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Sometimes the Paragraph Comprehension subtest asks you to determine the meaning of a word when it’s used in a passage. The correct definition that the question is looking for can be the most common meaning of the word, or it can be a less well-known meaning. In either case, you have to read the passage, make sure you understand how the word is being used, and select the answer option that’s closest in meaning to the word as it’s used in the passage. Consider this example:

In the 18th century, it was common for sailors to be pressed into service in Britain. Young men found near seaports could be kidnapped, drugged, or otherwise hauled aboard a ship and made to work doing menial chores. They weren’t paid for their service, and they were given just enough food to keep them alive.

In this passage, pressed means

(A) hired.

(B) ironed.

(C) enticed.

(D) forced.

The descriptions of the conditions these sailors found themselves in should help you decide that they weren’t hired or enticed; ironed is one meaning of the word pressed, but it isn’t correct in this context. The correct answer is Choice (D). Here’s another example:

Since the 1980s, computers have become an indispensable part of American business. Computers can be used for thousands of applications, from word processing and running spreadsheets to keeping one’s checkbook updated.

In this passage, applications means

(A) functions.

(B) sizes.

(C) requests.

(D) types.

Try putting the answer choices in this sentence: “Computers can be used for thousands of applications.” You can see that functions is closest in meaning to applications, although in a different context, some of the other answer choices may be correct. The correct answer is Choice (A).