SSAT Middle Level Verbal : SSAT Middle Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Determining Part Of Speech

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

WAFT

Possible Answers:

Drift 

Jump

Fall

Plunge 

Throw 

Correct answer:

Drift 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "drift."

"Waft" is a verb (or noun) that means to pass (or cause to pass) easily/gently through the air or as if through the air

This makes "drift" (carried slowly by a current of air or water) making it the correct synonym.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Determining Part Of Speech

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

COACH

Possible Answers:

Master

Exercise

Gym

Uniform

Carriage

Correct answer:

Carriage

Explanation:

"Coach" can be a noun meaning an athletic instructor, or a verb meaning to instruct one in a sport. A "coach" can also be a noun meaning "carriage," (generally horse-draw) which is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

Revival

Possible Answers:

Possibility

Death

Monument

Recovery

Province

Correct answer:

Recovery

Explanation:

"Revival" means Recovery; Death means the end of one's life; Monument is usually a figure or symbol that represents something or someone; Province is a territory usually part of a larger state or country; and Possibility is a potential outcome.

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

UNREST

Possible Answers:

Calmness

Enjoyment

Turmoil

Democracy

Peace

Correct answer:

Turmoil

Explanation:

"Unrest" means turmoil. "Peace" and "calmness" are antonyms of "unrest" and mean tranquiity. "Enjoyment" means pleasure or amusement. "Democracy" is a representative government.

Example Question #3 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

PREAMBLE

Possible Answers:

Index

Tome

Finale

Introduction 

Conclusion

Correct answer:

Introduction 

Explanation:

A "preamble" is an introduction that appears before the main body of work, so "introduction" is the correct answer. For clarification, "finale" and "conclusion" each mean an ending, a "tome" is a long and ponderous book, and an "index" is a list of subjects that appear at the end of a book and the numbers of pages on which one can read about them in that book.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

RETROSPECT

Possible Answers:

Optimism 

Exuberant

Prosperous 

Evanescent

Hindsight 

Correct answer:

Hindsight 

Explanation:

"Retrospect" means recollection, remembering past events, hindsight. You might be able to infer this meaning from the word's roots; "retro-" means backwards, as in the word "retroactive" (applying to a span of time in the past) and "spect" means look or see, as in the word "spectacles" (glasses). So, "hindsight" is the correct answer. For clarification, "optimism" is a positive feeling about future events, "prosperous" means wealthy or successful, "exuberant" means lively, and "evanescent" means fleeting.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

PRESCIENCE

Possible Answers:

Foreknowledge

Unpredictability

Myopia

Improvidence

Shortsightedness

Correct answer:

Foreknowledge

Explanation:

"Prescience" means foresight or the ability to know about something before it has actually happened. "Shortsightedness" and "myopia" are synonyms, so we can eliminate those. "Improvidence" means poor planning for the future, and "unpredictability" the quality of not being able to be foreseen. "Foreknowledge," which means foresight or knowledge of something before it happens, is the only choice that works.

Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

IMPARTIAL

Possible Answers:

Harangue

Bashful 

Demanding 

Controlling 

Unbiased 

Correct answer:

Unbiased 

Explanation:

"Impartial" information is unbiased and uncorrupted by personal intervention. For clarification, someone who is "bashful" is easily embarrassed; "harangue" means berate or criticize.

Example Question #7 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

UNAWARE

Possible Answers:

Informed

Complete

Unknowing

Precise

Obvious

Correct answer:

Unknowing

Explanation:

"Unaware" means unknowing. "Informed" means knowing, so it cannot be the correct answer, because it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "unaware." None of the other answers are close in meaning to "unaware": "obvious" means overt or palpable; "complete" means lacking nothing necessary; and "precise" means exact

Example Question #8 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

UNCERTAIN

Possible Answers:

Bright

Frequent

Idiotic

Conclusive

Unknown

Correct answer:

Unknown

Explanation:

"Uncertain" means not known with certainty, so "unknown," an adjective that means not known, is the correct answer. "Conclusive" is an antonym of "uncertain"; it means definite or indisputable. None of the answer choices have a meaning related to that of "uncertain": "bright" means shining or emiting lots of light; "idiotic" means stupid or foolish; and "frequent" means occuring often or repeated.

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