SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, or Location

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

TARNISH

Possible Answers:

Attempt

Berate

Extinguish

Sully

Prepare

Correct answer:

Sully

Explanation:

"Tarnish" and "sully" are both words that mean make something dirtier or less valuable.

Example Question #42 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

CONVERGE

Possible Answers:

Meet

Inoculate

Divulge

Protest

Scatter

Correct answer:

Meet

Explanation:

"Converge" is a verb meaning come to the same place (metaphorically or physically) at the same time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like come together. "Protest" and "scatter" might look like potentially correct answer choices initially, but they are each antonyms of "converge," so neither of them can be the correct answer. Because "meet" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "converge," "meet" is the correct answer.

Example Question #43 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ERECT

Possible Answers:

Marginalize

Ignore

Construct

Rattle

Straighten

Correct answer:

Construct

Explanation:

"Erect" means raise, build, or construct, so "construct" is the correct answer.

Example Question #44 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

AMALGAMATE

Possible Answers:

Dissociate

Pinpoint

Hallow

Meld

Bloom

Correct answer:

Meld

Explanation:

“Amalgamate” is a verb that means unify multiple things into one, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like combine. That means that “dissociate” cannot be the correct answer, because “dissociate” means separate, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “amalgamate.” “Meld,” however, when used as a verb, means combine, and because “meld” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “amalgamate,” “meld” is the correct answer.

Example Question #45 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ENERVATE

Possible Answers:

Moderate

Strengthen 

Improve 

Weaken

Energize 

Correct answer:

Weaken

Explanation:

“Enervate” is a transitive verb that means weaken someone physically or mentally, so "weaken" is the correct answer. “Strengthen,” “energize,” and “improve” are all antonyms, and "moderate" is not related in meaning to "enervate."

Example Question #46 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

ABRIDGE

Possible Answers:

climb

transfer

float

shorten

cross

Correct answer:

shorten

Explanation:

"Abridge" means to shorten something without losing the main idea.

Example Question #46 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

BARRICADE

Possible Answers:

Obstruct

March

Announce

Injure

Destroy

Correct answer:

Obstruct

Explanation:

To "barricade" or "obstruct" something is to block it.

Example Question #47 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

WANE

Possible Answers:

Transportation

Creep

Spin

Diminish

Swell

Correct answer:

Diminish

Explanation:

"Wane" means decrease in size or power, so "diminish" is the correct answer.

Example Question #48 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

TRUNCATE

Possible Answers:

Manipulate

Oppose

Shorten

Demand

Produce

Correct answer:

Shorten

Explanation:

"Truncate" means curtail or cut off the end of, so "shorten" is the closest synonym amongst the available answer choices. 

Example Question #49 : Synonyms: Verbs About Physical Changes, Movement, Or Location

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

PULVERIZE

Possible Answers:

Burn

Crush

Defeat

Strengthen

Build

Correct answer:

Crush

Explanation:

"Pulverize" means to grind or pound into powder, so "crush" is the best synonym amongst the provided answer choices.

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