SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs

A synonym of “blather” is __________.

Possible Answers:

contest

investigate

explain

manage

prattle

Correct answer:

prattle

Explanation:

“Blather” is a word that when used as a verb, means “to talk long-windedly without making sense,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “talk longwindedly without making sense.” That means that “explain” cannot be the correct answer, because “explain” can mean “to make something clear to someone by describing it in detail,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “blather.” “Prattle,” however, when used as a verb, means “talk at length in a foolish way,” and because “prattle” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “blather,” “prattle” is the correct answer.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Verbs

A synonym of “tattle” is __________.

Possible Answers:

inform on

define

press

expound

experience

Correct answer:

inform on

Explanation:

“Tattle” is a verb that can mean “to report another’s wrongdoing” or “to gossip,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “to report another’s wrongdoing” or “to gossip.” That means that “expound” cannot be the correct answer, because “expound” means “present and explain something in detail,” which is quite distant from that of “tattle.” “Inform on,” however, is a phrase that means “give information about someone to the police,” and because “inform on” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “tattle,” “inform on” is the correct answer.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: choose the word with a meaning most similar to the word in question.

Succumb

Possible Answers:

Surrender

Belong

Repress

Plant

Display

Correct answer:

Surrender

Explanation:

To "succumb" is to give in to a superior force. The best answer choice is the word "surrender."

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: choose the word with a meaning most similar to the word in question.

Pique

Possible Answers:

Overthrow

Court

Offend

Reciprocate

Strive

Correct answer:

Offend

Explanation:

To "pique" is to offend or to excite. This is from the Latin root word, "piccare," which means to pick.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Presume

Possible Answers:

to monitor

to assume

to discover

to reside

to regulate

Correct answer:

to assume

Explanation:

"Presume" means to assume.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Oppress

Possible Answers:

To tyrannize

to lose

to disgrace

to produce

to consent

Correct answer:

To tyrannize

Explanation:

"Oppress" means to tyrannize or rule with an iron fist.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Assure

Possible Answers:

to dispose 

to treat

to lie

to examine

to guarantee

Correct answer:

to guarantee

Explanation:

"Assure" means to guarantee.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Observe

Possible Answers:

to travel

to see

to search

to secede

to succeed

Correct answer:

to see

Explanation:

"Observe" means to look and see; to search means to look for something; to travel means to move; to secede means to separate; and to succeed is to become successful.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Prohibit

Possible Answers:

to relocate

to allow

to ban

to encourage

to consent

Correct answer:

to ban

Explanation:

"Prohibit" means to ban; to allow is the opposite; to encourage means to support; to relocate is to move from one spot to another spot; and to consent means to agree.

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Reveal

Possible Answers:

to study

to solve

to experience

to shield

to tell

Correct answer:

to tell

Explanation:

"Reveal" means to tell or to disclose.

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