SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #195 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

AFFABLE

Possible Answers:

Talkative

Sleepy

Friendly

Funny

Sullen

Correct answer:

Friendly

Explanation:

"Affable" most nearly means friendly, so "friendly" is the correct answer.

Example Question #51 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CAPRICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Public

Genuine

Sly

Quiet

Fickle

Correct answer:

Fickle

Explanation:

"Capricious" most nearly means changing one's mood or conduct randomly, or "fickle," as in, "The capricious little girl went from sobbing to laughing to fuming at her mother within five minutes, for no discernable reason."

Example Question #52 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CRAFTY

Possible Answers:

Fabulous

Radical

Cunning

Determined

Violent

Correct answer:

Cunning

Explanation:

"Crafty" means wily, or "cunning."

Example Question #53 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

TACTFUL

Possible Answers:

Chewy

Energetic

Sticky

Rude

Polite

Correct answer:

Polite

Explanation:

"Tactful" means polite, so "polite" is the correct answer.

Example Question #54 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

OPEN-MINDED

Possible Answers:

Quiescent

Dismissive

Intolerant

Flexible

Wise

Correct answer:

Flexible

Explanation:

“Open-minded” is an adjective that means open to considering new ideasThat means that “intolerant” cannot be the correct answer, because “intolerant” means not tolerant of ideas or beliefs different from one's own, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “open-minded.” “Flexible,” however, is an adjective that can mean adaptable to new ideas and circumstances when describing a person, and because “flexible” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “open-minded,” “flexible” is the correct answer.

Example Question #55 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PERSISTENT

Possible Answers:

Immoral

Dogged

Diverse

Broken

Disloyal

Correct answer:

Dogged

Explanation:

"Persistent" is an adjective that describes someone or something that is determined and tenacious. Of the answer choices, "dogged," which means resolute, has the closest meaning.

Example Question #56 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

WINSOME

Possible Answers:

True

Curious

Alert

Charming

Wordy

Correct answer:

Charming

Explanation:

"Winsome" means charming or engaging.

Example Question #57 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

CAPRICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Consistent

Mercurial

Fluent

Infallible

Destructive

Correct answer:

Mercurial

Explanation:

“Capricious” is an adjective that means “given to sudden changes,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “given to sudden changes.” That means that “consistent” cannot be the correct answer, because “consistent” means “unchanging in achievement” when referring to a person, behavior, or process, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “capricious.” “Mercurial,” however, is an adjective that can mean “subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood” when describing a person. So, because “mercurial” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “capricious,” “mercurial” is the correct answer.

Example Question #58 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

PLUCKY

Possible Answers:

Severe

Afraid

Oblivious

Particular

Intrepid

Correct answer:

Intrepid

Explanation:

“Plucky” is an adjective that means “having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “courageous.” That means that “afraid” cannot be the correct answer, because “afraid” means “feeling fear or anxiety; frightened,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “plucky.” “Intrepid,” however, is an adjective that means “fearless; adventurous,” and because “intrepid” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “plucky,” “intrepid” is the correct answer.

Example Question #59 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

LOFTY

Possible Answers:

Ostentatious 

Unwelcoming

Proud 

Gregarious 

Extravagant

Correct answer:

Proud 

Explanation:

"Lofty" can mean either very high or exalted; however, in this instance it is used to mean haughty which is most similar in meaning to "proud." Answering this question relies on your knowledge of more than one definition of lofty. Remember it is important to always be aware of the secondary and tertiary meanings of words. For clarification, "gregarious" means outgoing; "ostentatious" and "extravagant" are synonyms that both describe something showy and luxurious.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors