The presence of fossilized coral in the desert strata was indicative of a vast ancient sea that once covered the region.
沙漠地层中珊瑚化石的存在表明，该地区曾覆盖着一片广阔的古代海洋。
Which choice best defines “indicative”?
B — Serving as a sign or indication of something. “indicative” means serving as a sign or indication of something.
Which word means “serving as a sign or indication of something”?
B — indicative. “indicative” means serving as a sign or indication of something.
indicative — serving as a sign or indication of something. In Chinese: 指示的，表示的.
indicative is pronounced /ɪnˈdɪkətɪv/.
The presence of fossilized coral in the desert strata was indicative of a vast ancient sea that once covered the region. (沙漠地层中珊瑚化石的存在表明，该地区曾覆盖着一片广阔的古代海洋。)
suggestive, symptomatic, revealing — all close in meaning to indicative (serving as a sign or indication of something).
unrelated, misleading — each the opposite of indicative (serving as a sign or indication of something).
Yes. indicative 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.