SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #488 : Synonyms

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

AFFABLE

Possible Answers:

Sleepy

Friendly

Talkative

Funny

Sullen

Correct answer:

Friendly

Explanation:

"Affable" most nearly means friendly, so "friendly" is the correct answer.

Example Question #51 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CAPRICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Sly

Public

Fickle

Quiet

Genuine

Correct answer:

Fickle

Explanation:

"Capricious" most nearly means changing one's mood or conduct randomly, or "fickle," as in, "The capricious little girl went from sobbing to laughing to fuming at her mother within five minutes, for no discernable reason."

Example Question #52 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CRAFTY

Possible Answers:

Determined

Cunning

Violent

Fabulous

Radical

Correct answer:

Cunning

Explanation:

"Crafty" means wily, or "cunning."

Example Question #53 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

TACTFUL

Possible Answers:

Sticky

Polite

Rude

Chewy

Energetic

Correct answer:

Polite

Explanation:

"Tactful" means polite, so "polite" is the correct answer.

Example Question #54 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

OPEN-MINDED

Possible Answers:

Dismissive

Flexible

Intolerant

Quiescent

Wise

Correct answer:

Flexible

Explanation:

“Open-minded” is an adjective that means open to considering new ideasThat means that “intolerant” cannot be the correct answer, because “intolerant” means not tolerant of ideas or beliefs different from one's own, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “open-minded.” “Flexible,” however, is an adjective that can mean adaptable to new ideas and circumstances when describing a person, and because “flexible” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “open-minded,” “flexible” is the correct answer.

Example Question #55 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERSISTENT

Possible Answers:

Diverse

Immoral

Dogged

Broken

Disloyal

Correct answer:

Dogged

Explanation:

"Persistent" is an adjective that describes someone or something that is determined and tenacious. Of the answer choices, "dogged," which means resolute, has the closest meaning.

Example Question #56 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

WINSOME

Possible Answers:

Alert

Wordy

True

Curious

Charming

Correct answer:

Charming

Explanation:

"Winsome" means charming or engaging.

Example Question #57 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CAPRICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Consistent

Mercurial

Destructive

Infallible

Fluent

Correct answer:

Mercurial

Explanation:

“Capricious” is an adjective that means “given to sudden changes,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “given to sudden changes.” That means that “consistent” cannot be the correct answer, because “consistent” means “unchanging in achievement” when referring to a person, behavior, or process, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “capricious.” “Mercurial,” however, is an adjective that can mean “subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood” when describing a person. So, because “mercurial” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “capricious,” “mercurial” is the correct answer.

Example Question #58 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PLUCKY

Possible Answers:

Severe

Particular

Oblivious

Afraid

Intrepid

Correct answer:

Intrepid

Explanation:

“Plucky” is an adjective that means “having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “courageous.” That means that “afraid” cannot be the correct answer, because “afraid” means “feeling fear or anxiety; frightened,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “plucky.” “Intrepid,” however, is an adjective that means “fearless; adventurous,” and because “intrepid” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “plucky,” “intrepid” is the correct answer.

Example Question #59 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

LOFTY

Possible Answers:

Unwelcoming

Extravagant

Proud 

Gregarious 

Ostentatious 

Correct answer:

Proud 

Explanation:

"Lofty" can mean either very high or exalted; however, in this instance it is used to mean haughty which is most similar in meaning to "proud." Answering this question relies on your knowledge of more than one definition of lofty. Remember it is important to always be aware of the secondary and tertiary meanings of words. For clarification, "gregarious" means outgoing; "ostentatious" and "extravagant" are synonyms that both describe something showy and luxurious.

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