SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #3001 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

COMPLACENT

Possible Answers:

Amphibious

Surprising

Smug

Central

Wounded

Correct answer:

Smug

Explanation:

"Complacent" means pleased, especially with oneself or one's situation. Thus, the best answer choice is smug. The root word "plac-" means please.

Example Question #3002 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

COSMOPOLITAN

Possible Answers:

Agitated

Transferable 

Scourged

Vital

Worldly

Correct answer:

Worldly

Explanation:

"Cosmopolitan" means familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. It also means sophisticated. Thus, the best answer choice is "worldly," which also means sophisticated. The root word "cosmo-" means world or universe, and the root word "poli" means city.

Example Question #3003 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Synonyms: pick the word that is most similar in meaning to the word in question.

MAGNATE

Possible Answers:

Penalty

Dissipation

Tycoon

Indulgence

Viability

Correct answer:

Tycoon

Explanation:

A "magnate" is an influential or powerful person. A tycoon is a businessperson of great power and wealth. The root word "magnus" means great.

Example Question #3004 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

ODIOUS

Possible Answers:

Speechless

Detestable

Smelly

Grandiose

Just

Correct answer:

Detestable

Explanation:

"Odious" means detestable or causing hatred. The Latin root word, "odium," means hatred.

Example Question #3005 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

GRANDILOQUENT

Possible Answers:

Uniting

Concealed

Pretentious

Enormous

Known

Correct answer:

Pretentious

Explanation:

"Grandiloquent" means pompous or extravagant in one's speaking. The best answer choice is "pretentious." The Latin root word, "grandis," means great, and the Latin root word, "loqui," means to speak.

Example Question #3001 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

SOMNOLENT

Possible Answers:

Philosophical

Representative

Sleepy

Apathetic

Qualified

Correct answer:

Sleepy

Explanation:

"Somnolent" means sleepy. The Latin root word, "somnus," means sleep.

Example Question #3002 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

ATTENUATE

Possible Answers:

Insert

Condemn

Circle

Delegate

Weaken

Correct answer:

Weaken

Explanation:

To "attenuate" is to weaken or make thin. The Latin root word, "tenuis," means thin.

Example Question #3003 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

IMPEDE

Possible Answers:

Clarify

Accompish

Inspire

Block

Debate

Correct answer:

Block

Explanation:

"Impede" means to block.

Example Question #3006 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

IMPUGN

Possible Answers:

Attack

Lurk

Excel

Rent

Consider

Correct answer:

Attack

Explanation:

To "impugn" is to attack someone either verbally or physically. It also means to challenge someone's statements as false. The Latin root word, "pugnare," means to fight.

Example Question #3007 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

AMBIGUOUS

Possible Answers:

Indubitable

Pristine

Undeniable

Ambidextrous

Unclear

Correct answer:

Unclear

Explanation:

If you don't recognize a word, it is almost always a good idea to try to use roots to figure out its meaning. You can break the word ambiguous into its component parts fairly easily ("ambi" + "guous").  "Ambi-" is a pretty common prefix, so you should recognize it even if you don't know what the whole word means. It's even in one of the other answer choices:  "ambidextrous." The prefix "ambi-" has to do with something that goes in two directions at once. "Ambidextrous," for instance, means able to use both hands to do tasks (e.g. to write). "Ambiguous" means unclear, or having an unclear or undecidable meaning—a meaning that is unclear because it is one among multiple possible meanings. The answer choices "pristine," "indubitable," and "undeniable" each have to do with either clearness or certainty, and we already know what ambidextrous means, so "unclear" is the only choice left.

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