More SAT, GRE vocab

The best way to improve your vocabulary is to read challenging, thoughtful books and to look up the words you don't know.  I'm reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein these days, so I jotted down some vocabulary that I thought would be useful to SAT or GRE students. You should also read literature and make your own vocab lists.

1. harrowing - very frightening
2. impertinent - this usually means rude or disrespectful; it can also mean 'beside the point'
3. repose - rest
4. emaciated - the way a person looks who is starving; very thin
5. melancholy - sadness, but a special kind of 'thoughtful' sadness


Bob was fortunate to go to a little liberal arts college out in the countryside of Pennsylvania.  When he was tired of studying, he could take a short walk and lie on the grass, under the trees for some much needed _____________.

Most clerks at department stores are very cordial and polite, but sometimes clerks can also be _________________ toward customers.

Our vacation trip down the Amazon River was supposed to be safe and tranquil, but when we got deep into the river we experienced some ___________________ adventures.

A person probably shouldn't dwell too much on the mistakes he/she has made.  This just leads to a type of useless _____________________.

I could tell Bill had been ill for quite some time.  When I had last seen him, he seemed hardy and robust, but now he looked weak and _______________________.

answers are below:





answers:

repose
impertinent
harrowing
melancholy
emaciated