SSAT Vocabulary Practice

Word Set 11: archetype, ardent, arduous, aristocratic, artful, artifice, ascendancy, ascetic, assiduous, assimilate, assuage, astute, attrition, audacity, augment, auspicious, austere, autocratic, autonomous, avarice, avow, avuncular, awry, axiom

Vocabulary List

Review each word and definition before completing the practice exercises.

archetypeA typical example or model.
ardentPassionate or enthusiastic.
arduousDifficult and requiring great effort.
aristocraticRelating to nobility or a high social class.
artfulClever or skillful, sometimes in a deceptive way.
artificeDeception or trickery.
ascendancyDominance or controlling influence.
asceticPracticing strict self-denial.
assiduousHardworking and persistent.
assimilateTo absorb or integrate into a group or culture.
assuageTo relieve or make less severe.
astuteShrewd and perceptive.
attritionGradual weakening or reduction.
audacityBoldness or daring.
augmentTo increase or add to.
auspiciousFavorable or promising.
austereSimple, plain, and strict.
autocraticRuling with absolute power.
autonomousSelf-governing or independent.
avariceExtreme greed.
avowTo declare openly.
avuncularFriendly and kind, like an uncle.
awryGoing wrong or not as planned.
axiomA self-evident truth.

1. Matching Exercise

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. archetype
  2. ardent
  3. arduous
  4. aristocratic
  5. artful
  6. artifice
  7. ascendancy
  8. ascetic
  9. assiduous
  10. assimilate
  11. assuage
  12. astute
  13. attrition
  14. audacity
  15. augment
  16. auspicious
  17. austere
  18. autocratic
  19. autonomous
  20. avarice
  21. avow
  22. avuncular
  23. awry
  24. axiom

Definitions

  1. _____ a typical example or model
  2. _____ passionate or enthusiastic
  3. _____ difficult and requiring great effort
  4. _____ relating to nobility or a high social class
  5. _____ clever or skillful, sometimes in a deceptive way
  6. _____ deception or trickery
  7. _____ dominance or controlling influence
  8. _____ practicing strict self-denial
  9. _____ hardworking and persistent
  10. _____ to absorb or integrate into a group or culture
  11. _____ to relieve or make less severe
  12. _____ shrewd and perceptive
  13. _____ gradual weakening or reduction
  14. _____ boldness or daring
  15. _____ to increase or add to
  16. _____ favorable or promising
  17. _____ simple, plain, and strict in appearance
  18. _____ ruling with absolute power
  19. _____ self-governing or independent
  20. _____ extreme greed
  21. _____ to declare openly
  22. _____ friendly and kind, like an uncle
  23. _____ going wrong or not as planned
  24. _____ a self-evident truth
Matching Answer Key

1. A   2. B   3. C   4. D   5. E   6. F   7. G   8. H   9. I   10. J   11. K   12. L   13. M   14. N   15. O   16. P   17. Q   18. R   19. S   20. T   21. U   22. V   23. W   24. X

2. Gap-Fill Exercise

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

archetype | ardent | arduous | aristocratic | artful | artifice | ascendancy | ascetic | assiduous | assimilate | assuage | astute | attrition | audacity | augment | auspicious | austere | autocratic | autonomous | avarice | avow | avuncular | awry | axiom
  1. The project was and required weeks of effort.
  2. She showed support for the environmental cause.
  3. His decision allowed no one else to speak.
  4. The leader maintained over the organization.
  5. The student worked in an manner, never giving up.
  6. The plan went because of poor communication.
  7. The company aims to its resources by hiring more staff.
  8. Her thinking helped her solve the problem quickly.
  9. The long conflict led to the of both sides.
  10. The teacher tried to the students' fears before the exam.
  11. His lifestyle avoided luxury and comfort.
  12. She had the to challenge the unfair rule openly.
  13. The hero became an of courage in the story.
  14. His nature made him warm and approachable.
  15. The beginning of the project seemed and likely to succeed.
  16. The villain's led him to value wealth over friendship.
  17. The child began to into the new school environment.
  18. The politician used to manipulate the public.
  19. The principle that "actions have consequences" is an .
  20. The region became after gaining independence.
Gap-Fill Answer Key
  1. arduous
  2. ardent
  3. autocratic
  4. ascendancy
  5. assiduous
  6. awry
  7. augment
  8. astute
  9. attrition
  10. assuage
  11. ascetic
  12. audacity
  13. archetype
  14. avuncular
  15. auspicious
  16. avarice
  17. assimilate
  18. artifice
  19. axiom
  20. autonomous

3. Paragraph Practice

Read the paragraph. Then underline or highlight each vocabulary word.

The young leader, though not from an aristocratic background, quickly gained ascendancy through her astute and assiduous work ethic. Her rise was not easy; the journey was arduous, and several plans went awry because of unforeseen obstacles. Yet her ardent belief in her mission never faded. Unlike her autocratic predecessor, she encouraged an autonomous approach among her team, allowing them to assimilate new ideas freely. Though some critics accused her of using political artifice, her artful strategies often led to auspicious outcomes. She chose to avow her principles openly, treating colleagues with an avuncular warmth that helped assuage tensions. Rejecting avarice, she lived an almost ascetic life, embracing austere conditions to focus on her goals. Over time, despite the attrition of resources, she continued to augment her influence, proving that bold audacity, when guided by sound axioms, could redefine the archetype of leadership.

Continue Practice

Move to the connected practice page for SSAT vocabulary list 11-13.

Practice List 11-13