SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

CANDID

Possible Answers:

Preposterous

New

Careful

Honest

Possible

Correct answer:

Honest

Explanation:

"Candid" is an adjective meaning truthful and holding no information back, so we need to pick out another adjective that means something like truthful. Since "honest" means sincere or virtuous, "honest" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "candid," so "honest" is the correct answer.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

OBLIVIOUS

Possible Answers:

Unusual 

Unaware 

Normal 

Creative 

Susceptible

Correct answer:

Unaware 

Explanation:

Someone who is "oblivious" is not aware of what is going on, so the correct answer is “unaware,” a word that means not aware, as you may have inferred from the word's use of the negative prefix "un-," which means not. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "oblivious": "susceptible" means vulnerable or in danger; "unusual" means not normal or weird; and "creative" means imaginative.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

AUTHENTIC

Possible Answers:

Real

Disparate 

Distinct 

Commonplace 

Fake 

Correct answer:

Real

Explanation:

Something that is "authentic" is genuine and real, so "real" is the correct answer. "Authentic" is an opposite, or antonym, of "fake," which means not genuine. To help you, "disparate" means different, "distinct" means easily recognizable due to differences from something or someone else, and "commonplace" means ordinary.

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

FRANK

Possible Answers:

Sympathetic

Fair

Straightforward

Untrue

Friendly

Correct answer:

Straightforward

Explanation:

"Frank" means addressing the truth directly regardless of people's feelings, so the best synonym is "straightforward," which means simple when referring to actions or direct and honest when referring to people. As for the other answer choices, "friendly" means amiable, "fair" means just or treating everyone equally, "sympathetic" means identifying with on an emotional level, and "untrue" means false.

Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

BLUNT

Possible Answers:

Silent 

Calculating 

Straightforward 

Stubborn

Sympathetic 

Correct answer:

Straightforward 

Explanation:

"Blunt" means expressing things clearly and honestly, which is also the definition of “straightforward.” So, "straightforward" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "blunt": "stubborn" means not changing one's mind or plan even when urged to; "calculating" means cunning; "sympathetic" means thinking about other people’s feelings, and "silent" means making no noise.

Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

AUTHENTIC

Possible Answers:

Real 

Lucky 

Phony 

Unsuccessful 

Fake 

Correct answer:

Real 

Explanation:

“Authentic” means real or genuine. To provide further help, “phony” means the same thing as “fake," and “unsuccessful” means not completed or failed.

Example Question #18 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

STRAIGHTFORWARD

Possible Answers:

Deceitful

Comely 

Furious 

Savage 

Simple 

Correct answer:

Simple 

Explanation:

“Straightforward” can mean honest when used to describe a person, or simple and easily accomplished when used to describe a task. To provide further help, “deceitful” means dishonest; “comely” means cute; “savage” means wild and vicious; and “furious” means very angry.

Example Question #19 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

LEGITIMATE

Possible Answers:

Valid

Dizzy

Doubtful

Playful

Intense

Correct answer:

Valid

Explanation:

“Legitimate” is a word that can be used as an adjective or as a verb, but because all of the answer choices are adjectives, that means that we will need to consider “legitimate” as an adjective. When used as an adjective, “legitimate” can mean “conforming to the law or to rules” or “able to be defended with logic or justification,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “legal,” “logical,” or “justifiable.” That means that “doubtful” cannot be the correct answer, because “doubtful” is an adjective that can mean “not established as genuine or acceptable,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “legitimate.” “Valid,” however, is adjective that can mean “having a sound basis in logic or fact; reasonable or cogent,” when used of an argument or a point, or “legally and officially acceptable.” “Valid” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “legitimate,” so “valid” is the correct answer.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

AIMLESS

Possible Answers:

Meaningful 

Hopeless 

Pointless 

Hopeful 

Helpless 

Correct answer:

Pointless 

Explanation:

Aimless means pointless or without a purpose; you might be able to infer this because the word is a combination of "aim," which can mean purpose or goal, and the suffix "-less," which means without. So, "pointless" is the correct answer becuase it means without a point or purpose. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "aimless": "meaningful "means important; "hopeful" means optimistic, and "helpless" means pitiful or incapable of defending oneself.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Authenticity, Truth, Existence, And Understanding

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

FALSE

Possible Answers:

Terrible

Unfounded

Awful

Authentic

Inhumane

Correct answer:

Unfounded

Explanation:

"False" and "unfounded" are synonyms. "Unfounded" refers to a claim that is not based in truth. The other words do not share this meaning.

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