SAT Prep

Question 1

anecdote

Answer 1

a short, amusing story

David loves to tell the anecdote about how he drove a car at age five

Synonyms: story, tale

Question 2

animosity

Answer 2

a feeling of strong dislike

Joanne has a lot of animosity towards her roommate, who steals clothes and money.

Synonyms: hostility, hatred

Question 3

altruism

Answer 3

unselfish concern for others

motivated by altruism, the lottery winner donated his winnings to charity.

Synonyms: charity, goodwill

Question 4

obstinate

Answer 4

adhering to one’s opinion or course

Kendra could be obstinate, refusing to follow rules she doesn’t like

Synonyms: stubborn, inflexible

Question 5

allude

Answer 5

to refer to casually or indirectly

Let’s not allude to my poor grades in math last year.

Synonyms: imply, hint

Question 6

alleviate

Answer 6

to make easier to endure

Many people believe that a steak will alleviate the swelling of a black eye.

Synonyms: lessen, mitigate

Question 7

advocate

Answer 7

to speak or write in favor of

A group of teachers joined together to advocate literacy in the community

Synonyms: support, promote

Question 8

prophetic

Answer 8

having the abilities of a prophet to predict what will happen

I had a prophetic dream that I’d one day win the Pulitzer Prize.

Synonyms: predictive, prescient

Question 9

acclaim

Answer 9

enthusiastic approval or welcome

The play received rave reviews and nationwide acclaim

Synonyms: praise, approval

Question 10

endorse

Answer 10

to approve or support

Athletes are often paid to endorse brands of breakfast cereal.

Synonyms: authorize, recommend

Question 11

onerous

Answer 11

causing hardship

Lance’s onerous debts caused him and his family continual stress.

Synonyms: burdensome, oppressive

Question 12

provident

Answer 12

providing carefully for the future

A provident homeowner, Carol stores food and water in case of emergencies.

Synonyms: prepared, shrewd

Question 13

animated

Answer 13

full of life or spirit

Jim’s animated facial expressions were both weird and hilarious.

Synonyms: lively, vigorous

Question 14

marginal

Answer 14

not very important

My new house has a marginal strip of beach along one side of the property.

Synonyms: borderline, insignificant

Question 15

diffident

Answer 15

lacking self-confidence

Pam’s diffident demeanor is characterized by her shuffling walk and lack of eye contact.

Synonyms: hesitant, unconfident

Question 16

abstinence

Answer 16

denial of an indulgence of appetite

Elsa’s coach insists on abstinence from sugary soft drinks while her team is in training.

Synonyms: self-restraint, self-denial

Question 17

discrimination

Answer 17

treatment against a particular group

Discrimination based on race or religion is against the law.

Synonyms: inequality, prejudice

Question 18

discredit

Answer 18

to injure the credit or reputation of

In order to discredit the eyewitness’s testimony the attorney proved that the witness needed glasses.

Synonyms: disprove, rebut

Question 19

proponent

Answer 19

a person who argues in favor of something

A conservationist at heart, I’m a proponent of recycling and composting

Synonyms: advocate, supporter

Question 20

havoc

Answer 20

great destruction or devastation

The tornado wreaked havoc on the town, leaving rubble where the houses once stood.

Synonyms: ruin, disorder

Question 21

mutualism

Answer 21

Relationship between two organisms or group of organisms that is beneficial to both parties

Oxpeckers, once thought to exhibit mutualism with elephants and rhinos, may, in fact, be parasitic organisms, adversely affecting their hosts.

Synonyms: symbiosis, interdependence

Question 22

understated

Answer 22

restrained in design or presentation

Marcia’s understated elegance is the envy of other women at the gala.

Synonym: subtle

Question 23

abstract

Answer 23

apart from actual, specific, concrete ideas or events

The essay would be persuasive if it were less abstract and more specific.

Synonyms: general, unspecific