The portrait shows the mathematician pensive at his desk, a page of abandoned proofs at his elbow.
这幅肖像画中数学家在书桌前沉思，臂边是一页被弃置的证明。
Which choice best defines “pensive”?
D — Thoughtful reflective melancholy. “pensive” means thoughtful reflective melancholy.
Which word means “thoughtful reflective melancholy”?
C — pensive. “pensive” means thoughtful reflective melancholy.
pensive — thoughtful reflective melancholy. In Chinese: 沉思的，忧郁的.
pensive is pronounced /ˈpɛnsɪv/.
The portrait shows the mathematician pensive at his desk, a page of abandoned proofs at his elbow. (这幅肖像画中数学家在书桌前沉思，臂边是一页被弃置的证明。)
thoughtful, reflective, contemplative — all close in meaning to pensive (thoughtful reflective melancholy).
carefree, heedless — each the opposite of pensive (thoughtful reflective melancholy).
Yes. pensive 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.
pens（think）+ ive→ contemplative, melancholic.