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 #11 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Time, Timing, Speed, Movement, And Age

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

SUDDEN

Possible Answers:

Chronic

Unexpected

Expensive

Periodic

Fabulous

Correct answer:

Unexpected

Explanation:

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

Example Question #201 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

RAPID

Possible Answers:

Quick

Gigantic

Careful

Evil

Humorous

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 #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Time, Timing, Speed, Movement, And Age

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

INSTANT

Possible Answers:

Delayed

Immediately

Similar

Magical

Putrid

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 #201 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

TIMELY

Possible Answers:

Fast

Opportune

Quick

Swift

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 #201 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

STEALTHY

Possible Answers:

Bold

Handsome

Swift

Daring

Slick

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 #202 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

SWIFT

Possible Answers:

Stealthy

Loud

Slow

Booming

Sluggish

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 #204 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "solitary" is . . .

Possible Answers:

escorted

athletic

mean

unaccompanied

friendly

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 #205 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

Which is a synonym for the word vast?

The vast prairie was full of flowers and wildlife.

Possible Answers:

enormous

finite

small

None of the other answer choices

tiny

Correct answer:

enormous

Explanation:

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

Example Question #206 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

A synonym of "meager" is __________.

Possible Answers:

paltry

grand

sufficient

much

jumbled

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 #601 : Synonyms

A synonym of “uniform” is __________.

Possible Answers:

varying

demonstrated

potential

consistent

gargantuan

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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