SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

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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

Possible Answers:

Illness

Well-being

Muscles

Frame

Sound

Correct answer:

Sound

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Make

Imagine

Illustrate

Sculpt

Draw

Correct answer:

Imagine

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Socket

Mine

Care

Live

Elbow

Correct answer:

Care

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Ours

Dig

Theirs

His

Yours

Correct answer:

Dig

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Poverty

Penmanship

Penalty

Impoverished

Poor

Correct answer:

Penalty

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Paste

Cut

Photographer

Director

Camera 

Correct answer:

Paste

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Alteration

Leftovers

Excess

Remnant

Scraps

Correct answer:

Alteration

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Success

Zone

District

Area

Region 

Correct answer:

Success

Explanation:

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

Possible Answers:

Early

Part

Late

Punctual

On-time

Correct answer:

Part

Explanation:

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."

Example Question #20 : Identifying Synonyms When Words Have Multiple Meanings

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

ADVOCATE

Possible Answers:

Argue for 

Permit

Shiver

Argue against 

Kindle

Correct answer:

Argue for 

Explanation:

To "advocate" means to argue in support of something, so "argue for" is the correct answer. To help you, "permit" means allow, "shiver" means shake back and forth due to cold or fear, and "kindle" means inspire a certain feeling or cause to be on fire.

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