Does every problem have a solution? The answer on the Fixing a Problem Cluster of vocabulary in context questions is always yes! Each question in this cluster begins with a problem. For example, in the early 1900s, Black residents of Richmond. Virginia had few options for banking and other financial services. Maggie Lena RECTIFIED or corrected this problem by becoming the first African American bank president when she founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank.
SAT test writers have shown a particular interest in research on income inequality. It turns out that this research suffered from a myopic or shortsighted reliance on data from countries in Western Europe and North America. Researchers have MITIGATED (lessened) and AMELIORATED (improved) this deficiency by gaining access to new information from nations in Africa and Eastern Europe.
And finally, research studies on social media typically overemphasize teenagers and young adults. SAT test writers are happy to report that researchers are REDRESSING or remedying this problem by expanding their studies to include more senior citizens.
The Fix a Problem Cluster includes a number of tempting but incorrect choices. For example, problem solvers don’t EXACERBATE (worsen), PRECLUDE (prevent from happening), or PROLONG (extend) difficult situations. Remember, they always RECTIFY, MITIGATE, REDRESS, or AMELIORATE problems!
RECTIFY – correct a problem
MITIGATE – lessen a problem
REDRESS – remedy a problem
AMELIORATE – improve a problem