Key Terms in Questions on Attitude and Tone

Question 1

Aloof

Answer 1

standoffish; remote in attitude, unfriendly, distant and cold in manner

Question 2

Ambivalent

Answer 2

of two minds; unable to decide

Question 3

Brusque

Answer 3

abrupt; curt the the point of rudeness

Question 4

Cautionary

Answer 4

conveying a warning

Question 5

Compassionate

Answer 5

sympathetic; showing pity

Question 6

Condescension

Answer 6

patronizing behavior, acting bombastic or supercilious

Question 7

Cynical

Answer 7

distrustful of the motives of others; mocking

Question 8

Defensive

Answer 8

self-justifying; constantly protecting oneself from criticism

Question 9

Detachment

Answer 9

aloofness; lack of involvement; indifference

Question 10

Didactic

Answer 10

moralizing; inclined to lecture excessively

Question 11

Disdain

Answer 11

scorn; contempt; arrogance

Question 12

Disparaging

Answer 12

belittling; disapproving

Question 13

Dispassionate

Answer 13

unbiased; objective; unemotional; calm

Question 14

Esteem

Answer 14

respect; admiration

Question 15

Flippant

Answer 15

frivolously disrespectful; lacking proper seriousness

Question 16

Grudging

Answer 16

reluctant; unwilling

Question 17

Hypocritical

Answer 17

pretending to have virtues or feelings one lacks; insincere; phony

Question 18

Indifference

Answer 18

lack of concern; lack of interest

Question 19

Ironic

Answer 19

tongue in cheek; sarcastic; contrary to what was expected

Question 20

Judicious

Answer 20

sensible; showing good judgement; prudent; wise

Question 21

Naive

Answer 21

innocent; unsophisticated

Question 22

Nostalgia

Answer 22

sentimental yearning for the past; homesickness

Question 23

Objective

Answer 23

impartial; unbiased; neutral

Question 24

Optimism

Answer 24

hopefulness; cheerful confidence

Question 25

Pedantic

Answer 25

narrowly focused on academic trivia; excessively bookish

Question 26

Pessimism

Answer 26

Negativity; lack of hopefulness; gloom

Question 27

Pomposity

Answer 27

self-importance; excessive self-esteem

Question 28

Prosaic

Answer 28

commonplace; pedestrian; ordinary

Question 29

Resigned

Answer 29

submissive; passively accepting the inevitable

Question 30

Sarcasm

Answer 30

cutting remarks; stinging rebuke; scorn

Question 31

Satirical

Answer 31

mocking; exposing folly to ridicule

Question 32

Skeptical

Answer 32

disbelieving; doubtful; unconvinced

Question 33

Trite

Answer 33

stale; cliched; overused

Question 34

Whimsical

Answer 34

fanciful; capricious; unpredictable

Question 35

Allegory

Answer 35

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Question 36

Understatement

Answer 36

the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

Question 37

To “qualify” something

Answer 37

make (a statement or assertion) less absolute; add reservations to. — this is the definition needed for the SAT. To “qualify a concern or position on something” is to add circumstances to the assertion.