SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Synonyms

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

FATHER

Possible Answers:

Dad

Old

Friend 

Man

Lady

Correct answer:

Dad

Explanation:

"Dad" is a synonym for the word "father." Although a father is a man, man is a more general term. Adult males who have never had children are also men. 

Example Question #172 : Synonyms

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

MOTHER

Possible Answers:

Lady

Friend

Matriarch

Child

Caring

Correct answer:

Matriarch

Explanation:

"Matriarch" is a synonym for the word "mother." Although a mother is a woman, a woman is not necessarily a mom therefore these two words are not synonyms.

Example Question #173 : Synonyms

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

BOX

Possible Answers:

Cardboard 

Treasure 

Crate 

Item

Inside 

Correct answer:

Crate 

Explanation:

"Crate" is a synonym for the word "box." Although a box can be a cardboard or a treasure box these words do not mean box. Items go inside boxes.

Example Question #174 : Synonyms

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

SHACK

Possible Answers:

Mansion

Island 

Hut

Place 

Job

Correct answer:

Hut

Explanation:

"Hut" is a synonym for the word "shack." Both words mean small house. A "mansion" is a large and luxurious house. While any form of housing is a place, "place" is far too general a term to be synonymous.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Synonyms: select the word that most closely matches.

Laud

Possible Answers:

Dislike

Cooperate

Help

Win

Praise

Correct answer:

Praise

Explanation:

Laud and Praise both mean to give acclaim to. 

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

A synonym of "bewilder" is . . .

Possible Answers:

collapse

avid

colossal

confusion

perplex

Correct answer:

perplex

Explanation:

Since "bewilder" is a verb that means "confuse," we need to find another verb that also means "confuse." While "confusion" may look like a great answer choice, it is a noun, not a verb (it doesn't represent an action) so it can't be the right answer. However, because "perplex" means "confuse," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Which is a synonym for pardon?

Possible Answers:

Hold

Forgive

Blame

Penalty

None of the other answer choices. 

Correct answer:

Forgive

Explanation:

"Pardon" and "forgive" both mean to excuse from blame. 

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

A synonym of "clarify" is . . .

Possible Answers:

fortify

weaken

clean

jump

explain

Correct answer:

explain

Explanation:

"Clarify" is a verb that means "make a statement or situation less confused and more clearly comprehensible," so we need to pick out another verb that means something like "make something more clearly understandable." While "clean" might look like a potentially correct answer, "clean" means " free from dirt, marks, or stains." Because "clean" does not have the same meaning as "clarify," "clean" cannot be the correct answer. "Explain," however, is a verb that means "make an idea, situation, or problem clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas." Because "explain" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "clarify," "explain" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Which word could have a similar meaning to the underlined word?

The boy decieved his classmates by pretending the faint.

Possible Answers:

rose

left

hid

None of the above

misled

Correct answer:

misled

Explanation:

The word "misled," which is the past tense of "mislead," can be substitued into the sentence to maintain the meaning.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding

Which word could have a similar meaning to the underlined word?

As she looked into her crystal ball, she foresaw the future.

Possible Answers:

forgot

confused

predicted

dialed

None of the above

Correct answer:

predicted

Explanation:

"Predicted" could replace "foresaw" to maintain a similar meaning. 

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