The drought severely reduced the region's agricultural output, forcing many farmers to abandon their fields.
干旱严重减少了该地区的农业产量，迫使许多农民放弃他们的田地。
Which choice best defines “severely”?
B — In a very bad or serious way. “severely” means in a very bad or serious way.
Which word means “in a very bad or serious way”?
D — severely. “severely” means in a very bad or serious way.
severely — in a very bad or serious way. In Chinese: 严重地，严厉地.
severely is pronounced /sɪˈvɪərli/.
The drought severely reduced the region's agricultural output, forcing many farmers to abandon their fields. (干旱严重减少了该地区的农业产量，迫使许多农民放弃他们的田地。)
gravely, critically, seriously — all close in meaning to severely (in a very bad or serious way).
mildly, slightly — each the opposite of severely (in a very bad or serious way).
Yes. severely 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.