Minor planets are celestial objects that orbit the Sun but are neither planets nor comets. Most are asteroids located in a zone between Mars and Jupiter. I can hear you saying, “What does this have to do with SAT vocabulary in context questions?” Good question – here’s the answer!
SAT test writers have a strong interest in how minor planets are named. It turns out that it is PERMISSIBLE or allowable for the discoverer of a minor planet to assign it a name. Cool! As a result, many minor planets are named for pets, flowers, and birds. But there are over 500,000 minor planets. As a result, assigning each one a unique name is not FEASIBLE or practical. In fact, finding 500,000 names has turned out to be an INSURMOUNTABLE problem that is too great to be overcome.
PERMISSIBLE, FEASIBLE, and INSURMOUNTABLE are relatively straightforward correct answers. However, questions in the Naming Minor Planets Cluster include several difficult wrong answers. Don’t let AMBIGUOUS (unclear), SUBSTANTIAL (a great amount), or MANDATORY (required) tempt you.
PERMISSIBLE – allowable
FEASIBLE – practical; possible
INSURMOUNTABLE – too great to be overcome