SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #531 : Synonyms

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

Duplicity

Possible Answers:

Beginning

Disappointment 

Beauty

Visitor

Dishonesty

Correct answer:

Dishonesty

Explanation:

"Duplicity" means dishonesty or deceit. The Latin root word, "duplicitas," means doubling.

Example Question #532 : Synonyms

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

Penury

Possible Answers:

Arrow

Anarchy

Poverty

Substitution

Risk

Correct answer:

Poverty

Explanation:

"Penury" means scarcity or extreme poverty. The Latin root word, "penuria," means want or need.

Example Question #533 : Synonyms

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

PREDISPOSITION

Possible Answers:

Disinclination 

Renounce 

Mar 

Repudiate 

Tendency 

Correct answer:

Tendency 

Explanation:

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 #534 : Synonyms

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

EPITOME

Possible Answers:

Rancor

Quintessence

Antithesis

Concession

Impasse

Correct answer:

Quintessence

Explanation:

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 #535 : Synonyms

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

DILEMMA

Possible Answers:

Halt

Setback

Quandary

Opacity

Entangle

Correct answer:

Quandary

Explanation:

"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 #536 : Synonyms

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

QUALM

Possible Answers:

Eloquence

Misgiving

Implication

Plea

Reproach

Correct answer:

Misgiving

Explanation:

"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 #537 : Synonyms

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

ALACRITY

Possible Answers:

Alarm

Eagerness

Criticism

Charm

Potential

Correct answer:

Eagerness

Explanation:

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 #538 : Synonyms

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

WONT

Possible Answers:

Will not

Lewd

Fountain

Desire

Habit

Correct answer:

Habit

Explanation:

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 #539 : Synonyms

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

HUSBANDRY

Possible Answers:

Parenthood

Child-rearing

Marriage

Construction

Farm management

Correct answer:

Farm management

Explanation:

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 #540 : Synonyms

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

DEARTH

Possible Answers:

Peaceful

Diverse

Plentiful

Scarcity

Abundance

Correct answer:

Scarcity

Explanation:

"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.

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