SAT reading Flashcards
1
Q
undermine
A
1. erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation). "the flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof" Similar: erode wear away eat away at chip away undercut Opposite: shore up support 2. lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously. "this could undermine years of hard work" Similar: subvert sabotage threaten weaken compromise diminish
2
Q
abrupt
A
sudden and unexpected. "I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject" Similar: sudden immediate instantaneous hurried hasty quick swift rapid speedy precipitate unexpected surprising startling unanticipated unforeseen without warning violent headlong breakneck meteoric Opposite: gradual unhurried 2. brief to the point of rudeness; curt. "you were rather abrupt with that young man" Similar: curt brusque blunt short sharp terse brisk crisp
3
Q
fragile
A
(of an object) easily broken or damaged. "fragile items such as glass and china" Similar: breakable easily broken brittle frangible smashable splintery flimsy weak frail insubstantial delicate dainty fine eggshell Opposite: robust easily destroyed or threatened. "you have a fragile grip on reality" Similar: tenuous easily broken easily destroyed easily threatened vulnerable perilous flimsy shaky rocky risky unreliable suspect nebulous unsound insecure iffy dicey dodgy Opposite: sound durable (of a person) not strong or sturdy; delicate and vulnerable. "a small, fragile old lady" Similar: weak delicate frail debilitated tottery shaky trembly ill
4
Q
Hunch
A
raise (one's shoulders) and bend the top of one's body forward. "Eliot hunched his shoulders against a gust of snow" Similar: arch curve hump bend bow curl crook crouch huddle up curl up hunker down stoop squat scooch Opposite: straighten stretch out noun noun: hunch; plural noun: hunches 1. a feeling or guess based on intuition rather than fact. "I have a hunch that someone is telling lies" Similar: feeling guess suspicion sneaking suspicion impression inkling idea notion fancy presentiment premonition intuition gut feeling feeling in one's bones funny feeling sixth sense 2. a humped position or thing. "the hunch of his back" Similar: protuberance hump lump bump knob protrusion
5
Q
miserable
A
(of a person) wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable. "their happiness made Anne feel even more miserable" Similar: unhappy sad sorrowful dejected depressed downcast downhearted down despondent despairing disconsolate out of sorts desolate bowed down wretched glum gloomy dismal blue melancholy melancholic low-spirited mournful woeful woebegone doleful forlorn crestfallen broken-hearted heartbroken inconsolable luckless grief-stricken down in the mouth down in the dumps Opposite: happy contented 2. pitiably small or inadequate. "all they pay me is a miserable £8,000 a year" Similar: inadequate meagre scanty scant paltry limited restricted
6
Q
bulk
A
1. the mass or size of something large. "residents jump up and down on their rubbish to reduce its bulk" Similar: size volume dimensions measurements proportions mass substance scale magnitude immensity hugeness vastness massiveness bulkiness largeness bigness ampleness amplitude 2. the greater part of something. "the bulk of the traffic had passed" Similar: majority greater quantity/number larger part/number best/better part main part major part most almost all more than half (main) body lion's share predominance preponderance generality Opposite: minority 1. treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it is. "traders were bulking up their flour with chalk" Similar: make bigger make larger expand pad out fill out eke out add to augment increase 2. combine (shares or commodities for sale). "your shares will be bulked with others and sold at the best prices available"
6
Q
exempt
A
free from an obligation or liability imposed on others. "these patients are exempt from all charges" Similar: free from not liable to not subject to exempted spared excepted excused absolved released discharged immune Opposite: liable to subject to verb free (a person or organization) from an obligation or liability imposed on others. "they were exempted from paying the tax" Similar: free from not liable to not subject to exempted spared excepted excused
7
Q
furnished
A
(of accommodation) available to be rented with furniture.
“a full-sized, fully furnished apartment”
8
Q
politic
A
(of an action) seeming sensible and judicious in the circumstances. "I did not think it politic to express my reservations" Similar: wise prudent sensible judicious canny well judged
9
Q
coerce
A
persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats. "he was coerced into giving evidence" Similar: pressure pressurize bring pressure to bear on use pressure on put pressure on constrain lean on press push force compel oblige put under an obligation browbeat brainwash bludgeon bully threaten prevail on work on act on influence intimidate dragoon twist someone's arm strong-arm blackjack bulldoze railroad squeeze put the screws/squeeze on bounce hustle fast-talk Opposite: persuade obtain (something) from someone by using force or threats. "their confessions were allegedly coerced by torture"
10
Q
abolish
A
formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution). "the tax was abolished in 1977" Similar: put an end to do away with get rid of scrap end stop terminate
11
Q
array
A
display or arrange (things) in a particular way. "the manifesto immediately divided the forces arrayed against him" Similar: arrange assemble draw up group order range place position set out set forth dispose marshal muster lay out display exhibit put on show put on display put on view expose to view unveil present uncover reveal 2. dress someone in (the clothes specified). "they were arrayed in Hungarian national dress" Similar: dress attire clothe robe garb deck deck out drape
12
Q
illuminate
A
make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it; light up. "a flash of lightning illuminated the house" Similar: light light up throw light on cast light upon brighten make brighter shine on flood with light floodlight irradiate illumine Opposite: darken 2. help to clarify or explain. "placing the events of the 1930s in a broader historical context helps to illuminate their significance" Similar: clarify elucidate explain reveal make clear shed light on
13
Q
inherent
A
existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. "any form of mountaineering has its inherent dangers" Similar: intrinsic innate immanent built-in inborn ingrained deep-rooted
14
Q
to perish
A
1. LITERARY die, especially in a violent or sudden way. "a great part of his army perished of hunger and disease" Similar: die lose one's life be killed fall expire meet one's death be lost lay down one's life breathe one's last draw one's last breath pass away go the way of all flesh give up the ghost go to glory meet one's maker go to one's last resting place cross the great divide bite the dust kick the bucket cash in one's chips croak flatline turn up one's toes shuffle off this mortal coil go the way of the dinosaurs conk out buy it snuff it peg out pop one's clogs hop the twig/stick bite the big one buy the farm check out hand in one's dinner pail go bung exit decease depart this life 2. (of rubber, food, etc.) lose its normal qualities; rot or decay. "an abandoned tyre whose rubber had perished" Similar: go bad go off spoil rot go mouldy moulder putrefy
15
Q
slumber
A
sleep. "Sleeping Beauty slumbered in her forest castle" Similar: sleep be asleep doze rest
16
Q
dawn
A
noun noun: dawn; plural noun: dawns 1. the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise. "he set off at dawn" Similar: daybreak break of day crack of dawn sunrise first light daylight first thing in the morning early morning cockcrow sunup dawning peep of day aurora dayspring Opposite: dusk 2. the beginning of a phenomenon or period of time, especially one considered favourable. "the dawn of civilization" Similar: beginning start birth inception conception origination genesis emergence advent coming appearance debut arrival dawning rise starting point origin launch institution inauguration opening initiation onset outset unfolding development infancy day one kick-off the word go commencement Opposite: end verb verb: dawn; 3rd person present: dawns; past tense: dawned; past participle: dawned; gerund or present participle: dawning 1. (of a day) begin. "Thursday dawned bright and sunny" Similar: begin open break arrive emerge grow light lighten brighten Opposite: end 2. become evident to the mind; be perceived or understood. "the awful truth was beginning to dawn on him" Similar: occur to come to come to mind spring to mind
17
Q
drowsy
A
sleepy and lethargic; half asleep. "the wine had made her drowsy" Similar: sleepy half asleep dozy dozing heavy heavy-eyed yawning nodding groggy somnolent ready for bed tired weary fatigued exhausted lethargic sluggish torpid lifeless listless languid languorous comatose dazed drugged snoozy dopey yawny dead beat all in done in dog-tired knackered slumberous Opposite: wakeful alert causing sleepiness. "the drowsy heat of the meadows" Similar: soporific sleep-inducing sleepy somniferous narcotic sedative calmative tranquillizing lulling soothing dreamy somnific Opposite: invigorating (of a place) peaceful and quiet. "a drowsy suburb called Surrey Hills"
18
Q
endeavor
A
verb: endeavor try hard to do or achieve something. "he is endeavouring to help the Third World" Similar: try attempt venture undertake aspire aim seek set out strive struggle labour toil work hard try hard exert oneself apply oneself do one's best do one's utmost give one's all be at pains work at try one's hand at slog away give something a whirl have a go at have a shot at have a stab at give something one's best shot do one's damnedest go all out bend over backwards break one's neck bust a gut move heaven and earth essay noun noun: endeavor an attempt to achieve a goal. "an endeavour to reduce serious injury" Similar: attempt try bid effort trial venture go crack shot
19
Q
fable
A
a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. "the fable of the sick lion and the wary fox" Similar: moral tale parable apologue allegory bestia
19
Q
superfluous
A
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. "the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information" Similar: surplus redundant unneeded not required excess extra spare
20
Q
inevitable
A
certain to happen; unavoidable. "war was inevitable" Similar: unavoidable inescapable bound to happen sure to happen inexorable unpreventable assured certain for sure sure fated predestined predetermined preordained ineluctable necessary compulsory required obligatory mandatory prescribed ineludible Opposite: avoidable uncertain noun noun: inevitable a situation that is unavoidable. "by the morning he had accepted the inevitable"
21
Q
affronted
A
offend the modesty or values of. "she was affronted by his familiarity" Similar: insult offend outrage mortify provoke slight hurt pique
22
Q
peculiar
A
different to what is normal or expected; strange. "he gave her some very peculiar looks" Similar: strange unusual odd funny curious bizarre weird uncanny queer unexpected unfamiliar abnormal atypical anomalous untypical different out of the ordinary out of the way exceptional rare extraordinary remarkable puzzling mystifying mysterious perplexing baffling unaccountable incongruous uncommon irregular singular deviant aberrant freak freakish suspicious dubious questionable eerie unnatural unco outré fishy creepy spooky rum bizarro backasswards eccentric idiosyncratic unconventional outlandish offbeat quirky quaint droll zany off-centre wacky freaky kooky screwy kinky oddball cranky off the wall wacko dilly Opposite: normal ordinary 2. particular; special. "any attempt to explicate the theme is bound to run into peculiar difficulties" Similar: distinctive characteristic distinct different individual individualistic
23
Q
binds
A
verb 3rd person present: binds 1. tie or fasten (something) tightly together. "they bound her hands and feet" Similar: tie tie up fasten (together) hold together secure make fast attach rope strap lash truss tether hitch chain fetter pinion shackle hobble moor Opposite: untie release 2. stick together or cause to stick together in a single mass. "mix the flour with the coconut and enough egg white to bind them" Similar: stick cohere 3. cause (people) to feel united. "it's music that has bound us together" Similar: unite join bond knit together draw together yoke together Opposite: separate 4. impose a legal or contractual obligation on. "a party who signs a document will normally be bound by its terms" 5. fix together and enclose (the pages of a book) in a cover. "a small, fat volume, bound in red morocco" 6. trim (the edge of a piece of material) with a decorative strip. "a frill with the edges bound in a contrasting colour" Similar: trim hem edge border fringe rim band finish purfle 7. LOGIC (of a quantifier) be applied to (a given variable) so that the variable falls within its scope. For example, in an expression of the form ‘For every x, if x is a dog, x is an animal’, the universal quantifier is binding the variable x. 8. LINGUISTICS (of a rule or set of grammatical conditions) determine the relationship between (coreferential noun phrases). noun a problematical situation. "he is in a bind that gets worse with every passing minute" Similar: predicament awkward situation quandary dilemma plight
24
Q
to oppose
A
disagree with and attempt to prevent, especially by argument. "a majority of the electorate opposed EC membership" actively resist (a person or system). "a workers' movement opposed the regime" Similar: be against object to be hostile to be anti be in opposition to disagree with dislike disapprove of resist take a stand against put up a fight against stand up to take on fight withstand defy set one's face against go against counter cross confront challenge contend with attack counterattack combat fly in the face of take issue with contradict dispute rebut argue with/against quarrel with gainsay controvert Opposite: support defend promote compete with (someone). "a candidate to oppose the leader in the presidential contest"
25
Q
ray
A
each of the lines in which light (and heat) may seem to stream from the sun or any luminous body, or pass through a small opening. "a ray of sunlight came through the window" Similar: beam shaft streak bar pencil finger stream gleam
26
Q
wrest
A
forcibly pull (something) from a person's grasp. "Leila tried to wrest her arm from his hold" Similar: wrench snatch seize grab take by force remove by force
27
Q
alienated
A
1.
experiencing or inducing feelings of isolation or estrangement.
“an alienated, angst-ridden twenty-two-year-old”
2.
(of property) transferred to the ownership of another person or group.
“restoration of alienated lands to their former owners”
28
Q
revival
A
1. an improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or something. "a revival in the fortunes of the party" Similar: improvement rallying picking up betterment amelioration turn for the better advance rally upturn upswing comeback resurgence renewal Opposite: downturn 2. an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again. "cross-country skiing is enjoying a revival" Similar: comeback bringing back re-establishment reintroduction restoration
29
Q
drudgery
A
hard menial or dull work. "domestic drudgery" Similar: hard work menial work donkey work toil toiling labour
30
Q
diverge
A
1. (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route and go in a different direction. "the flight path diverged from the original flight plan" Similar: separate part disunite fork branch off divide subdivide
31
Q
disdain
A
noun noun: disdain; plural noun: disdains the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect. "her upper lip curled in disdain" Similar: contempt scorn scornfulness contemptuousness derision disrespect disparagement condescension superciliousness hauteur haughtiness arrogance lordliness snobbishness aloofness indifference dismissiveness distaste dislike disgust despite contumely Opposite: admiration respect verb verb: disdain; 3rd person present: disdains; past tense: disdained; past participle: disdained; gerund or present participle: disdaining consider to be unworthy of one's consideration. "he disdained his patients as an inferior rabble" Similar: scorn deride pour scorn on regard with contempt show contempt for
32
Q
deploy
A
1. move (troops or equipment) into position for military action. "forces were deployed at strategic locations" Similar: position station post place install locate situate site establish base garrison distribute arrange range dispose redistribute spread out extend put into position plant park posit Opposite: concentrate 2. bring into effective action. "small states can often deploy resources more freely" Similar: use utilize employ make use of avail oneself of turn to account
33
Q
commemorate
A
recall and show respect for (someone or something).
“a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead”
mark or celebrate (an event or person) by doing or producing something.
“the victory was commemorated in songs”
Similar:
celebrate
pay tribute to
pay homage to
honour
salute
toast
34
Q
memoir
A
1. a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge. "in 1924 she published a short memoir of her husband" Similar: account historical account history record chronicle annal(s) commentary narrative story report portrayal depiction sketch portrait life life story profile biography autobiography memories recollections personal recollections reminiscences experiences journal diary log weblog blog vlog moblog 2. an essay on a learned subject. "an important memoir on Carboniferous crustacea"
35
Q
retrospective
A
looking back on or dealing with past events or situations. "our survey was retrospective" Similar: backdated retroactive ex post facto backward-looking
36
Q
harvest
A
the process or period of gathering in crops. "farmers work longer hours during the harvest" Similar: gathering in of the crops harvesting harvest time harvest home reaping picking collecting garnering ingathering gleaning culling verb verb: harvest; 3rd person present: harvests; past tense: harvested; past participle: harvested; gerund or present participle: harvesting gather (a crop) as a harvest. "after harvesting, most of the crop is stored in large buildings" Similar: gather in gather bring in take in reap pick collect garner
37
Q
absence
A
the state of being away from a place or person. "the letter had arrived during his absence" Similar: non-attendance non-appearance absenteeism truancy playing truant truanting leave vacation sabbatical holiday skiving bunking off playing hooky goofing off ditching playing the wag wagging Opposite: presence attendance an occasion or period of being away from a place or person. plural noun: absences "repeated absences from school" the non-existence or lack of. "she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting" Similar: lack want non-existence unavailability deficiency deprivation
38
Q
sorcerer
A
a person who claims or is believed to have magic powers; a wizard. Similar: wizard witch (black) magician warlock diviner occultist
39
Q
contemporary
A
1. living or occurring at the same time. "the event was recorded by a contemporary historian" 2. belonging to or occurring in the present. "the tension and complexities of our contemporary society" Similar: modern present-day present current present-time immediate extant up to date up to the minute fashionable latest recent ultra-modern newfangled modish voguish in vogue à la mode bang up to date with it Opposite: old-fashioned out of date noun noun: contemporary; plural noun: contemporaries a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another. "he was a contemporary of Darwin" Similar: peer fellow compeer coeval
40
Q
shallow
A
of little depth. "serve the noodles in a shallow bowl" 2. not exhibiting, requiring, or capable of serious thought. "a shallow analysis of contemporary society" Similar: superficial facile glib simplistic oversimplified schematic
41
Q
Undergo
A
experience or be subjected to (something, typically something unpleasant or arduous). "he underwent a life-saving brain operation" Similar: go through experience engage in undertake live through face
42
Q
penetrate
A
1. go into or through (something), especially with force or effort. "the shrapnel had penetrated his head" Similar: pierce puncture make a hole in perforate stab prick probe gore spike stick impale transfix bore (through) drill (through) lance 2. gain access to (an organization, place, or system), especially when this is difficult to do. "M15 had been penetrated by Russian intelligence" Similar: infiltrate slip into sneak into creep into insinuate oneself into
43
Q
arouse
A
evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response). "something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions" Similar: cause induce prompt set off trigger stir up inspire call forth call/bring into being draw forth bring out excite evoke pique whet stir engender generate kindle fire touch off spark off provoke foster whip up sow the seeds of enkindle Opposite: allay 2. awaken (someone) from sleep. "she had been aroused from deep slumber" Similar: wake wake up waken awaken bring to bring around rouse
44
Q
satirize
A
deride and criticize by means of satire. "the movie satirized the notion of national superiority" Similar: mock ridicule hold up to ridicule deride make fun of poke fun
45
Q
baffle
A
totally bewilder or perplex. "an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone" Similar: perplex puzzle bewilder mystify bemuse confuse confound nonplus disconcert throw set someone thinking flummox discombobulate faze stump beat fox be all Greek to floor fog buffalo wilder gravel maze cause to be at a stand pose obfuscate puzzling bewildering perplexing mystifying bemusing confusing unclear difficult/hard to understand beyond one above one's head mysterious enigmatic obscure abstruse unfathomable inexplicable incomprehensible impenetrable cryptic opaque wildering Opposite: enlighten clear comprehensible 2. restrain or regulate (a fluid, sound, etc.). "to baffle the noise further, I pad the gunwales" Similar: thwart frustrate foil balk check block hinder obstruct
46
Q
span
A
the full extent of something from end to end; the amount of space that something covers. "a warehouse with a clear span of 28 feet" Similar: (full) extent length width reach stretch spread distance compass range 2. the length of time for which something lasts. "a short concentration span" Similar: period space time duration stretch course interval season term verb verb: span; 3rd person present: spans; past tense: spanned; past participle: spanned; gerund or present participle: spanning 1. (of a bridge, arch, etc.) extend from side to side of. "the stream was spanned by a narrow bridge" Similar: bridge cross traverse pass over arch over vault over 2. extend across (a period of time or a range of subjects). "their interests span almost all the conventional disciplines" Similar: extend over last stretch across spread over cover range over
47
Q
bitter
A
1. having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet. "raw berries have an intensely bitter flavour" Similar: sharp acid acidic pungent acrid tart sour biting harsh unsweetened vinegary acetous acerb acerbic Opposite: sweet 2. feeling or showing anger, hurt, or resentment because of bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment. "I don't feel jealous or bitter" Similar: resentful embittered aggrieved dissatisfied disgruntled
