All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Docile is to tractable as obdurate is to . . .
durable
omnipotent
portentous
stubborn
fragrant
stubborn
"Docile," means "ready to accept control or instruction; submissive," and "tractable" means "easy to control or influence" when used of people or animals and "easy to deal with" when referring to a situation or problem. Since "docile" and "tractable" are synonyms, we need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "obdurate," a word that means "stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action." While "durable" might look like a good answer choice because both "obdurate" and "durable" involve the syllable "dur," "durable" means "able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing." Since "durable" doesn't mean the same thing as "obdurate," it can't be the right answer. "Stubborn," however, is synonymous with "obdurate," so "stubborn" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Vindictive is to vengeful as __________.
limited is to abundant
predictable is to surprising
free is to captive
beautiful is to art
unfriendly is to hostile
unfriendly is to hostile
"Vindictive" is an adjective that means "having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge," and "vengeful" is an adjective that means "seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury." So, "vindictive" and "vengeful" are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. Of the possible answer choices, "free is to captive," "limited is to abundant," and "predictable is to surprising" cannot be the correct answer because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of antonyms. "Unfriendly is to hostile," however, is the correct answer choice, because just as "vindictive" is a synonym of "vengeful," "unfriendly" is a synonym of "hostile," which means "unfriendly; antagonistic."
Example Question #2 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Edifice is to dwelling as __________.
column is to pillar
welcome is to farewell
garbage is to trash can
last is to first
station is to train
column is to pillar
“Edifice” is a noun that can mean “a building, especially a large, imposing one” or “a complex system of beliefs,” while “dwelling,” when used as a noun, means “a house, apartment, or other place of residence.” So, “edifice” and “dwelling” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “garbage is to dump” and “column is to pillar” might each seem like a potentially correct answer, “trash can” is a place where one puts garbage, but is not a synonym of “garbage,” so “garbage is to trash can” cannot be the correct answer. “Column,” however, is a noun that means “an upright pillar," while “pillar” means “a tall vertical structure used as a support.” So, because “column” is a synonym of “pillar” just as “edifice” is a synonym of “dwelling,” “column is to pillar” is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Encounter is to meet as __________.
bump is to apologize
polish is to furniture
tactics are to battle
sprint is to creep
demolish is to raze
demolish is to raze
“Encounter,” when used as a verb, means either “unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile)” or “meet (someone) unexpectedly,” while “meet,” when used as a verb, can mean “come into the presence or company of someone.” So, “encounter” and “meet” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “sprint is to creep” and “demolish is to raze” may each look like a potentially correct answer, “sprint,” when used as a verb, means “run at full speed over a short distance,” while “creep,” when used as a verb, means “move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being heard or noticed.” So, “sprint” and “creep” are antonyms, not synonyms, and “sprint is to creep” cannot be the correct answer. “Demolish,” however, is a verb that means “pull or knock down (a building),” while “raze” means “completely destroy (a building, town, etc.).” So, because “demolish” is a synonym of “raze” just like “encounter” is a synonym of “meet,” “demolish is to raze” is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Vessel is to ship as __________.
fascination is to ennui
carefree is to serious
jump is to run
report is to account
wail is to laugh
report is to account
“Vessel” is a noun that can mean “a ship or large boat” or “a hollow container,” or chiefly in or alluding to biblical use, “a person having a particular quality.” So, “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “report is to account” and “fascination is to ennui” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “ennui” means “a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from a lack of excitement,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “fascination.” So, “fascination is to ennui” cannot be the correct answer. “Report,” however, when used as a noun, can mean “an account given of a particular matter, especially in the form of an official document, after thorough investigation or consideration by an appointed person or body.” So, because “report” and “account” are synonyms, just as “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, “report is to account” is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Botch is to bungle as __________.
attempt is to try
restaurant is to food
decide is to waver
boil is to freeze
bell is to ring
attempt is to try
“Botch” is a verb that means “to do something badly or carelessly,” while “bungle,” when used as a verb, means “to do something clumsily or incompetently.” So, “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. While both “attempt is to try” and “decide is to waver” might look like potentially correct answer choices, “decide” is a verb that means “come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration,” while “waver” is a verb that means “undecided; irresolute.” So, because “decide” is an antonym of “waver,” “decide is to waver” cannot be the correct answer. “Attempt,” however, when used as a verb, means “make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action,” while “try,” when used as a verb, means “to make an attempt.” So, because “attempt” and “try” are synonyms just as “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, “attempt is to try” is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Belittle is to disparage as retrieve is to __________.
recover
refrain
describe
missing
reward
recover
"Belittle" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as little or unimportant," and "disparage" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as unimportant, weak, or bad," so the two words are synonyms, and we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "retrieve." While "refrain" and "reward" also each begin with "re-," neither are synonymous with "retrieve," so neither are the correct answer. One meaning of "recover," however, is "find or regain possession of something stolen or lost," so "recover" is the correct answer because it is a synonym of "retrieve."
Example Question #2 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Sharp is to astute as extol is to __________.
Argue
Outline
Suggest
Demand
Praise
Praise
"Sharp" and "astute" are synonyms that each mean shrewd; quick-witted. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for "extol." To "extol" someone means to praise him or her, so "praise" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Insolent is to rude as irate is to __________.
Cautious
Happy
Calm
Angry
Impressed
Angry
"Insolent" is a synonym of "rude," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym for "irate." "Irate" means angry, so "angry" is the correct answer.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Pact is to accord as fission is to __________.
Understanding
Disagreement
Getting lost
Coming together
Splitting up
Splitting up
"Pact" and "accord" are synonyms that both mean an agreement. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym of "fission." The correct answer is “splitting up,” because "fission" means the process of breaking up at the atomic level, or just splitting up. The process that is its opposite is called fusion.
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