SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Synonyms: Roots

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

ABBREVIATE

Possible Answers:

Inscribe

Announce

Detect

Choose

Shorten

Correct answer:

Shorten

Explanation:

"Abbreviate" is a verb derived from the Latin root brevis, meaning short. "Shorten" is a verb with the same meaning, so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #61 : Synonyms: Roots

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

FOOLHARDY

Possible Answers:

Dull-witted 

Reckless 

Careful 

Laughable 

Cautious 

Correct answer:

Reckless 

Explanation:

The root word "fool" does give a negative implication to the word, however should not be an indicator that the word is related to strict intelligence. Instead, "foolhardy" generally describes someone who disregards consequences or asks impulsively.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Roots From Other Languages

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

ALCHEMY

Possible Answers:

Cheerfulness

Challenging

Cheep

Alcove

Chemistry

Correct answer:

Chemistry

Explanation:

"Alchemy" is closest in meaning to "chemistry." Both words share a semantic root. The other words have meanings which are not at all related to alchemy.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

COHERENT

Possible Answers:

Difficult to understand

Self-sufficient

Existing at the same time

Unintelligible

Orderly and logical

Correct answer:

Orderly and logical

Explanation:

Coherent means something is orderly and logical.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

Synonyms

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

OBSCURE

Possible Answers:

obtuse

round

self-evident

vague

dull

Correct answer:

vague

Explanation:

Obscure means vague.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

Synonyms

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

PLAUSIBLE

Possible Answers:

paralyzed

forgettable

cheerful

conceivable

impossible

Correct answer:

conceivable

Explanation:

Plausible means conceivable.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

Synonyms

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

PATENT

Possible Answers:

handmade

maligned

unclear

disfigured

apparent

Correct answer:

apparent

Explanation:

One meaning of "patent" is apparent. Something is patently obvious (that is, apparently obvious).

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

A synonym of “artificial” is __________.

Possible Answers:

progressive

man-made

natural

possessive

halcyon

Correct answer:

man-made

Explanation:

“Artificial” is an adjective that means “made by people rather than nature,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “produced by humans rather than occurring naturally.” That means that “natural” cannot be the correct answer, because “natural” means “existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “artificial.” “Man-made,” however, is an adjective that means “made or caused by human beings (as opposed to occurring or being made naturally); artificial,” and because “man-made” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “artificial,” “man-made” is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

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

Vague

Possible Answers:

Rotten

Extraordinary

Smoky

Unclear

Comprehensible

Correct answer:

Unclear

Explanation:

"Vague" means unclear.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Understanding, And Importance

Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Accurate

Possible Answers:

Generous

Firm

Competitive

Awkward

Precise

Correct answer:

Precise

Explanation:

"Accurate" means precise.

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