All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TONE
Illness
Well-being
Muscles
Frame
Sound
Sound
The word "tone" can be used to describe the quality of a "sound." These words are closest in meaning. The other answer choices really have nothing to do with the correct answer choice. They refer primarily to health and the human body. "Frame," for example, refers to the shape of someone's body.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PICTURE
Make
Imagine
Illustrate
Sculpt
Draw
Imagine
The word "picture" can be used as a verb meaning to "imagine" something: "Picture yourself on a beach in Hawaii." The other words have to do with artistic production. Although a word like "draw" makes sense when we say something like "draw a picture," the verb "draw" does not mean the same as the verb "picture."
Example Question #13 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MIND
Socket
Mine
Care
Live
Elbow
Care
The word "mind" is synonymous with "care." Consider how you might use these words in a sentence. "I don't mind" and "I don't care" both mean the same thing. The other answer choices are completely unrelated to the word "mind." The word "mine" might seem to have a similar root; however, consider all the possible meanings you know for the word "mine." Is there any direct connection between the word "mine" and the word "mind"? There is not.
Example Question #14 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MINE
Ours
Dig
Theirs
His
Yours
Dig
The verbs "mine" and "dig" are synonymous. "Digging" into the earth to look for precious metals or other minerals is referred to as "mining." Note that all of the other options are possessive pronouns. They all refer to something as belonging to someone else. If I use the possessive pronoun "mine," I do so to refer to something that belongs to me (not someone else).
Example Question #15 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FINE
Poverty
Penmanship
Penalty
Impoverished
Poor
Penalty
The nouns "fine" and "penalty" are closest in meaning. A "penalty" is a punishment imposed on someone for their wrongdoing. A "fine" is a financial punishment. The adjective "fine" means something very different. Consider the following sentences: "He feels fine" vs. "He had to pay a fine for running the stop sign." Note that none of the remaining answer choices are synonymous with the word "fine" (neither as an adjective nor as a noun).
Example Question #16 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TAPE
Paste
Cut
Photographer
Director
Camera
Paste
The verbs "tape" and "paste" are closest in meaning. Both words refer the action of combining two things using an adhesive or sticky material. The other words are related to videography or filmmaking. A "cut," in film, can refer to a sudden change of a shot. Words with multiple meanings can be tricky; look for a clear relationship between the meaning of the words.
Example Question #17 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CHANGE
Alteration
Leftovers
Excess
Remnant
Scraps
Alteration
The noun "change" is closest in meaning to "alteration." These words are synonymous. All of the other answer choices are a) not related to the word "change" and b) closely related to each other. If you recognize all of the answer choices that mean nearly the same thing to each other, you can easily find the answer choice that stands out as being unrelated to the other incorrect choices.
Example Question #18 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HIT
Success
Zone
District
Area
Region
Success
Note that the words "zone," "district," "area," and "region" are all very closely related in meaning. Notice that they are all nouns. This is a good indication that the word "hit" should be understood as a noun (meaning success), instead of a verb (meaning to harm something physically). "Hit" and "success" are synonyms: "The song was a hit!". The other words are not related to the word "hit."
Example Question #19 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SHARE
Early
Part
Late
Punctual
On-time
Part
The nouns "share" and "part" are synonymous: "he took his share of the money and put part of it in the bank." The other answer choice are all adjectives describing time. "Punctual" and "on-time" are very closely related. "Late" and "early" are antonyms. None of these adjectives are related to the noun "share."
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