SAT Vocabulary: Character
Words for lasting traits, each in a short sentence.
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Desk calendar
Ms. Okonkwo keeps a desk calendar of small tasks and finishes each one before the lunch bell. Students describe that diligent routine as the way she has always taught.
Chess in the park
At the park chess table, Mr. Alvarez turns down every suggested move and plays his own line to the last pawn. His stubborn streak is a neighborhood legend.
Extra lunch boxes
On Sunday mornings Lena fills extra lunch boxes for cousins who drop by the kitchen. Giving food away is her generous custom, not a one-day mood.
The fine box
When the library fine box is short, Jonah reports the missing coins even if no one watched the desk. People trust that honest habit.
Dawn bus stop
Every weekday before dawn, Priya is the driver who waits if a regular rider is half a block away. That reliable practice has held for years.
Window scraps
In the corner shop, Amir builds each month's window from scraps and leftover paper. His creative bent shows in every display.
The same warm-up
Coach Rivera runs the same warm-up, drill, and cool-down, and she never skips a step for herself. The team follows her disciplined example.
A split hose
When the garden hose split, Nora sealed the leak with a sleeve cut from an old glove. Neighbors count on her practical fixes.
First apartment
After moving into a small apartment, Theo cooks, budgets, and mends his clothes without calling home. He has been independent since his first week there.
A broken latch
When the farm gate latch broke, Sam wired a spare hinge from the shed and had the cows in before dark. Folks still tell that resourceful story.
Printer down
The office printer died an hour before a client packet was due, so Jules moved the pages to a shared screen and finished. Colleagues count on her flexible habits.
Marked scripts
During theater rehearsals, Helen marks her script, keeps her opinions to herself, and speaks only when the director asks. Castmates know her reserved manner.
Names on the dock
On the dock after work, Luis greets every fisher by name and stays while the boats are tied. His sociable ways fill the evening.
Before he thinks
In class, Diego blurts an answer, joins a club, or trades his snack before he has thought it through. Teachers treat that impulsive pattern as part of him.
Measuring twice
Before she bakes, Aunt Rosa measures twice, labels every jar, and wipes the counter as she goes. The family plans around her careful kitchen habits.
The steep ramp
At the skate park, Malik takes the steep ramp without pads and laughs when friends warn him. His reckless style has looked the same for years.
Unit prices
Maya compares unit prices, carries the same canvas bag, and skips anything not on her list. Clerks recognize her frugal shopping.
A joke on the bus
On the late bus, Kenji turns a dull delay into a quick joke that makes the row smile. Riders expect those witty lines.
Exact thanks
When Nia thanks a librarian, she names the exact help and stands by each word. That sincere manner is how she always speaks.
Holding the door
Even when a meeting runs long, Andre holds the door, waits his turn, and thanks the note-taker. Coworkers remark on his polite conduct.
One more sprint
At every practice, Sofia checks her time against yesterday and asks for one more sprint. Teammates know that competitive drive.
Labeled bins
Leah labels bins, keeps a shared calendar, and returns tools before she sits down. Visitors notice how organized she keeps every shelf.
Night after night
After a low quiz score, Omar reworks each missed item night after night until he can teach it. Tutors point to his persistent effort.
The unmarked trail
On weekend hikes that start at the park gate, Chris picks the unmarked trail and packs for weather he has not checked. Friends treat that adventurous habit as typical.
The porch
By midmorning the stalls still need mucking, yet Ben stays on the porch until someone else starts. The hired hands talk about his lazy ways.
The first bowl
When the stew is ready, Grant fills his bowl first and leaves the small pot for everyone else. Roommates call that selfish pattern old news.
A short drawer
Tomas shorted the register twice and told the owner the drawer had balanced. The shop let him go over that dishonest conduct.
The bus door
Three mornings this month, Caleb promised to hold the bus door and then walked off. Riders now plan around his unreliable promises.
The same update
In staff meetings, Paula reads the same update in the same flat voice and adds no story. Colleagues have long found her boring.
One warm-up order
Coach Bennett allows one warm-up order and will not change it for weather, injuries, or new players. Players live with his rigid rules.
A phone call home
Even for a burned-out bulb or a simple soup, Riley phones a parent before trying it alone. Friends say his dependent habits never faded.
Marble stairs
For every school play, the designer proposes marble stairs and a live fountain the stage cannot hold. The director has long called him impractical.
Waiting for a plan
When study group work stalls at the library, Wendy waits for someone else to assign tasks and never offers a plan. Classmates know her passive role.
The running tap
Hugo runs the tap while he searches for a glass and throws out leftovers that are still good. His sister points out that wasteful pattern again.
Dropped crates
Loading crates on the dock, Pete drops a coil, bumps the rail, and trips on the same hose each week. The crew plans for his clumsy hands.
Cutting the line
At the counter, Vince cuts in line, snaps at the clerk, and leaves without a thanks. Regulars avoid his rude manner.
The far barn
During storms, Amina checks the far barn even when the path is dark and the wind is high. Neighbors speak of her brave character.
A barking dog
If a dog barks near the path, Elliot turns back and will not pass, even with friends beside him. They have always seen him as cowardly.
After the bell
Mr. Shah stays after the bell to reteach a lesson and never makes a student feel small. The class counts on his kind nature.
Mocking a miss
When a teammate misses a shot, Derek mocks the error in front of the bench and keeps at it. Coaches have warned him about that cruel habit.
The same checklist
In reviews, Dana scores each person by the same checklist and writes the reason beside every mark. Staff trust her fair judgments.
Extra credit
Ms. Pell gives extra credit only to students she likes and marks the same answer wrong for others. Parents say her unfair grading is a pattern.
Seedlings
With new seedlings, Eli cups the soil and never yanks a weed by the roots. Garden club members rely on his gentle hands.
Sharp notes
The director corrects every missed line in a sharp voice and allows no second try. Actors brace for his harsh notes.
Names on the route
Greta learns riders' names, saves a seat for a new student, and chats at each stop. The route knows her friendly style.
The end of the table
At office lunches, Victor sits at the end of the table, answers in short phrases, and leaves before dessert. Coworkers describe that aloof distance as his usual way.
Whispers nearby
Even beside a hush sign, Sasha whispers a long story to anyone who sits nearby. Librarians know her talkative habit.
After dinner
After dinner, Noor washes dishes, reads, and rarely starts a conversation. Her roommates live with that quiet presence.
High pace
From the first whistle to the last lap, Jade keeps a high pace and invites others along. Park regulars match her energetic tempo.
A heavy day
Chores that take an hour for others take Owen all afternoon, and he moves as if the day were heavy. The family works around his sluggish pace.
Cake by noon
When a customer wants a custom cake by noon, Bea states the real time and the real cost before she accepts. Clients hire her for that realistic outlook.
A perfect code
In student council, Marco pushes for a perfect honor code and free supplies for every club, cost aside. Advisors know his idealistic aims.
The chore list
When the siblings argue, Tessa splits the chore list and listens to both sides without slamming a door. Relatives rely on her mature judgment.
After the loss
After a loss, Kyle blames the referee, pouts on the bench, and will not shake hands. Coaches treat that immature reaction as his usual one.
Locked shed
Before leaving the dock, Hannah locks the bait shed, logs the fuel, and texts that the boats are secure. The owner hired her for being responsible.
The stove left on
Jamal leaves the stove on, forgets the rent, and lets guests in when he is away. The landlord cites his irresponsible record.
Back row
At auditions, Mei waits in the back row and speaks only when her name is called. Directors note her shy presence.
Behind the counter
Behind the counter, Camila greets strangers first and remembers small details from their last visit. Customers enjoy her outgoing chatter.
Closing alone
The library lets Imani close alone because she logs every fine and never pockets a coin. Staff rest easy with her trustworthy habits.
Copied slides
For years, Colin copied coworkers' slides and told the manager the work was his. The office finally named that deceitful pattern.
Coiled hose
By evening, June coils the hose, sweeps the path, and stacks pots by size. Neighbors praise her tidy garden routine.
Clothes on the chair
Drew leaves clothes on the chair, dishes in the sink, and mail on the floor week after week. Roommates complain about his messy habits.
The 7:10
The 7:10 bus with Driver Chen reaches the school stop at 7:10, not a minute later. Students count on his punctual arrivals.
After the pledge
Homeroom begins at 8:00, and Noah walks in after the pledge several days each week. Teachers describe him as tardy.
Patched boots
Grandpa patches old boots, packs leftovers for lunch, and waits for the grocery sale. The family smiles at his thrifty habits.
Flowers for every seat
For a birthday, Simone rents the theater lobby, orders flowers for every seat, and pays a live quartet. She gives every party this way, so friends call the habit extravagant.
Until the lights dim
Between classes, Hana outlines chapters, rewrites notes, and stays until the library lights dim. Professors mention her studious evenings.
Park courts
On the park courts, Devin plays daily, sprints the hill, and shows younger players how to move. Everyone there talks about his athletic life.
A wrong pitch
In the band room, Lila hears a wrong pitch at once and can play a tune after one listen. Teachers praise her musical ear.
Colors by eye
The window painter, Yara, mixes colors by eye and turns a blank board into a scene people stop to see. Shop owners seek her artistic hand.
A stuck winch
When a winch sticks, Felix takes it apart, names each part, and fits it so it runs. The dock crew trusts his mechanical skill.
Plain sentences
In client calls, Nina explains a dense contract in plain sentences and never loses the thread. Managers value her verbal gift.
Lined-up reasons
On the debate team, Keisha lines up reasons, checks each claim, and drops any point she cannot support. Judges praise her logical cases.
Notes after rehearsal
When a scene turns sad, Mateo carries the feeling into the notes he writes that night and into the next rehearsal. Directors know his emotional nature.
Cost lines
Before a budget meeting, Soren splits costs into parts, compares each line, and writes what the figures imply. The director leans on his analytical mind.
Which bed needs water
Without a chart, Mina knows which bed needs water and which plant is failing. Other gardeners admire her intuitive sense.
Canning order
To can tomatoes, Ruth washes, sorts, packs, and seals in the same order every August. Her family follows that methodical sequence.
A kite afternoon
On clear afternoons, Nico grabs a kite and heads to the park with no plan and no text ahead. Friends laugh at his spontaneous outings.
Harvest supper
Each harvest supper, Mr. Okada serves the same stew, sings the same song, and starts at the same hour. Neighbors know his traditional table.
Shared screens
Aisha redesigned the office with shared screens, short stand-up meetings, and tools the firm had never used. Partners talk about her modern methods.
A challenged lesson
When a student challenges a lesson, Mr. Brooks hears the point, reads the source, and revises the notes if the evidence holds. The class values his open-minded teaching.
The usual shelf
If a book is not from her usual shelf, Pat will not open it and tells others not to bother. Librarians remark on her narrow-minded reading.
After the free throw
After a missed free throw, Coach Ibarra nods, repeats the cue, and keeps the player in the game. The team feels her supportive presence.
Clean turns
The choreographer requires clean turns, extra rehearsals, and no missed counts, season after season. Dancers prepare for her demanding standards.
Saturday jam
With a warm hello and a short story about the jam, Elise sells out the Saturday table before noon. Market regulars credit her charming manner.
A crowded ride
On the crowded bus, Harvey steps on a foot, forgets a greeting, and stares at the floor until his stop. Classmates know his awkward rides.
Across the stage
Across the stage, Lin moves through the dance with easy balance and never clips a prop. Reviewers note her graceful lines.
Hard words
In meetings, Gus names the flaw in a plan in a few hard words and does not soften them. Staff expect his blunt comments.
A shorter close
When a speech runs long, Ms. Adeyemi thanks the speaker and suggests a shorter close without embarrassing anyone. Students remember her tactful wording.
Packages in the hall
In the hallway, Brenda reads names on packages and asks neighbors where they went last night. They whisper about her nosy questions.
The side gate
Although she hosts the garden club, Marisol never discusses her family and keeps the side gate shut. Members respect her private life.
Dawn feedings
For twenty years, Hector has fed the neighbor's horses whenever that family travels, and he has never skipped a dawn. They speak of his faithful care.
Midseason exit
When a rival school offered a starting spot, Wade quit midseason and shared the old playbook, which is how he has left every team. Teammates still call him disloyal.
Counted crackers
Even when the pantry is full, Kurt will not share a snack and counts each cracker he gives away. Roommates joke about his stingy shelf.
Coffee-counter talk
After any closed-door talk, Faye repeats the details at the coffee counter before lunch. Coworkers guard their words around her gossipy habit.
Stories at the desk
Students tell the librarian, Mr. Solano, personal worries, and those stories never leave his desk. They rely on his discreet silence.
Wire and bulbs
From bent wire and spare bulbs, Nadia builds lamps the hardware shop has never stocked. Buyers seek her inventive work.
The sample drawing
In art class, Joel copies the sample drawing line for line and rarely starts from his own idea. The teacher notes his imitative sketches.
A snapped line
When a line snaps in rough water, Rae climbs onto the wet pier to retie it. The crew counts on her daring work.
The reading table
At the reading table, Paolo speaks in a low voice, skips jokes, and treats every assignment as important. Friends know his serious focus.
Picnic games
During park picnics, Joy starts a game of tag and invents rules for stones that keep the children laughing. Parents welcome her playful energy.
Pressed jacket
At the box office, Mr. Lang wears a pressed jacket, uses full titles, and bows slightly to patrons. Ushers copy his formal greeting.
Sneakers at the meeting
For building meetings, Tess wears sneakers, speaks in easy phrases, and sits on the floor if chairs run out. Neighbors like her casual tone.
Bell and hallway
Principal Ward enforces the dress code, the bell schedule, and the hallway rules with no exceptions. Students know her strict standards.
Late notes
Coach Ruiz lets players miss a warm-up, accepts late notes, and rarely benches anyone. The athletes count on his lenient style.
A stalled tractor
When a neighbor's tractor stalls, Ines walks over with tools and stays until the field is finished. Folks depend on her helpful visits.
Arguments on the ride
On the ride home, Ned argues about seats, stops, and a score no one else raised. Riders dread his quarrelsome talk.
Plant disputes
In the shared garden, Amira settles plant disputes calmly and never raises her voice. Plot neighbors trust her peaceful ways.