Conducting a month-long archaeological excavation in the desert proved draining, yet the discovery of ancient pottery made the effort worthwhile.
在沙漠中进行为期一个月的考古发掘令人疲惫不堪，但发现古代陶器使这一努力变得值得。
Which choice best defines “draining”?
A — Causing someone to feel very tired. “draining” means causing someone to feel very tired.
Which word means “causing someone to feel very tired”?
B — draining. “draining” means causing someone to feel very tired.
draining — causing someone to feel very tired. In Chinese: 令人疲惫的.
draining is pronounced /ˈdreɪnɪŋ/.
Conducting a month-long archaeological excavation in the desert proved draining, yet the discovery of ancient pottery made the effort worthwhile. (在沙漠中进行为期一个月的考古发掘令人疲惫不堪，但发现古代陶器使这一努力变得值得。)
exhausting, tiring, fatiguing — all close in meaning to draining (causing someone to feel very tired).
invigorating, refreshing — each the opposite of draining (causing someone to feel very tired).
Yes. draining is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. 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.