All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
A synonym of "calamity" is . . .
remainder
inhabit
catastrophe
shoddy
terrible
catastrophe
Since "calamity" is a noun that means "disaster," we need to find another noun that also means "disaster." While a calamity can be terrible, "terrible" does not mean the same thing as "calamity" does, so it can't be the answer. Two of the answer choices are nouns: "catastrophe" and "remainder." Since a "remainder" means "something that is left over" and "catastrophe" means "disaster," "catastrophe" is the right answer.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms
A synonym of "delight" is . . .
joyful
emotion
frown
face
happiness
happiness
Since "delight" is a noun that means "joy," we need to find another noun that also means "joy." While "joyful" might look like a good answer, "joyful" is an adjective, not a noun, so it can't be the answer. (A person can be joyful, but delight is a thing. We're looking for another thing, not a word that describes things.) Since "happiness" also means "joy," "happiness" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms
Which word is a synonym for terror in the sentence above?
He was full of terror as he ran from the haunted house.
confidence
glee
None of the other answer choices
joy
horror
horror
The words horror and terror allow the sentence to maintain a similar meaning.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms
Which is a synonym for the word desire?
His desire for ice cream intensified as they drove past the ice cream parlor.
disgust
repulsion
need
hatred
None of the other answer choices
need
The word need can be substituted into the original sentence to maintain its meaning.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
A synonym of "mimicry" is . . .
intelligence
dreariness
individuality
wackiness
impersonation
impersonation
"Mimicry" is a noun that means "the action or art of imitating someone or something, typically in order to entertain or ridicule," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "the action or art of imitating someone or something." "Individuality," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "individuality" means "the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked." That means that "individuality" is closer to being an antonym of "mimicry" than a synonym. "Impersonation," however, is a noun that means "an act of pretending to be another person for the purpose of entertainment or fraud," and because "impersonation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mimicry," "impersonation" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
A synonym of “suggestion” is __________.
luck
idea
emotion
demand
problem
idea
“Suggestion” is a noun that means “something put forward for consideration,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “idea.” That means that “demand” cannot be the correct answer, because “demand,” when used as a noun, means “an insistent request,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “suggestion.” “Idea,” however, is a noun that means “a thought or suggestion,” and because “idea” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “suggestion,” “idea” is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
A synonym of “dilemma” is . . .
travel
decision
difficulty
weakness
worry
difficulty
“Dilemma” is a noun that means “a difficult situation or problem,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “problem.” That means that “decision” cannot be the correct answer, because “decision” means “a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration,” a definition quite far in meaning from “dilemma.” “Difficulty,” however, is a noun that can mean “a thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand” or “a situation that is difficult or dangerous,” and because “difficulty” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “dilemma,” “difficulty” is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
Synonyms: choose the word that has the closest meaning to the word in question.
Distance
Opponent
Tunnel
Pounds
Car
Length
Length
"Distance" means the full length of something; opponent is your competitor or rival; tunnel is usually an underground path in which cars pass through; a car is vehicle used for travel on land; and pounds is the unit for weight.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
Resistance
Symbol
Summary
Budget
Opposition
Expedition
Opposition
"Resistance" means opposition; expedition means journey; summary means a statement of the main points; a symbol represents something; and a budget is a financial plan.
Example Question #652 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Value
Worth
Reward
Glove
Behavior
Area
Worth
"Value" means cost or worth.