SAT Vocabulary Builder practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21Assiduous
✓ Correct answer: A. Showing great care and effort; diligent and persistent
Assiduous means hardworking and thorough. 'Her assiduous preparation for the exam — reading every source, reviewing every note — paid off with a top score.'
Q22Attenuate
✓ Correct answer: A. To reduce the force, effect, or value of something; to weaken or thin out
To attenuate is to reduce in strength or intensity. 'The drug was found to attenuate the symptoms without fully curing the disease.'
Q23Audacious
✓ Correct answer: A. Showing a willingness to take bold risks; daring, adventurous
Audacious means boldly daring, sometimes to the point of being shocking. 'The audacious plan to tunnel under the border seemed impossible, but it succeeded.'
Q24Austere
✓ Correct answer: A. Severe or strict in manner or attitude; having no comforts or luxuries; plain
Austere can mean both stern in manner and lacking comfort or decoration. 'The monk lived an austere life: simple food, a bare cell, and daily labor.'
Q25Banal
✓ Correct answer: A. So lacking in originality that it has become predictable and dull; commonplace, trite
Banal means tiresomely ordinary. 'The film's plot was criticized as banal — a predictable love story with no surprises.'
Q26Benevolent
✓ Correct answer: A. Well-meaning and kindly; disposed to do good
Benevolent means generous and kind-hearted. 'The benevolent donor anonymously funded scholarships for hundreds of low-income students.'
Q27Brevity
✓ Correct answer: A. Concise and exact use of words; briefness in time or expression
Brevity means shortness or conciseness. 'She admired the author's brevity — he conveyed profound emotions in just a few well-chosen words.' As Shakespeare wrote: 'Brevity is the soul of wit.'
Q28Cacophony
✓ Correct answer: A. A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Cacophony is a harsh, jarring noise. 'The construction site was a cacophony of drilling, hammering, and shouting that made conversation impossible.'
Q29Candid
✓ Correct answer: A. Truthful and straightforward; frank and honest, even if uncomfortable
Candid means direct and honest. 'I appreciate your candid feedback on my draft — I'd rather hear hard truths now than submit a flawed essay.'
Q30Caustic
✓ Correct answer: A. Sarcastic in a scathing or bitter way; capable of burning or corroding organic tissue
Caustic means sharply sarcastic or corrosive. 'The critic's caustic review of the novel — 'a masterpiece of mediocrity' — devastated the young author.'
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