SSAT Vocabulary Practice: List 46

Twenty-word practice set from the Ubiquitous Essentials SSAT/SAT academic glossary.

Vocabulary List 46: OB-PA Words

1. ObtuseSSAT vocabularySlow to understand; or blunt rather than sharp.
2. OfficiousSSAT vocabularyToo eager to give unwanted help or orders.
3. OnerousSSAT vocabularyBurdensome or difficult.
4. BurdensomeSSAT vocabularyHeavy, troublesome, or hard to bear.
5. OpaqueSSAT vocabularyNot transparent; hard to understand.
6. OpulentSSAT vocabularyWealthy, luxurious, or richly decorated.
7. OrthodoxSSAT vocabularyFollowing accepted or traditional beliefs.
8. OstensibleSSAT vocabularyAppearing to be true, but possibly not.
9. OstentatiousSSAT vocabularyShowy in a way meant to impress.
10. PlacateSSAT vocabularyTo calm or soothe anger.
11. PainstakingSSAT vocabularyDone with great care and effort.
12. PalliateSSAT vocabularyTo make less severe without curing.
13. PalpableSSAT vocabularyAble to be felt; obvious.
14. PaltrySSAT vocabularySmall, weak, or worthless.
15. PanaceaSSAT vocabularyA supposed cure for all problems.
16. ParadigmSSAT vocabularyA model, pattern, or example.
17. ParadoxSSAT vocabularyA statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
18. ParochialSSAT vocabularyNarrow in outlook or limited to local concerns.
19. ParodySSAT vocabularyA humorous imitation.
20. ParsimoniousSSAT vocabularyUnwilling to spend money; stingy.

Exercise 1: Matching

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. Obtuse _____
  2. Officious _____
  3. Onerous _____
  4. Burdensome _____
  5. Opaque _____
  6. Opulent _____
  7. Orthodox _____
  8. Ostensible _____
  9. Ostentatious _____
  10. Placate _____
  11. Painstaking _____
  12. Palliate _____
  13. Palpable _____
  14. Paltry _____
  15. Panacea _____
  16. Paradigm _____
  17. Paradox _____
  18. Parochial _____
  19. Parody _____
  20. Parsimonious _____
A. Small, weak, or worthless.
B. A model, pattern, or example.
C. Heavy, troublesome, or hard to bear.
D. Unwilling to spend money; stingy.
E. A supposed cure for all problems.
F. A statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
G. Following accepted or traditional beliefs.
H. Done with great care and effort.
I. Wealthy, luxurious, or richly decorated.
J. Narrow in outlook or limited to local concerns.
K. To make less severe without curing.
L. Slow to understand; or blunt rather than sharp.
M. A humorous imitation.
N. Showy in a way meant to impress.
O. To calm or soothe anger.
P. Not transparent; hard to understand.
Q. Appearing to be true, but possibly not.
R. Too eager to give unwanted help or orders.
S. Able to be felt; obvious.
T. Burdensome or difficult.
Show Matching Answer Key

1-L, 2-R, 3-T, 4-C, 5-P, 6-I, 7-G, 8-Q, 9-N, 10-O, 11-H, 12-K, 13-S, 14-A, 15-E, 16-B, 17-F, 18-J, 19-M, 20-D

Exercise 2: Gap Filling

Choose the best word from the word bank to complete each sentence.

placate, paradox, opulent, burdensome, onerous, ostensible, orthodox, parochial, painstaking, paltry, officious, parsimonious, opaque, paradigm, palpable, palliate, panacea, parody, obtuse, ostentatious
  1. The new app was advertised as a _____, but it could not fix every problem.
  2. He was not stupid, but he seemed _____ about the obvious joke.
  3. The tension in the room was _____ after the vote.
  4. The _____ treasurer refused to buy even one pencil.
  5. The school used Finland as a _____ for education reform.
  6. The extra paperwork was _____ for families already under stress.
  7. The _____ car drew attention on every street.
  8. The drama club wrote a _____ of superhero movies.
  9. The _____ neighbor kept giving advice nobody requested.
  10. The _____ reason for the meeting was safety, but the real issue was money.
  11. The school followed an _____ calendar with summer vacation.
  12. "Less is more" is a familiar _____.
  13. The apology seemed _____ after such a serious mistake.
  14. The hotel lobby looked _____ with marble floors and gold lamps.
  15. The poem seemed _____ until we discussed its symbols.
  16. Carrying three instruments on the bus was _____ for the young musician.
  17. The medicine could _____ the pain, though it could not cure the illness.
  18. The restoration required _____ work with tiny brushes.
  19. The committee's _____ attitude ignored ideas from other cities.
  20. The apology helped _____ the angry customer.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key

1. Panacea, 2. Obtuse, 3. Palpable, 4. Parsimonious, 5. Paradigm, 6. Onerous, 7. Ostentatious, 8. Parody, 9. Officious, 10. Ostensible, 11. Orthodox, 12. Paradox, 13. Paltry, 14. Opulent, 15. Opaque, 16. Burdensome, 17. Palliate, 18. Painstaking, 19. Parochial, 20. Placate

Exercise 3: Paragraph Using All Words

Read the paragraph and notice how each vocabulary word is used in context.

In one busy school week, every conversation seemed to introduce a new vocabulary word. He was not stupid, but he seemed Obtuse about the obvious joke. Carrying three instruments on the bus was Burdensome for the young musician. The Officious neighbor kept giving advice nobody requested. The school followed an Orthodox calendar with summer vacation. "Less is more" is a familiar Paradox. The school used Finland as a Paradigm for education reform. The hotel lobby looked Opulent with marble floors and gold lamps. The apology helped Placate the angry customer. The apology seemed Paltry after such a serious mistake. The Parsimonious treasurer refused to buy even one pencil. The medicine could Palliate the pain, though it could not cure the illness. The committee's Parochial attitude ignored ideas from other cities. The restoration required Painstaking work with tiny brushes. The Ostensible reason for the meeting was safety, but the real issue was money. The Ostentatious car drew attention on every street. The extra paperwork was Onerous for families already under stress. The tension in the room was Palpable after the vote. The poem seemed Opaque until we discussed its symbols. The new app was advertised as a Panacea, but it could not fix every problem. The drama club wrote a Parody of superhero movies.

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