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 #37 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

KEEN

Possible Answers:

Jocular

Welcomed 

Sharp-witted 

Ill-tempered 

Banished 

Correct answer:

Sharp-witted 

Explanation:

"Keen" means either eager or sharp-witted. So, "sharp-witted" is the correct answer. For clarification, "banished" means sent away, and is an antonym of "welcomed," which means amiably received. "Ill-tempered" means crabby or cranky, and "jocular" means jovialplayful, or funny.

Example Question #38 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

MERCURIAL

Possible Answers:

Unpredictable 

Fey 

Magical 

Notorious 

Profane 

Correct answer:

Unpredictable 

Explanation:

"Mercurial" means unpredictablecapricious, or mysterious, so "unpredictable" is the correct answer. For clarification, "fey" means supernatural, "notorious" means infamous, "profane" means rude and disrespectful or worldly as opposed to spiritual, and "magical" means of or related to magic or extraordinary.

Example Question #39 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

OSTENTATIOUS

Possible Answers:

Messy 

Showy 

Abstinent 

Parsimonious 

Destitute 

Correct answer:

Showy 

Explanation:

"Ostentatious" means showy or pretentious, so "showy" is the correct answer. For clarification, "parsimonious" means stingy or not generous, "destitute" means very poor or having no possessions, "abstinent" means refraining from doing something, and "messy" means unorganized or dirty.

Example Question #40 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

ASTUTE

Possible Answers:

Shrewd 

Daft 

Thoughtless 

Imprudent 

Harebrained

Correct answer:

Shrewd 

Explanation:

Someone who is "astute" is smart, shrewd and quick-witted, so "shrewd," a word that means clever, is the correct answer. For clarification, "imprudent" means not prudent or rash, as you might be able to infer from the word being a combination of the root "im-," which means not, and "prudent." "Daft" and "harebrained" can each mean absurd or foolish, and "thoughtless," as you might guess, means done without thinking, and specifically done without thinking about the emotions of others, or in other words, inconsiderate

Example Question #41 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

IMPERIOUS

Possible Answers:

Sanctimonious

Arrogant

Intelligent 

Calm

Pious

Correct answer:

Arrogant

Explanation:

Someone who is "imperious" is very arrogant and self-assured, so "arrogant" is the correct answer. For clarification, "pious" means deeply religious, and "sanctimonious" means self-righteous or smug.

Example Question #42 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PUGNACIOUS

Possible Answers:

Rendezvous

Munificent

Repugnant 

Devout 

Belligerent 

Correct answer:

Belligerent 

Explanation:

Someone who is "pugnacious" is aggressive, hostile and belligerent, so "belligerent" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pugnacious" and the correct answer. For clarification, a "rendezvous" is a secret meeting, "devout" means very religious, "repugnant" means gross or unpleasant, and "munificent" means generous or plentiful.

Example Question #43 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

RANCOROUS

Possible Answers:

Poisonous 

Toxic 

Cheerful 

Noxious 

Implacable 

Correct answer:

Implacable 

Explanation:

Someone who is "rancorous" is merciless, relentless or implacable. For clarification, "noxious," "toxic," and "poisonous" are all synonyms.

Example Question #44 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

 

BOMBASTIC

Possible Answers:

Banal 

Prophetic 

Umbrage 

Forlorn 

Verbose 

Correct answer:

Verbose 

Explanation:

"Bombastic" means long-winded, insincere, or verbose, and is often used to describe speech. "Verbose" refers to unnecessarily long speech, so it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "bombastic" and the correct answer. For clarification, "forlorn" means sad and hopeless, "banal" means mundane or boring, "umbrage" means offense, and "prophetic" means predicting what will happen in the future.

Example Question #45 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

WILY

Possible Answers:

Fortunate 

Excessive 

Cunning 

Demanding 

Opulent 

Correct answer:

Cunning 

Explanation:

Someone who is "wily" is crafty and cunning and possesses guile, so "cunning," an adjective that means shrewd, is the correct answer. For clarification, "fortunate" means lucky, "excessive" means too much or extreme, and "opulent" means wealthy or fancy.

Example Question #46 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

GREGARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Introverted 

Sociable 

Vicarious

Fulsome 

Lonely 

Correct answer:

Sociable 

Explanation:

"Gregarious" means friendly and sociable, so "sociable," an adjective that means cordial or affable, is the correct answer. For clarification, "fulsome" means flattering or excessive, "vicarious" describes something that is experienced through another person, "introverted" means shy, and "lonely" means isolated or friendless.

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