SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Verbs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #281 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

INSTIGATE

Possible Answers:

Edify 

Start 

Finish 

Cancel 

Break 

Correct answer:

Start 

Explanation:

To "instigate" something means to start it or to bring it about. It is most commonly used to describe a disagreement, e.g. "he instigated the fight." For clarification, "edify" means to build or instruct.

Example Question #281 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ELAPSE

Possible Answers:

Go over

Move away

Go under

Pass

Discuss

Correct answer:

Pass

Explanation:

"Elapse" usually refers to time and means pass.

Example Question #282 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ABDICATE

Possible Answers:

Charity 

Implore 

Edify 

Resign 

Ascend 

Correct answer:

Resign 

Explanation:

To "abdicate" means to resign a position of authority, it is usually used to describe the abdication of the throne when a king or queen resigns the monarchy. For clarification, "ascend" means to move upwards; "edify" means build or teach; "implore" means beg.

Example Question #283 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

CANCEL

Possible Answers:

Proceed with

Delegate

Assist

Postpone

Call off

Correct answer:

Call off

Explanation:

"Cancel" means call off. "Proceed with" means continue with, so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "cancel." None of the other answers are close in meaning to "cancel": "postpone" means put off until a later time, "assist," means help, and "delegate" means assign to someone who is lower in a hierarchy than oneself.

Example Question #284 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

PREVENT

Possible Answers:

Stop

Fulfill

Quiet

Breathe

Retreat

Correct answer:

Stop

Explanation:

"Prevent" means to stop something from happening, so "stop" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "prevent": "retreat" means to move back to a previous position in combat or withdraw; "fulfill" meets to satisfy some expectation; "quiet," when used as a verb, means to silence or make less noisy; and "breathe" means to inhale and exhale air using the lungs.

Example Question #285 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

WEATHER

Possible Answers:

Outlaw 

Temperature

Endure 

Exclaim 

Promote 

Correct answer:

Endure 

Explanation:

While "weather" is often used as a noun that means atmospheric conditions and phenomena, "weather" can also be used as a verb that means endure. So, "endure" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "weather." For clarification, "outlaw," when used asa verb, means to ban or to prohibit, and "exclaim" means to cry out.

Example Question #286 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

ECLIPSE

Possible Answers:

Surpass

Shadow

Encompass

Bother

Investigate

Correct answer:

Surpass

Explanation:

"Eclipse" means to make less outstanding or important by comparison. "Surpass," which means to exceed or be greater than, is the right answer.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Other Verbs

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

HEED

Possible Answers:

Ignore

Introduce

Notice

Farm

Row

Correct answer:

Notice

Explanation:

"Heed" means pay attention to or obey, so "notice" is the correct answer.

Example Question #287 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

REDRESS

Possible Answers:

Clothing

Counteract

Proposal

Remedy

Benefit

Correct answer:

Remedy

Explanation:

"Redress" most nearly means remedy (as a verb), as in "The prisoners were seeking to have their false convictions redressed."

Example Question #288 : Synonyms: Verbs

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

QUELL

Possible Answers:

Inspire

Shove

Suppress

Berate

Encourage

Correct answer:

Suppress

Explanation:

“Quell” is a verb that can mean “to forcibly put an end to a rebellion,” “to subdue or silence,” or “to suppress a feeling.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “end a rebellion by force,” “subdue someone,” or “suppress a feeling.” That means that “encourage” cannot be the correct answer, because “encourage” can mean “to give support and advice,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “quell.” “Suppress,” however, is a verb that means “forcibly put an end to” or “restrain.” So, because “suppress” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “quell,” “suppress” is the correct answer.

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