SAT Vocabulary Questions

The CEO's speech was so _______ that it seemed designed only to make himself appear more important than he really was.

• self-aggrandizing

• intransigent

• perfunctory

• magnanimous

Despite her impressive achievements, the scientist was refreshingly _______ about her success, always attributing it to teamwork and luck.

• self-deprecating

• obdurate

• capricious

• didactic

The nurse's _______ actions during the crisis showed her willingness to put the needs of others before her own.

• altruistic

• recondite

• laconic

• facetious

Even though he was a famous author, he was known for his _______ nature and avoided the spotlight whenever possible.

• self-effacing

• truculent

• prosaic

• querulous

He was somewhat self-deprecating when he categorised some of the work that he deals with in his surgeries as low-level administrative work.

• humble

• insipid

• surreptitious

• overbearing

The young couple had to _______ out their savings to pay the rent until one of them found a job.

• eke

• expunge

• obfuscate

• assuage

The scandal threatened to _______ the reputation of the once-respected politician.

• mar

• exacerbate

• mitigate

• extol

After hours of _______ in the fields, the workers were exhausted but satisfied with their progress.

• moil

• repudiation

• elucidation

• mollification

Her _______ movements in the dance routine impressed all the judges with their grace and skill.

• deft

• tenacious

• circuitous

• verbose

The _______ of the debate centered on whether the new policy would benefit the majority of citizens.

• crux

• hiatus

• panacea

• anachronism