SAT Vocab

Main Idea

100

When the fighting was over, the people went back to find their entire village had been _____ by the terrorists and not one building had been left standing. a) driven b) exonerated c) created d) annihilated e) preserved

d) annihilated

200

As your attorney, I would advise you not to sign these divorce papers because if you do, you would _____ the right to ever see your children again. a) waive b) retain c) enjoy d) plunder e) edify

a) waive

300

We wanted to thank the _____ donor who made the dream of a new state-of-the-art children's hospital come true. a) calculating b) munificent c) greedy d) irritating e) breathless

b) munificent

400

The _____ for our son was shared by our relatives and friends until we knew he was on the road to recovery. a) record b) concern c) intersection d) calculations e) dislike

b) concern

500

He came up with such _____ ideas for the advertising campaign that we knew we would finally be able to turn the business around and start making money. a) shallow b) childish c) boring d) obstinate e) innovative

e) innovative

Tough Vocab

100

Debate over how to best begin the annual ceremony has been more _____ than in years past as this is the first time the issue was still being discussed at our third meeting. a) analytical b) diverse c) protracted d) impenetrable e) pessimistic

c) protracted

200

Some movies are so _____ that when they are over, I leave the theater feeling very depressed and discouraged. a) obstructed b) voluble c) obese d) stygian e) curt

d) stygian

300

You could see from her arrogant and _____ manner she felt that the world owed her a living. a) venerable b) compliant c) insidious d) solipsistic e) arcane

d) solipsistic

400

Given the man's _____ nature, it was surprising that he donated money to the charity. a) intelligent b) quiet c) credible d) miserly e) zealous

d) miserly

500

Late last month, _____ broke into the offices and _____ four computers. a) bulglars.... salvaged b) thieves.... emanated c) intruders... pilfered d) directors... benefited e) moralists... positioned

c) intruders... pilfered

Keywords: Not

100

It was _____ to hear that the medication was not as effective on this particular strain of influenza. a) encouraging b) auspicious c) imprudent d) poignant e) disconcerting

e) disconcerting

200

I will not _____ myself by putting up with your deceitful actions at the convention. a) debase b) include c) eradicate d) chastise e) exalt

a) debase

300

The disc jockeys have been asked not to play this rock group's music because of its _____ lyrics. a) perpetual b) incorruptible c) deleterious d) assiduous e) beneficial

c) deleterious

400

His _____ statement to the press let them know that he was not about to reveal any sensitive government information. a) blustery b) verbose c) maniacal d) poignant e) pithy

e) pithy

500

I will not _____ myself by putting up with your deceitful actions at the convention. a) debase b) include c) eradicate d) chastise e) exalt

a) debase

Keywords: Contrast

100

The president flew to the city to _____ in the dispute, but he made little progress persuading the _____ parties to compromise. a) intervene... defiant b) participate... compliant c) groval... agreeable d) initiate... rebellious e) debilitate... extreme

a) intervene... defiant

200

While the politicians _____ many of the requirements, they _____ new provisions on lowering the wages of many workers. a) praised... celebrated b) attacked... assailed c) vetoed... prohibited d) applauded... opposed e) accepted... commended

d) applauded... opposed

300

Even though the man _____ with all of the other tenants in the apartment building, he _____ refused to move and continued to live there for years. a) fought... amiably b) quarreled... leisurely c) reveled... blissfully d) celebrated... languidly e) squabbled... obstinately

e) squabbled... obstinately

400

It is hard to believe they are related because he leads such a _____ life and his brother is extremely _____. a) voluminous... generous b) solitary... introverted c) quaint... purposeful d) reclusive... gregarious e) scholarly... literate

d) reclusive... gregarious

500

He brought _____ to the otherwise _____ proceedings; indeed, before he took the stage, the audience seemed downright gloomy. a) prescience... somber b) happiness... transparent c) levity... dour d) trepidation... soporific e) uniformity... lethargic

c) levity... dour

Vocab In Context

100

A change of _____ was requested by the attorneys because of the great deal of publicity in the local newspapers about the murder case. a) description b) association c) expression d) venue e) generosity

d) venue

200

They gave him such a(n) _____ salary that it would be awhile before he would be able to save enough money to put a down payment on a house. a) masterful b) detailed c) meager d) abundant e) affable

c) meager

300

Their neighbors were so _____ that they decided to erect a six foot high fence so they could have some privacy. a) meddlesome b) contradicting c) insignificant d) melodious e) conventional

a) meddlesome

400

Instead of concentrating on important political issues when running for public office, the only thing the candidates do is _____ each other with insulting campaign ads on television. a) malign b) employ c) praise d) limit e) formulate

a) malign

500

The construction workers were given an additional monetary _____ to get the bridge built ahead of schedule. a) modification b) inception c) calculation d) acceleration e) incentive

e) incentive