The initial geological survey was superficial, but it provided enough data to justify a more detailed excavation.
初步地质调查是肤浅的，但它提供了足够的数据来证明更详细发掘的合理性。
Which choice best defines “superficial”?
A — Shallow; surface-level; cursory. “superficial” means shallow; surface-level; cursory.
Which word means “shallow; surface-level; cursory”?
C — superficial. “superficial” means shallow; surface-level; cursory.
superficial — shallow; surface-level; cursory. In Chinese: 表面的；肤浅的.
superficial is pronounced /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃl/.
The initial geological survey was superficial, but it provided enough data to justify a more detailed excavation. (初步地质调查是肤浅的，但它提供了足够的数据来证明更详细发掘的合理性。)
shallow, cursory, surface-level — all close in meaning to superficial (shallow; surface-level; cursory).
deep, thorough — each the opposite of superficial (shallow; surface-level; cursory).
Yes. superficial is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. 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.
super- (above) + fic (do) + ial → superficial, shallow.