SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives and Adverbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

JOCULAR

Possible Answers:

Mitigate 

Humorous 

Keen 

Susceptible

Unfair 

Correct answer:

Humorous 

Explanation:

To be "jocular" means to be humorous. For clarification, "mitigate" means lessen, alleviate; "keen" means eager; "susceptible" means vulnerable.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

GRAVE

Possible Answers:

Serious 

Absurd 

Deplorable 

Insignificant 

Preposterous

Correct answer:

Serious 

Explanation:

A situation that is "grave" is serious and somber. For clarification, "deplorable" means deserving of hatred; "absurd" and "preposterous" are synonyms that both mean ridiculous.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

NAÏVE

Possible Answers:

Mundane 

Experienced

Innocent 

Jocular 

Lofty 

Correct answer:

Innocent 

Explanation:

If you are "naïve" you are innocent and gullible. Naïve people are easily lied to and manipulated. For clarification, "lofty" means very high or proud; "mundane" means ordinary or boring; "jocular" means humorous.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

GREGARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Shy 

Passionate 

Outgoing 

Disrespectful

Nostalgic

Correct answer:

Outgoing 

Explanation:

Someone who is "gregarious" is very social and outgoing. For clarification, "nostalgia" is a fond remembrance of the past.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

ALTRUISTIC

Possible Answers:

Mousy 

Charitable

Haughty 

Tenuous 

Decadent 

Correct answer:

Charitable

Explanation:

Someone who is "altruistic" is very charitable and inclined towards generosity. For clarification, "mousy" means dull or timid; "tenuous" means uncertain; "haughty" means arrogant; "decadent" means corrupt and luxurious.

Example Question #22 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

INSOLENT

Possible Answers:

Calm 

Polite 

Mirthless 

Helpless 

Disrespectful 

Correct answer:

Disrespectful 

Explanation:

Someone who is "insolent" is being rude and disrespectful. For clarification, "mirthless" means without happiness; "mirth" means happiness.

Example Question #23 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

CAUTIOUS

Possible Answers:

Rancorous 

Vengeful 

Jubilant 

Ecstatic 

Watchful 

Correct answer:

Watchful 

Explanation:

To be "cautious" means to be careful, watchful, and vigilant. For clarification, "vengeful" and "rancorous" are synonyms, and "jubilant" and "ecstatic" are synonyms.

Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

CIVIL

Possible Answers:

Polite

Troublesome

Disloyal

Rude

Distasteful

Correct answer:

Polite

Explanation:

"Civil" means polite. "Rude" means impolite, so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "civil." None of the other answers are close in meaning to "civil": "troublesome" means bothersome or worrisome, "distasteful" means offensive, and "disloyal" means not loyal; one can infer this from the combination of the prefix "dis-", which means not, with the word "loyal."

Example Question #25 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

GARRULOUS

Possible Answers:

Talkative 

Timid 

Quiet 

Reserved 

Shy 

Correct answer:

Talkative 

Explanation:

Someone who is "garrulous" is very talkative or loquacious. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all loose synonyms of one another and antonyms of "garrulous" and "loquacious."

Example Question #26 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

METICULOUS

Possible Answers:

Careful 

Hopeful 

Careless 

Jolly

Gregarious

Correct answer:

Careful 

Explanation:

"Meticulous" means paying great attention to detail or careful. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "meticulous": "jolly" means happy or good-natured; "hopeful" means optimistic; "gregarious" means sociable; and "careless" means inattentive.

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