is unique and outstanding

Ex: Einstein's genius changed how we understand physics. 
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subconscious

the part of the mind that is not currently in focused awareness, but still influences thoughts, feelings, and behavior, often through automatic or involuntary processes

Ex: His subconscious kept bringing up memories he had forgotten. 
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aspiration

a strong drive or determination to succeed or achieve excellence

Ex: Her aspiration pushed her to complete the marathon. 
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imprudence

the quality of making decisions or taking actions without considering potential risks or consequences

Ex: His imprudence in spending money quickly led to financial troubles. 
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folly
folly
[noun]

the quality of behaving in a foolish or reckless manner, often without considering the consequences

Ex: It was folly to invest all his savings in a risky business venture. 
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trance
trance
[noun]

a mental state characterized by a fragile consciousness and reduced ability for voluntary action, often resembling a deep sleep

Ex: After hours of intense focus, she slipped into a trance-like state of deep concentration. 
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ignorance
ignorance
[noun]

the fact or state of not having the necessary information, knowledge, or understanding of something

Ex: His ignorance of the subject was evident when he gave incorrect answers during the discussion. 
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delusion
delusion
[noun]

(psychology) a mental condition in which a person has a false belief system that is contradicted by evidence

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delirium
delirium
[noun]

a state of extreme mental confusion, often accompanied by confused or unclear thoughts or speech

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insanity
insanity
[noun]

a state of severe mental disorder affecting a person's ability to understand reality, think rationally, or behave in a socially acceptable manner

Ex: Legal defense of insanity is for those unfit for trial due to mental issues. 
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incapacity

the lack of intellectual or mental power to do something

Ex: The student's learning disabilities resulted in an incapacity to grasp mathematical concepts and required additional support in the classroom. 
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hallucination

a perceptual experience in which an individual perceives something that is not present in the external environment

Ex: Auditory hallucinations may involve hearing voices or sounds that others cannot perceive. 
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fallacy
fallacy
[noun]

a false idea or belief based on invalid arguments, often one that many people think is true

Ex: The belief that all politicians are corrupt because a few have been involved in scandals is a fallacy, as it relies on a hasty generalization and ignores the many politicians who act with integrity. 
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misconception

a mistaken or inaccurate belief or understanding about something

Ex: There is a common misconception that all snakes are venomous. 
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to neglect

to pay little or no attention to something or someone, often leading to issues or problems

Ex: The company neglected the warnings about the changing market trends, and now they face financial challenges. 
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to disregard

to intentionally ignore or act without concern for something or someone that deserves consideration

Ex: The boss disregarded safety protocols and put workers at risk. 
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to misinterpret

to understand or explain something incorrectly

Ex: She misinterpreted his words and thought he was upset when he wasn't. 
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to overlook

to not notice or see something

Ex: In her haste, she might overlook the important details in the document. 
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oblivious
oblivious
[Adjective]

lacking conscious awareness of something

Ex: Despite the loud noise, the baby remained oblivious, peacefully sleeping in her crib. 
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deranged
deranged
[Adjective]

incapable of behaving normally or thinking clearly due to mental illness

Ex: His deranged behavior alarmed everyone at the party. 
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insensible
insensible
[Adjective]

not noticing or caring about something

Ex: Despite the noise, he remained insensible to the commotion outside. 
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naive
naive
[Adjective]

lacking experience, wisdom, or understanding about the world, often resulting in being overly trusting or easily deceived

Ex: The naive approach to software development led to significant bugs in the program. 
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