Magoosh SAT - Common Words II

For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.

The wedding reception was convivial; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor.

A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.

It came as no surprise to pundits that the President’s attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was erratic, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophisticate spy James Bond.

The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable.

The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.

Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.

With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but sanguine.

Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.

The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.

Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the "Gilded Age", implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability.

Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many

In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face.

During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.

The Spanish conquistadors were known for their avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.

When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town

After discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history.

I don't mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.

The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he pugnaciously spat back at them, “Hey, you think this is easy – why don’t you buffoons give it a shot?”

After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.

Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.

Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.

Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so vindictive that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge.

She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it.

The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up.

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.

Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends.

Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah.

A cogent argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience.

The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop.

Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance.

Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.

Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.

The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use.

The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added. My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.

After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely.

The prince's distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family.

Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights fiercely throughout his short life.

Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner.

Now that Henry is recovering from a major illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him.

Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.

The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers. I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months.

The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves. The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.

Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day.

Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught up to her.

I know only a smattering of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives.

The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.