在SAT的考纲中有一类问题考察Frequently Confused Words，被我们称之为易混词。所谓易混词就是长得很像的单词，使用的时候经常混淆。大家需要注意，在测试易混词的时候，主要测试的是外国人经常混淆的，而不是中国人经常混淆的。
推荐阅读：什么是SAT易混词?
第一类： 同根词
词根相同，但是配上不同的前缀和后缀可能意义就不一样。这点很像我们汉语中有些词共用一个汉字的情况，比如风尚还是风范?接纳还是接受?等等。在过往的考试中曾经出现过的prosecute和persecute就属于这一类。 这两个单词都来自于词根sequi表示to follow，即跟随的意思。而一个是per-前缀，则表示遭到迫害。而pro-放在前面则表示起诉，恐高的意思。
第二类： 同音词
因为发音相同，但是拼写不同。所以可能读起来是没有问题的，但是反映在纸面上就出问题了。我们汉语也有同音异形字。比如“技艺”和”记忆”就是一个同音词，但是两者之间是不能替换的。
属于这一类的包括their /there / they’re, 还有its/it’s， cite/sight/site等。
第三类： 同源形容词
这类单词的特点是他们都来自同一个名词或动词，只不过加入了不同的形容词尾缀，而导致意思有所差别。比如大家经常分不开comprehensible和comprehensive。这两个单词都是comprehend的形容词，但是这两个形容词分别来自于他们不同的动词意思。Comprehensible取动词理解的意思，所以表示可以理解的;而comprehensive取动词全部包括的意思，所以包括很多的感觉就是全面的。诸如此类的还有exhaustive/exhausted, witty / witting。
以下是北京新东方韩冰老师为大家带来的SAT易混词的总结及对应练习，希望对大家掌握这些单词有所帮助。
complement / compliment / implement
A) The stirring beats of her songs __________ her equally haunting voice.
B) The media __________ Lady Gaga on her simple yet elegant outfit.
C) The farmer spent hours looking through the comprehensive catalogue dedicated to agricultural __________.
comprise / compose
A) The report __________ three comprehensible, practical solutions to the issue at hand.
B) Jane __________ her work with great care; her goal is to deeply touch and inspire her listeners.
desert / dessert
A) The chieftain will have many regrets if he relocates his people to the southern __________.
B) The __________ at that place tend to be frozen solid, and it usually takes over half an hour for them to thaw out.
elicit / illicit
A) With an ice cream sandwich, Billy was able to __________ the secret from his younger sister.
B) On January 1st, the city will initiate its extensive program to eradicate all local __________ drug activity.
fare / fair / fire
A) The campers gravitated toward the __________ and its much-appreciated warmth.
B) Collectively, the friends didn’t have enough money to cover their taxi __________.
C) It just doesn’t seem __________ that Renee has a higher monthly salary than does Lauren.
hone / home
A) She __________ her public speaking skills by talking or performing in front of large groups of people whenever she could.
B) Lance considered the city his __________; after all, he had been living there for over five years.
imitate / intimate
A) The __________ scene consisted of a candle, two wine glasses, a bottle of wine, and a single rose all on a small table situated in front of a welcoming fireplace.
B) If you want to __________ her painting style, you’ll need to first purchase the same art supplies that she uses.
in a sense / in essence
A) __________, cellphones can decrease the quality of our lives. For example, these devices tend to distract us from the things that truly matter: meaningful face-to-face interactions with family and friends.
B) It probably seems like I’ve given you a lot of detailed advice, but __________, I simply want you to be yourself and be respectful. If you follow this last rule, you’re bound to finally succeed.
lose / loose
A) Immediately upon seeing a worm in his apple, Jaren __________ his appetite.
B) Even after 10 minutes of tugging at it aggressively, the nail would not come __________ from the wall.
precede / proceed
A) The archeologists __________ with great care; they did not want to damage any of the newly-discovered fossilized remains.
B) The television network chose to __________ the sports event with a Beyoncé performance; the network wanted the event to begin on a high note.
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