All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #531 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PREDISPOSITION
Renounce
Repudiate
Mar
Disinclination
Tendency
Tendency
A “predisposition” is a tendency or liability to think or feel a certain way about something. For example, someone from a violent past might be “predisposed” to violence in the present. The correct answer is thus "tendency," as "tendency" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "predisposition."As for the other answer choices, a “disinclination” is the opposite of a “predisposition”— it is something you are not liable to do; “repudiate” and “renounce” both mean to reject or declare that something is wrong and stop participating in it; and “mar” is a verb that means ruin or make worse.
Example Question #532 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EPITOME
Antithesis
Impasse
Rancor
Concession
Quintessence
Quintessence
Since "epitome" is a noun which means "a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type," we need to find another noun that means "perfect example of." While "antithesis" may seem like a good answer choice, it is a noun which means "a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else," so it is the opposite of an "epitome" and not the word we're looking for. "Quintessence," on the other hand, means "the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class"; since it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "epitome," it is the correct answer.
Example Question #533 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DILEMMA
Quandary
Halt
Entangle
Opacity
Setback
Quandary
"Dilemma" is a noun that means "a situation in which you have to make a difficult choice," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "problem." "Setback" and "quandary" both appear to be potentially correct answers, "setback" means " a problem that makes progress more difficult or success less likely" and "quandary" means "a situation in which you are confused about what to do." Since "quandary" is closer in meaning to "dilemma," since both words have to do with making difficult choices, "quandary" is the correct answer.
Example Question #534 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
QUALM
Plea
Reproach
Implication
Misgiving
Eloquence
Misgiving
"Qualm" is a noun that means "an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "doubt" or "worry." Since "misgiving" means "a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something," it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "qualm" and thus the correct answer.
Example Question #535 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ALACRITY
Charm
Criticism
Potential
Alarm
Eagerness
Eagerness
While "alarm" might look like a potentially good answer choice because both "alacrity" and "alarm" begin with "ala-," or "criticism," because "alacrity" contains the infix "-crit-," which is also present in "criticism," "alacrity" actually means "brisk and cheerful readiness," so "eagerness" is its closest synonym and the correct answer.
Example Question #536 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
WONT
Fountain
Habit
Lewd
Will not
Desire
Habit
While "wont" looks like "won't," it has a different meaning from the contraction, so "will not" is not the correct answer. Similarly, while "wanton" is a synonym of "lewd," "wont" and "wanton" have completely different meanings, and while a "font" is a term for a fountain, the only thing "font" and "wont" have in common with each other is that they can both be used as nouns and they rhyme. While "desire" is a synonym of "want," "want" and "wont" are different words with different meanings. "Wont" as a noun means "one's customary behavior in a particular situation," and as an adjective it refers to people and means "in the habit of doing something; accustomed." Since "habit" means "a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up," "habit" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "wont" and the correct answer.
Example Question #537 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HUSBANDRY
Construction
Marriage
Child-rearing
Parenthood
Farm management
Farm management
This is a tricky one. When you see the word husbandry, you probably recognize the word husband and assume that husbandry has something to do with marriage, parenthood, or child-rearing. Husbandry actually has to do with farm management, and perhaps in a more indirect way with management of the household. The only choice that really works for that definition is "Farm management."
Example Question #538 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEARTH
Scarcity
Peaceful
Diverse
Plentiful
Abundance
Scarcity
"Dearth" means to lack, or scarcity. Abundance and Plentiful means to have a lot of, so they are antonyms of Dearth. Diverse means to be varied, and Peaceful means to be calm. These last two words have no relation to Dearth in this context.
Example Question #491 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
HARMONY
Discord
Infamy
Model
Cacophony
Agreement
Agreement
"Harmony" is to have an agreement. Discord or Cacophony means to have a disagreement, and therefore they are antonyms of Harmony. Infamy means to be known for a bad reason, and Model means a good example. These last two words have no relation to Harmony in this context.
Example Question #492 : Synonyms: Nouns
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PHENOMENON
Variance
Aggravation
Whim
Occurrence
Present
Occurrence
A phenomenon is a fact or occurrence that is observable.
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