After the volcanic eruption, the once-fertile valley lay desolate, with only ash and scattered rocks remaining.
火山喷发后，曾经肥沃的山谷变得荒凉，只剩下灰烬和散落的岩石。
Which choice best defines “desolate”?
C — Deserted and bleak; forlorn.. “desolate” means Deserted and bleak; forlorn..
Which word means “Deserted and bleak; forlorn.”?
D — desolate. “desolate” means Deserted and bleak; forlorn..
desolate — Deserted and bleak; forlorn.. In Chinese: 荒凉的；凄凉的.
desolate is pronounced //ˈdɛsələt//.
After the volcanic eruption, the once-fertile valley lay desolate, with only ash and scattered rocks remaining. (火山喷发后，曾经肥沃的山谷变得荒凉，只剩下灰烬和散落的岩石。)
barren, forsaken, bleak — all close in meaning to desolate (Deserted and bleak; forlorn.).
lush, populous — each the opposite of desolate (Deserted and bleak; forlorn.).
Yes. desolate is on the SAT Prep Difficult list — the higher-register words that decide the hard questions. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
de- + sol(孤) → 孤寂荒芜。