Ambivalent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition:
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about someone or something; feeling uncertain or torn between choices.
Example Sentences:
She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city. She was excited for new opportunities but sad to leave her friends.
The voters were ambivalent, unsure whether the new law would help or harm the community.
He was ambivalent toward his promotion because it meant more pay but also more stress.
How “Ambivalent” May Appear on the GED RLA Exam
“Ambivalent” often appears in character analysis, opinion-based passages, or persuasive texts where a viewpoint is not entirely one-sided.
Example 1: Vocabulary in Context
“Although he accepted the award, his ambivalent expression suggested he was not entirely pleased.”
Question:
What does the word ambivalent most likely mean in the sentence?
A. Confused and unfocused
B. Having mixed feelings
C. Completely overjoyed
D. Strongly opposed
Correct Answer: B. Having mixed feelings
Example 2: Analyzing Character Motivation
“Maria was ambivalent about joining the debate team. She enjoyed public speaking but feared the time commitment.”
Question:
Why is Maria described as ambivalent?
A. She had no interest in debating
B. She loved debating without any concerns
C. She was both interested and hesitant
D. She wanted to avoid joining
Correct Answer: C. She was both interested and hesitant
Example 3: Tone and Inference
“The author’s ambivalent tone toward technology shows both admiration for innovation and concern about its consequences.”
Question:
What does the author’s ambivalent tone reveal?
A. The author dislikes technology
B. The author is completely supportive of technology
C. The author feels both positive and negative about technology
D. The author avoids discussing technology
Correct Answer: C. The author feels both positive and negative about technology
Related GED Vocabulary:
Conflicted
Torn
Uncertain
Ready to grow your word bank with more GED RLA vocab?
Keep expanding your vocabulary with our GED RLA Vocab: 110 Academic Words List!
For updates and more content, follow us on Facebook.
