All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
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
Province
Monument
Possibility
Recovery
Death
Recovery
"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
Enjoyment
Calmness
Peace
Democracy
Turmoil
Turmoil
"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 #2 : 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
Introduction
Index
Tome
Conclusion
Finale
Introduction
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 #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.
RETROSPECT
Evanescent
Hindsight
Exuberant
Optimism
Prosperous
Hindsight
"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 #4 : 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.
PRESCIENCE
Shortsightedness
Improvidence
Unpredictability
Myopia
Foreknowledge
Foreknowledge
"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 #5 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
IMPARTIAL
Demanding
Harangue
Unbiased
Bashful
Controlling
Unbiased
"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 #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.
UNAWARE
Obvious
Precise
Unknowing
Informed
Complete
Unknowing
"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 #4 : 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
Bright
Unknown
Frequent
Idiotic
Conclusive
Unknown
"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.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Prefixes
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
UNCERTAIN
Secretive
Complex
Frequent
Unsure
Profitable
Unsure
"Uncertain" means unknown or unsure, so "unsure" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "uncertain": "complex" means complicated or having many different parts; "frequent" means occurring repeatedly in a relatively short amount of time; "profitable" means lucrative or capable of making a lot of money; and "secretive" means hidden or concealed.
Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
A synonym of “indispensable” is __________.
superfluous
meticulous
frightening
partial
essential
essential
The word “indispensable” consists of the negative prefix “in-,” which means “not,” and the word “dispensable,” so we can infer that it means “not dispensable.” That inference would be correct, as “indispensable” is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary,” so we need to pick out a word that means something like “necessary.” “Superfluous,” then, cannot be the correct answer, because “superfluous” means “unnecessary, especially through being more than enough,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “indispensable.” “Essential,” however, is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary; extremely important,” and because “essential” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “indispensable,” “essential” is the correct answer.