SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Carve is to slice as __________.

Possible Answers:

free is to imprison

manager is to employee

hand is to thumb

art is to artist

hurt is to pain

Correct answer:

hurt is to pain

Explanation:

“Carve” is a verb that can mean “cut (cooked meat) into slices for eating” or “cut (a slice of meat) from a larger piece,” while “slice” is a verb that can mean “cut (something, especially food) into slices.” So, that means that “carve” an “slice” are synonyms, and that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of synonyms. “Hurt” is a word that when used as a verb means “to cause injury,” while “pain” is a word that when used as a verb means “to cause mental or physical pain.” So, because “hurt” is a synonym of “pain” just like “carve” is a synonym of “slice,” “hurt is to pain” is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

The following questions requires that you find relationships between words. Select the answer that best matches the meaning of the sentence.

Odd is to eccentric as __________.

Possible Answers:

smart is to dumb

angry is to happy

green is to purple

beautiful is to gorgeous

mom is to dad

Correct answer:

beautiful is to gorgeous

Explanation:

"Odd" and "eccentric" have similar meanings. The only pairs of words that have a similar relationship is "beautiful is to gorgeous."

Example Question #3 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Clever is to smart as dim is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brave 

stupid 

timid 

brilliant 

wise 

Correct answer:

stupid 

Explanation:

"Clever" is a synonym of "smart," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out which of the answer choices is a synonym of "dim." "Dim" means not very smart or stupid, so "stupid" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are synonyms of "dim": "timid" means shy; "wise" means very clever; and "brilliant" means extremely smart or great.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Frigid is to cold as sweltering is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wet

hot 

snow 

dry 

temperature 

Correct answer:

hot 

Explanation:

"Frigid" means very cold, so "cold" and "frigid" are synonyms. So, to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "sweltering." "Sweltering" means very hot or stifling, so the correct answer is "hot."

Example Question #5 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Weary is to tired as tragic is to _________.

Possible Answers:

Desirable 

Honest 

Loving 

Happy 

Sad

Correct answer:

Sad

Explanation:

"Weary" means very tired, so to solve this analogy you have to figure out which answer choice that tragic is an emphasized version of. Tragic means very sad, so "sad" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "honest" means truthful; and "desirable" means able to be desired, or wanted

Example Question #6 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Miniscule is to tiny as stupendous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

amazing 

afraid 

aggressive 

defiant 

small

Correct answer:

amazing 

Explanation:

"Miniscule" means very tiny, so "miniscule" is a synonym of tiny, and "miniscule" is a more intense version of "tiny." So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best available synonym of "stupendous," in particular, a word that "stupendous" is an intense version of, like "miniscule" is a more intense version of "tiny" because it means very tiny. Stupendous means really great or amazing, so "amazing" is the correct answer. To help you, "defiant" means not willing to give in to someone else’s commands.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FRIGID

Possible Answers:

Cold

Comfortable

Warm

Foggy

Beautiful

Correct answer:

Cold

Explanation:

"Frigid" means very cold, so "cold" is the correct answer. "Warm" has the opposite meaning—it means having a moderate heat. "Comfortable" means encouraging relaxation; "foggy" means murky or cloudy; and "beautiful" is used to describe a good-looking person or thing.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

ADHESIVE

Possible Answers:

Unpleasant

Sticky

Warm

Frank

Correct answer:

Sticky

Explanation:

The word "adhesive" means sticky or tackyTherefore, "sticky" is the word that most closely matches its definition. "Frank" means open or honest, and is therefore unrelated to the definition of "adhesive." Neither "warm" nor "unpleasant" are related to the definition of "adhesive," either.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

RIGID

Possible Answers:

Argumentative

Critical

Hateful

Inflexible

Judgmental

Correct answer:

Inflexible

Explanation:

The word "rigid" means not able to change its shape. For instance, a piece of putty can be stretched and changed. Such a thing is "flexible." So too are certain drinking straws flexible—they have that little top section that can be bent. When they do not have this, they are generally "rigid" (though you can bend them more than, for example, a pencil, which is very rigid). When something is "inflexible," it is not able to be flexed or bent. This is just what it is like to be "rigid." The "in-" prefix in "in-flexible" is really a form of the "un-" prefix that means not or non-.  This is the best answer among those provided. Do not be tricked by the other answers, some of which describe character traits that many associate with "rigid" personalities. Even if every person with a "rigid" personality was judgmental, these two words would still indicate two different things—one, the being inflexible or unchanging, and the other, the being critical.

Example Question #9 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Large is to big as triumph is to

Possible Answers:

failure

Success

loss

none of the other answers

overwhelm

Correct answer:

Success

Explanation:

Large is a synonym to big just as triumph is a synonym to success. 

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