All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1161 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PARAMOUNT
Mediocre
Inferior
Supreme
Outlawed
Penitent
Supreme
"Paramount" means upmost or supreme, as in the commonly heard phrase, “of paramount importance.” For clarification, "mediocre" means average in a negative way; "penitent" means feeling regret for sinful behavior; "outlawed" means banned or criminalized.
Example Question #1162 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
RELEVANT
Pertinent
Bloated
Bothersome
Long-winded
Fallible
Pertinent
"Relevant" means appropriate, or "pertinent."
Example Question #1163 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
OBLIGATORY
Frosty
Warranted
Confused
Mandatory
Voluntary
Mandatory
“Obligatory” is an adjective that means “required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “compulsory.” That means that “voluntary” cannot be the correct answer, because “voluntary” means “acting of one’s own free will,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “obligatory.” “Mandatory,” however, is an adjective that means “required by law or rules; compulsory,” and because “mandatory” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “obligatory,” “mandatory” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1164 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRIME
Average
Main
Unimportant
Secondary
Last
Main
"Prime" means main, so "main" is the correct answer. "Secondary" means less important or crucial than something else. "Last" means final. "Unimportant" means not important, as one can infer from the word being a combination of the negative prefix "un-," which means not, and "important." "Average" means common or ordinary.
Example Question #1165 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ERRONEOUS
Wrong
Correct
Formulaic
Opaque
Excessive
Wrong
"Erroneous" means wrong, or refers to something that contains an error.
None of the other words are synonymous with erroneous.
"Opaque" means not clear, blurry, or cloudy.
"Formulaic" means created based on a formula, or standardized.
"Excessive" means too much, or more than is necessary and normal.
"Correct" means right or without error. It is the opposite of erroneous.
Example Question #1166 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CANDID
Cynical
Deceitful
Clear
Honest
Convoluted.
Honest
"Candid" means honest or frank, and often refers to the manner in which someone is speaking.
None of the other words mean candid:
"Cynical" means thinking the worst about people or events.
"Clear" means apparent or translucent.
"Convoluted" means confusing or excessively complex to the point of decreasing clarity.
"Deceitful" means dishonest or false.
Example Question #1167 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SINGULAR
Plural
Strange
Oddity
Unique
Abnormal
Unique
"Singular" can be synonymous with "unique." The prefix uni- means one single unit, and both these words refer something that is unique or notable in its singular nature. "Plural" is an antonym to "singular." The rest of the words describe things notable for their oddness, while singular or unique things can be odd, this is not always or necessarily the case.
Example Question #1168 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SIMPLE
Quaint
Complex
Busy
Demanding
Taxing
Quaint
The words "simple" and "quaint" have related meanings describing things or locations that are old-fashioned or charmingly humble. None of the other answer choices have meanings similar to that of " simple." "Complex" describes complicated issues, events, procedures, or ideas. "Taxing" and "demanding" are synonyms describing stressful things.
Example Question #1169 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
STELLAR
Ill
Gross
Manipulative
Wrong
Fantastic
Fantastic
The words "stellar" and "fantastic" are both positively charged expressions meaning wonderful! The other answer choices do not have the same meaning. The other options all have distinctly negative connotations.
Example Question #1170 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CREDIBLE
Authorized
Fortunate
Believable
Impartial
Corny
Believable
"Credible" means "believable," plausible or rational.
"Authorized" means approved, certified or lawful.
"Corny" means old fashioned, contrived or stupid.
"Fortunate" means having good luck, affluent or prosperous.
"Impartial" means fair and unprejudiced.
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