SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

SUDDEN

Possible Answers:

Fabulous

Chronic

Expensive

Unexpected

Periodic

Correct answer:

Unexpected

Explanation:

"Sudden" is defined as occurring quickly and unexpectedly; thus, "unexpected" is the best answer choice.

Example Question #202 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

RAPID

Possible Answers:

Humorous

Gigantic

Careful

Evil

Quick

Correct answer:

Quick

Explanation:

"Rapid" means quick, so "quick" is the correct answer. "Gigantic" means very large; "humorous" means funny; "careful" means cautious; and "evil" means bad.

Example Question #203 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

INSTANT

Possible Answers:

Delayed

Magical

Putrid

Immediately

Similar

Correct answer:

Immediately

Explanation:

"Instant" is defined as occurring immediately, so "immediately" is the best answer choice! "Delayed" means taking more time to happen than was originally predicted, making it a loose antonym, or opposite, of "instant," and the other answer choices are not related in meaning to "instant."

Example Question #204 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

TIMELY

Possible Answers:

Swift

Quick

Opportune

Fast

Speedy

Correct answer:

Opportune

Explanation:

"Timely" and "opportune" are synonyms. They refer to something that occurs at the right moment. This is a particularly difficult pair of words. If you look at the other answer choices, you'll find that they are all very similar. In fact, the other answer choices are synonymous with each other. "Opportune" is the one word that doesn't fit with the other answer choices. Therefore, it is likely to be related to the word "timely."

Example Question #205 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

STEALTHY

Possible Answers:

Bold

Swift

Handsome

Slick

Daring

Correct answer:

Swift

Explanation:

The words "stealthy" and "swift" are synonyms describing something that is fast. The other words do not share this meaning. 

Example Question #206 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

SWIFT

Possible Answers:

Sluggish

Loud

Stealthy

Slow

Booming

Correct answer:

Stealthy

Explanation:

The words "stealthy" and "swift" are synonymous. They both refer to something that is quick. The words "slow" and "sluggish" mean the same thing; they refer to something that is not fast. "Loud" and "booming" are synonymous; they refer to something very loud. Identifying this relationship between the answer choices will help you arrive at the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

A synonym of "solitary" is . . .

Possible Answers:

friendly

mean

unaccompanied

athletic

escorted

Correct answer:

unaccompanied

Explanation:

"Solitary" is an adjective that means "done or existing alone," or when describing a place, "secluded or isolated." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "done alone" or "secluded." "Escorted" may look like a good answer, but "escorted" means "accompanied somewhere, especially for protection or security, or as a mark of rank." Because "escorted" means the opposite of "solitary," it cannot be the correct answer. "Unaccompanied," however, means "having no companion or escort." Because "unaccompanied" is closest in meaning to "solitary," "unaccompanied" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

Which is a synonym for the word vast?

The vast prairie was full of flowers and wildlife.

Possible Answers:

None of the other answer choices

tiny

enormous

finite

small

Correct answer:

enormous

Explanation:

Enormous can be substituted in for vast to maintain a similar meaning.  

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

A synonym of "meager" is __________.

Possible Answers:

jumbled

grand

much

sufficient

paltry

Correct answer:

paltry

Explanation:

"Meager" is an adjective that means "lacking in quantity or quality," and used to refer to something provided or available. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "lacking." While "sufficient" might look like a potentially correct answer, "sufficient" means "enough" or "adequate," "sufficient" is an opposite of "lacking," so it can't be the correct answer. "Paltry," however, is an adjective that means "small or meager" and is used to describe amounts. Since "paltry" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "meager," "paltry" is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quantity, Variety, Regularity, And Size

A synonym of “uniform” is __________.

Possible Answers:

consistent

gargantuan

varying

demonstrated

potential

Correct answer:

consistent

Explanation:

“Uniform,” when used as an adjective, means “not changing in form or character; remaining the same,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “not changing” or “similar to others.” That means that “varying” cannot be the correct answer, because when used as an adjective, “varying” means “differing in size, amount, degree, or nature from something else of the same general class,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “uniform.” “Consistent,” however, is an adjective that refers to a person, behavior, or process, and means “unchanging over a period of time,” and because “consistent” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “uniform,” “consistent” is the correct answer.

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