SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Indigent is to affluent as _________________ is to inattentive.

Possible Answers:

truculent

lambent

timorous

taciturn

scrupulous

Correct answer:

scrupulous

Explanation:

"Indigent" means poor, penniless, in need. "Affluent" means wealthy, rich, prosperous. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "inattentive." Well, "inattentive" means careless, not paying attention to. So, the best available answer is "scrupulous," which means careful, diligent, meticulous, paying close attention to. Additionally, "truculent" means aggressive; "timorous" means easily scared; "taciturn" means silent, quiet; "lambent" means (of a light) flickering, glowing.

Example Question #232 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Forebear is to _____________ as summit is to base.

Possible Answers:

descendant

ancestor

benefactor

miser

progenitor

Correct answer:

descendant

Explanation:

The "summit" is the top of something, especially a mountain. And, the "base" is the bottom of something, especially a mountain. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "forebear" (ancestor). The correct answer is "descendant." Additionally, "miser" means person who does not give generously to others, someone who is stingy with money; "benefactor" means person who provided the financial support for; "progenitor" means a person or idea from which all other things descend.

Example Question #233 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Hale is to __________ as laconic is to verbose.

Possible Answers:

unlucky

unlikely

unimpressed

unhealthy

unwilling

Correct answer:

unhealthy

Explanation:

"Laconic" means (of writing or speech) containing few words. "Verbose" means (of writing or speech) containing too many words. These words are therefore antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "hale." Well, "hale" means strong, fit, and healthy. So, the correct answer is "unhealthy."

Example Question #234 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Florid is to plain as thrifty is to __________.

Possible Answers:

slovenly

enthralled

acclaimed

torpid

prodigal

Correct answer:

prodigal

Explanation:

"Florid" means ornate, excessively elaborate and decorated. It is therefore an antonym of "plain," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "thrifty." Well, "thrifty" means not inclined towards spending money, using money efficiently. So, the correct answer is "prodigal," which means wasteful, spending money freely and without concern. Additionally, "slovenly" means (of someone's appearance) messy and dirty, untidy, scruffy; "acclaimed" means widely praise; "enthralled" means captivated by and attracted to; "torpid" means lethargic, lacking energy.

Example Question #235 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Negligence is to care as recidivism is to _____________.

Possible Answers:

mourning

dominance

celebration

willpower

timely

Correct answer:

willpower

Explanation:

"Negligence" means showing improper "care" for something, allowing something under one's care to fall into a poor condition. It is therefore an antonym of "care," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "recidivism." Well, "recidivism" is falling back intro criminal or harmful behavior. It is therefore an antonym of "willpower." 

Example Question #236 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Immemorial is to __________ as conditional is to plenary.

Possible Answers:

modern

archaic

supreme 

ancient

perspicacious

Correct answer:

modern

Explanation:

"Conditional" means not absolute, subject to certain conditions or situations. Whereas, "plenary" means unqualified, not conditional, not subject to constraints. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available antonym for "immemorial." Well, "immemorial" means ancient, before the beginning of recorded history. So, the correct answer is "modern." Additionally, "archaic" means ancient and outmoded, no longer in contemporary use; "supreme" means best, greatest; "perspicacious" means discerning, having a keen insight into things, able to notice things

Example Question #237 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Phlegmatic is to __________ as quiescent is to energetic.

Possible Answers:

verdant

mordant

cerulean

volatile

salubrious

Correct answer:

volatile

Explanation:

"Energetic" means full of energy. Whereas, "quiescent" means at rest, in a state of inactivity. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "phlegmatic." Well, "phlegmatic" means (of a person) calm and emotionally stable, composed and tranquil. So, the correct answer is "volatile," which means unstable, likely to change in a negative or even catastrophic fashion. Additionally, "cerulean" means having a sky-blue color; "verdant" means green, having the color of grass; "salubrious" means promoting good health, beneficial; "mordant" means (of humor) sarcastic, cutting, and scathing.

Example Question #238 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Validate is to __________ as retard is to accelerate.

Possible Answers:

remonstrate 

extirpate 

protrude 

quash

waive 

Correct answer:

quash

Explanation:

"Retard" means to slow the progress of, to slow something down. It is therefore an antonym of "accelerate." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "validate." Well, "validate" means demonstrate the validity of, prove to be true, substantiate. It is therefore an antonym of "quash," which means reject or make null and void. Additionally, "remonstrate" means protest passionately against; "extirpate" means destroy completely; "waive" means give away certain rights; "protrude" means stick out from.

Example Question #1 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Saccharine is to sweet as nosy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

attention

neighbor

interested

prying

willful

Correct answer:

interested

Explanation:

Since "saccharine" means overly sweet or sappy, we're looking for an adjective for which "nosy" describes the overabundance of that quality. Of the adjectives listed, "interested," "willful," and "prying," "willful" is not clearly related to "nosy," so we can ignore it as a possible choice. In choosing between "interested" and "prying," "interested" is the better choice, as "prying" has negative connotations and is closer to being a synonym of "nosy" than is "interested," which retains the positive connotations like "sweet" does when compared to "saccharine."  

Example Question #2 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Warm is to hot as amusing is to __________.

Possible Answers:

parsimonious 

despondent

uproarious 

derivative 

eloquent 

Correct answer:

uproarious 

Explanation:

"Warm" is a more mild form of temperature than is "hot," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which answer choice is a more intense form of the word “amusing.” "Amusing" means moderately funny or entertaining, so the correct answer must mean very funny and entertaining. As a result, the correct answer is “uproarious” which means hilarious or extremely funny. For clarification, "despondent" means without hope; "parsimonious" means stingy with money; "eloquent" describes someone who speaks with style and control; and "derivative" describes something unoriginal.

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