SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #271 : Identifying Synonyms

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

REPERTOIRE

Possible Answers:

Alteration

Sensation

Collection

Occurance 

Meeting

Correct answer:

Collection

Explanation:

"Repertoire" means a collection, an inventory; often it means a stockpile of skills or knowledge.

"Alteration" means a change, a modification or a revision

"Occurrance" means something that happened, something that occurred; a situation.

"Meeting" means a gathering, a talk; when people group together for a purpose.

"Sensation" means a feeling, a perception or an emotion.

Example Question #272 : Identifying Synonyms

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

IRRITATION

Possible Answers:

Happiness

Opportunity

Inflammation

Property

Context

Correct answer:

Inflammation

Explanation:

"Irritation" means "inflammation," or a rash; it can also mean a disturbed mental state.

"Happiness" means bliss, satisfaction or contentment.

"Opportunity" means a chance for something, favorable circumstance, a moment.

"Property" means possessions, equity or goods.

"Context" means setting, climate, background.

Example Question #273 : Identifying Synonyms

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

GIST 

Possible Answers:

Half 

Minimal 

Understanding 

Content 

Essence 

Correct answer:

Essence 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "essence." 

"Gist" is a noun that means the substance or essence of a speech, text or dialogue.

Example Question #274 : Identifying Synonyms

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

AVERSION

Possible Answers:

Wit

Dislike

Mettle

Kindness

Chemistry

Correct answer:

Dislike

Explanation:

"Aversion" means dislike, opposition, antagonism

"Kindness" means compassion, benevolence, humanity

"Mettle" means bravery, caliber or courage.

"Chemistry" means attraction or charm in addition to being a field of natural science.

"Wit" means mentally sharp, funny, or clever and humorous.

 

Example Question #275 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PIGMENT

Possible Answers:

Molecule

Paper

Debt

Color

Desert

Correct answer:

Color

Explanation:

"Pigment" means color, dye or stain

"Desert" means arid land

"Molecule" means a very small piece, a fragment of something, a particle of something

"Debt" means money that is owed to others.

"Paper" means the physical object that we write on, or it can mean a written article or essay. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

CONSTRICTIVE

Possible Answers:

hazardous

snake-like

mean-spirited

liberating

restrictive

Correct answer:

restrictive

Explanation:

Constrictive means something is restrictive.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

A synonym of "limber" is __________.

Possible Answers:

lithe

novel

minuscule

stretched

cumbersome

Correct answer:

lithe

Explanation:

"Limber" is an adjective that means "flexible" or "bending easily," so we need to pick out another adjective that also means "flexible." While "stretched" may look like a good answer because "flexible" means "able to stretch," "stretched" does not mean "flexible," so it can't be correct. "Lithe," on the other hand, means "characterized by flexibility and grace," and since it is closest in meaning to "limber," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

A synonym of “grubby” is __________.

Possible Answers:

municipal

forthright

derogatory

spotless

filthy

Correct answer:

filthy

Explanation:

“Grubby” is an adjective that means either “dirty; grimy” or “disreputable; sordid.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “grimy” or “disreputable.” That means that “spotless” cannot be the correct answer, because “spotless” is an adjective that means “absolutely clean or pure; immaculate,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “grubby.” “Filthy,” however, is an adjective that can mean “disgustingly dirty,” and because “filthy” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “grubby,” “filthy” is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

Arid

Possible Answers:

Outer space

Dry

Inundated

Desert

Moist

Correct answer:

Dry

Explanation:

"Arid" means dry; Moist means slightly wet; Inundated means flooded; Desert is a place that has sand and is dry; and Outer space it the area outside the earth's atmosphere.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

TORRID

Possible Answers:

Stifling

Frigid 

Mediocre

Dispute

Whimsical 

Correct answer:

Stifling

Explanation:

"Torrid" means scorching hot or extremely challenging. In this instance the best synonym for one of those meanings is “stifling” which means uncomfortably hot. For clarification, a dispute is an argument or disagreement; mediocre describes something that is average in a negative way; whimsical means silly and quirky; frigid means very cold, and is an antonym of stifling and torrid.

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