If words like 'penchant' and 'accost' are considered too difficult, then what, are we supposed to just say, if they can get through Randall Munroe's Thing Expla

If words like 'penchant' and 'accost' are considered too difficult, then what, are we supposed to just say, if they can get through Randall Munroe's Thing Explainer, they're good to go? It does seem like the result will be effectively grade inflation: having a fairly average high-school vocabulary will get you a high score, the same as kids who are highly literate.