All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #753 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FOREMOST
Vast
Secondary
Lasting
Genuine
Primary
Primary
The prefix "fore-" means before or coming first, so “foremost” means "primary," or first in order or importance. To provide further help, “secondary” means coming second in an order or of less importance than other things. Additionally, “vast” means very large; “genuine” means real; and “lasting” means existing for a long time.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INTACT
Undamaged
Soggy
Intense
Ripped
Burdened
Undamaged
The suffix "-tact" means related to touch, so something that is “intact” is something that has not been broken by people touching it. This is most similar in meaning to the word “undamaged,” where “damaged” means defaced or wrecked and the prefix "un-" means not, causing “undamaged” to mean not defaced or wrecked; in the same condition something was in before an event that could have potentially damaged it. To provide further help, “ripped” means torn; "intense" means of great power or degree, and “soggy” means damp or wet; and “burdened” means weighed down with things or responsibilities
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
A synonym of "inconsiderate" is . . .
polite
abismal
unusual
rude
unsure
rude
"Inconsiderate" is an adjective that means "thoughtlessly causing hurt or inconvenience to others," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "thoughtlessly hurting or inconveniencing others." While both "unusual" and "unsure" begin with "un-," a negative prefix, just as "inconsiderate" begin with "in-," another negative prefix, "unusual" means "not usual" and "unsure" means "not sure," whereas "inconsiderate" means "not considerate." So, because neither "unusual" nor "unsure" mean the same thing as "inconsiderate," neither can be the correct answer. "Rude," however, is an adjective that means "offensively impolite or ill-mannered," and because "rude" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "inconsiderate," "rude" is the correct answer.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
OMNISCIENT
All-knowing
All-powerful
All-feeling
Disasterous
Prudent
All-knowing
Someone who is "omniscient" knows everything. So, the correct answer is “all-knowing.” The prefix "omni-" means everything or all. To help you, "omnipotent" means all-powerful.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
DESTITUTE
Fate
Willpower
Polished
Impoverished
Generational
Impoverished
The word “destitute” is related to the root word "stature." Your “stature” is your social standing. If you add the negative prefix “de-,” it means the removal of your social position. So “destitute” means extremely poor. Another word that means extremely poor is “impoverished.” To further help you, “generational” means relating to a group of people born at the same time. We can say that taste in music is "generational."
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
DESPAIR
Jubilation
Denigrate
Disadvantage
Ironic
Anguish
Anguish
“Despair” means great suffering or sadness, which is similar in meaning to "anguish." The prefix "de-" is often used to mean down, going away, such as in “descend,” which means dropping down or “despair,” which means going down into the pits of sadness. To provide further help, “jubilation” means great happiness; “denigrate” means put down, make someone feel worse; “disadvantage” means difficulty, shortcoming; “ironic” means not serious, intended to mock something.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
SYNCHRONIZE
Assailable
Debacle
Catastrophe
Detract
Coordinate
Coordinate
The prefix "sync-" means to act together, to be unified. When we “synchronize” we make things work at or on the same time. For instance, we could synchronize our watches so that the time on them reads the same. This is closest in meaning to “coordinate.” The prefix "co-" is used similarly to the prefix "sync-." To provide further help, “detract” means take away from something; “debacle” means catastrophe, something that has gone horribly wrong; “assailable” means able to be attacked or conquered.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
ACCURATE
Sporadic
Benevolent
Precise
Malevolent
Incumbent
Precise
The prefix "ac-" means sharp and is used in words like “acute,” which can be used to describe a sharp mind. The word “accurate” means sharp as in correct, on the money, precise. When you fire a shot and it goes exactly where you want, we call this “precise” or “accurate.” To provide further help, “incumbent” means person already in a position of power; “sporadic” means random, infrequent; “benevolent” means good-natured; “malevolent” means bad-natured.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
COMBINE
Outline
Access
Merge
Fight
Retort
Merge
The prefix "com-" means with or together. Thus, it makes sense that the word “combine” means merge together. So, the correct answer is "merge," because "merge" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "combine." None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "combine": “access,” when used as a verb, means be able to use; “retort” means answer back in an argument, often in an incisive or angry way; and “outline” means sketch or draw up a plan for something; and "fight," when used as a verb, means get into a physically violent dispute with.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PERCEIVE
Notice
Consider
Seclude
Justify
Amplify
Notice
The prefix "per-" means through, and the word “perceive” means become aware of something or notice something through sight. This means that the correct answer is “notice.” None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "perceive": “seclude” means make a person or oneself be apart from others; “justify” means give logical reasons for; “amplify” means increase or intensify; and “consider” means carefully think about.