The ancient fossil skull is believed to be an ancestor of modern whales, showing how land mammals adapted to ocean life.
这块古代化石头骨被认为是现代鲸鱼的祖先，展示了陆地哺乳动物如何适应海洋生活。
Which choice best defines “ancestor”?
A — A family member from earlier. “ancestor” means a family member from earlier.
Which word means “a family member from earlier”?
C — ancestor. “ancestor” means a family member from earlier.
ancestor — a family member from earlier. In Chinese: 祖先.
ancestor is pronounced /ˈænˌsestər/.
The ancient fossil skull is believed to be an ancestor of modern whales, showing how land mammals adapted to ocean life. (这块古代化石头骨被认为是现代鲸鱼的祖先，展示了陆地哺乳动物如何适应海洋生活。)
forebear, predecessor, progenitor — all close in meaning to ancestor (a family member from earlier).
descendant — each the opposite of ancestor (a family member from earlier).
Yes. ancestor is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
an(before)+cestor(sister)