SSAT Vocabulary Practice: List 49

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

Vocabulary List 49: PL-PR Words

1. PlacateSSAT vocabularyTo calm or soothe anger.
2. PlaintiveSSAT vocabularyMournful or expressing sorrow.
3. PlatitudeSSAT vocabularyA dull, overused remark.
4. PlebeianSSAT vocabularyCommon or ordinary; of the lower class.
5. DiscriminatingSSAT vocabularyShowing good taste or careful judgment.
6. PoignantSSAT vocabularyDeeply moving or touching.
7. PolarizeSSAT vocabularyTo divide into opposing groups.
8. PolemicSSAT vocabularyA strong written or spoken attack.
9. PonderousSSAT vocabularyHeavy, slow, or dull.
10. PortentSSAT vocabularyA sign of something about to happen.
11. OmenSSAT vocabularyA sign of a future event.
12. PostulateSSAT vocabularyTo assume as true for argument.
13. AxiomSSAT vocabularyA self-evident truth or accepted principle.
14. PragmaticSSAT vocabularyPractical rather than idealistic.
15. PrecedentSSAT vocabularyAn earlier example used as a guide.
16. PreceptSSAT vocabularyA rule or principle for behavior.
17. PrecipitateSSAT vocabularyTo cause suddenly; or rash and hasty.
18. PrecipitousSSAT vocabularyVery steep; or dangerously sudden.
19. PrecludeSSAT vocabularyTo prevent or make impossible.
20. PrecursorSSAT vocabularySomething that comes before and signals another.

Exercise 1: Matching

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. Placate _____
  2. Plaintive _____
  3. Platitude _____
  4. Plebeian _____
  5. Discriminating _____
  6. Poignant _____
  7. Polarize _____
  8. Polemic _____
  9. Ponderous _____
  10. Portent _____
  11. Omen _____
  12. Postulate _____
  13. Axiom _____
  14. Pragmatic _____
  15. Precedent _____
  16. Precept _____
  17. Precipitate _____
  18. Precipitous _____
  19. Preclude _____
  20. Precursor _____
A. An earlier example used as a guide.
B. To divide into opposing groups.
C. A strong written or spoken attack.
D. Mournful or expressing sorrow.
E. A sign of something about to happen.
F. Deeply moving or touching.
G. To cause suddenly; or rash and hasty.
H. Something that comes before and signals another.
I. Showing good taste or careful judgment.
J. To prevent or make impossible.
K. A rule or principle for behavior.
L. To calm or soothe anger.
M. Very steep; or dangerously sudden.
N. Heavy, slow, or dull.
O. A self-evident truth or accepted principle.
P. A sign of a future event.
Q. Common or ordinary; of the lower class.
R. Practical rather than idealistic.
S. To assume as true for argument.
T. A dull, overused remark.
Show Matching Answer Key

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

Exercise 2: Gap Filling

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

postulate, platitude, discriminating, axiom, plaintive, polemic, precept, precipitous, ponderous, preclude, precipitate, precedent, placate, portent, precursor, omen, poignant, pragmatic, polarize, plebeian
  1. The first cough was a _____ of a long cold.
  2. The veteran's speech was _____ and left many people silent.
  3. The singer's _____ voice made the audience quiet.
  4. The sudden silence felt like a _____ of bad news.
  5. The _____ solution was to repair the old bus, not buy a new one.
  6. Honesty was the coach's most important _____.
  7. The argument began to _____ the class into two sides.
  8. The apology helped _____ the angry customer.
  9. The court used an old case as a _____.
  10. The editorial was a fierce _____ against the new rule.
  11. The first crack in the wall seemed like an _____ of trouble ahead.
  12. The hikers stopped before the _____ cliff.
  13. "Just do your best" sounded like a _____ after the tough loss.
  14. The _____ buyer chose quality over flashy labels.
  15. The math problem asked us to _____ that both lines were parallel.
  16. Heavy snow may _____ travel over the pass.
  17. "All students deserve respect" became the class _____.
  18. The textbook's _____ style made the chapter hard to finish.
  19. The prince was surprised by the wisdom of a _____ farmer.
  20. The surprise quiz could _____ panic in an unprepared class.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key

1. Precursor, 2. Poignant, 3. Plaintive, 4. Portent, 5. Pragmatic, 6. Precept, 7. Polarize, 8. Placate, 9. Precedent, 10. Polemic, 11. Omen, 12. Precipitous, 13. Platitude, 14. Discriminating, 15. Postulate, 16. Preclude, 17. Axiom, 18. Ponderous, 19. Plebeian, 20. Precipitate

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. The argument began to Polarize the class into two sides. "Just do your best" sounded like a Platitude after the tough loss. The Pragmatic solution was to repair the old bus, not buy a new one. "All students deserve respect" became the class Axiom. The surprise quiz could Precipitate panic in an unprepared class. Heavy snow may Preclude travel over the pass. The editorial was a fierce Polemic against the new rule. The math problem asked us to Postulate that both lines were parallel. The sudden silence felt like a Portent of bad news. The textbook's Ponderous style made the chapter hard to finish. The apology helped Placate the angry customer. The singer's Plaintive voice made the audience quiet. Honesty was the coach's most important Precept. The first crack in the wall seemed like an Omen of trouble ahead. The first cough was a Precursor of a long cold. The hikers stopped before the Precipitous cliff. The Discriminating buyer chose quality over flashy labels. The court used an old case as a Precedent. The veteran's speech was Poignant and left many people silent. The prince was surprised by the wisdom of a Plebeian farmer.

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