SAT III

Question 0

Alacrity

Answer 0

(n) eagerness, speed

For some reason, Chuck loved to help his mother whenever he could, so when his mother asked him to set the table, he did so with alacrity.

Question 1

Abate

Answer 1

(v) to reduce, to lessen

The rain poured down for a while, then abated.

Question 2

Behemoth

Answer 2

(n) something of tremendous power or size

The new aircraft carrier is among several behemoths that the Air Force has added to its fleet.

Question 3

Cajole

Answer 3

(v) to urge, coax

Fred’s buddies cajoled him into attending the bachelor’s party.

Question 4

Clairvoyant

Answer 4

(adj) to be able to perceive things that normal people cannot

Zelda’s uncanny ability to detect my abilities was nothing short of clairvoyant.

Question 5

Debacle

Answer 5

(n) a disastrous failure, disruption

The elaborately designed fireworks show turned into a debacle when the fireworks started firing off in random directions.

Question 6

Eclectic

Answer 6

(adj) consisting of a diverse variety of elements

The bar attracts an eclectic crowd: lawyers, artists, circus clowns, and investment bankers.

Question 7

Emollient

Answer 7

(adj) soothing

This emollient cream makes my skin very smooth, due to its mint properties.

Question 8

Fastidious

Answer 8

(adj) demanding, having high and often unattainable standards

Mark is so fastidious that he is never able to finish a project because it always seems imperfect to him.

Question 9

Goad

Answer 9

(v) to urge, spur, incite to action

Jim may think he’s not going to fight Billy, but Billy will goad Jim on with insults until he throws a punch.

Question 10

Gourmand

Answer 10

(n) someone fond of eating and drinking

My parents, who used to eat little more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age.

Question 11

Harangue

Answer 11

(n) a ranting speech
(v) to give a ranting speech

Everyone had heard the teacher’s harangue about gum chewing in class before. But this time the teacher harangued about monkeys.

Question 12

Ignonimious

Answer 12

(adj) humiliating, disgracing

It was really ignominious to be kicked out of the dorm for having an illegal gas stove in my room.

Question 13

Indolent

Answer 13

(adj) lazy

Why should my indolent children, who can’t even pick themselves up off the couch to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to the mall?

Question 14

Innocuous

Answer 14

(adj) harmless, inoffensive

In spite of their innocuous appearance, these mushrooms are actually quite poisonous.

Question 15

Inure

Answer 15

(v) to cause someone or something to be accustomed to a situation

20 years in the salt mine inured the man to the discomforts of dirt and grime.

Question 16

Larceny

Answer 16

(n) obtaining another’s property by theft or trickery

When my car was not where I had left it, I realized that I was a victim of larceny

Question 17

Latent

Answer 17

(adj) hidden, but capable of being exposed

Sigmund’s dream represented his latent paranoid obsession with other people’s shoes.

Question 18

Legerdemain

Answer 18

(n) deception

Smuggling the French plants through customs by claiming that they were fake was a remarkable bit of legerdemain.

Question 19

Maudlin

Answer 19

(adj) weakly sentimental

Although many people enjoy romantic comedies, I usually find them maudlin and shallow.

Question 20

Nascent

Answer 20

(adj) In the process of being born or coming into existence

Unfortunately, my brilliant paper was only in its nascent form on the morning it was due.

Question 21

Obsequious

Answer 21

(adj) excessively compliant or submissive

Mark acted like Janet’s servant, obeying her every whim.

Question 22

Penitent

Answer 22

(adj) remorseful, regretful

The jury’s verdict may have been more lenient if the criminal had appeared penitent during trial.

Question 23

Restive

Answer 23

(adj) resistant, stubborn, impatient

The restive audience pelted the band with mud and nasty comments.

Question 24

Salient

Answer 24

(adj) significant, conspicuous

One of the salient differences between Allison and Nancy is that Allison is a foot taller.

Question 25

Tractable

Answer 25

(adj) easily controlled

The horse was so tractable, Myra didn’t even need a bridle.

Question 26

Unctuous

Answer 26

(adj) smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner

The unctuous receptionist seemed untrustworthy, as if she was only being helpful because she thought we might give her a big tip.

Question 27

Virtuoso

Answer 27

(n) one who excels in art ; a highly skilled music performer

Even though Lydia has played the piano for years, she is still far from being a virtuoso at it.

Question 28

Wizened

Answer 28

(adj) dry, shrunken, wrinkled

Agatha’s grandmother, Stephanie, had the most countenance, full of leathery wrinkles.

Question 29

Flagrant

Answer 29

(adj) offensive, egregious

The judge’s decision to set the man free simply because that man was his brother was a flagrant abuse of power.