SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, and Variety

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1441 : Synonyms

A synonym of “derivative” is __________.

Possible Answers:

exhausted

universal

scathing

unoriginal

unique

Correct answer:

unoriginal

Explanation:

“Derivative” is an adjective that can mean “imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason” and is usually used of an artist or work of art when used in this way. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “imitative.” That means that “unique” cannot be the correct answer, because “unique” is an adjective that means “being the only one of its kind; unlike anything,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “derivative.” “Unoriginal,” however, is an adjective that means “lacking originality; derivative,” and because “unoriginal” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “derivative,” “unoriginal” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1451 : Synonyms

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

REPLETE

Possible Answers:

Luminous 

Reiterate 

Full

Sever

Wage

Correct answer:

Full

Explanation:

“Replete” means having much of something or being full of something. Do not mistake it for “repeat,” which has the same meaning as “reiterate.” To clarify the other terms, “luminous” means producing or seeming to produce light; “wage” means to engage in or carry on; “sever” means to remove or separate.  

Example Question #1254 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Ample

Possible Answers:

Peaceful

Silent

Hard-working

Sufficient

Inadequate

Correct answer:

Sufficient

Explanation:

"Ample" means enough or sufficient.

Example Question #1261 : Identifying Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.

Additional

Possible Answers:

Necessary

Extra

Formal

Vast

Symbolic

Correct answer:

Extra

Explanation:

"Additional" means extra.

Example Question #1452 : Synonyms

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

DEVOID

Possible Answers:

Full

Barren 

Bored 

Diving 

Hole

Correct answer:

Barren 

Explanation:

If something is “devoid,” it is being without a usual or expected attribute or accompaniment, so a “devoid” landscape could mean that it is lacking trees or life. If something is “barren,” it has very few plants or is not suitable for plants,so it is similar in meaning to “devoid.” “Devoid” is related to the root word “void,” which means empty space.

Example Question #1262 : Identifying Synonyms

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

PIDDLING

Possible Answers:

Gauche 

Humonogus 

Advantageous 

Lilliputian 

Fungus 

Correct answer:

Lilliputian 

Explanation:

“Piddling” means small or unimportant. “Lilliputian” also means small; it comes from the book Gulliver's Travels and began to be used in language in the early 1700s. To help you, the suffix “-ous” means characterized by. “Gauche” means unpolished, clumsy, or inelegant. “Humongous” means extremely large. “Fungous” means the same as fungal.

Example Question #1263 : Identifying Synonyms

A synonym of “abysmal” is __________.

Possible Answers:

deserted

phenomenal

upset

deplorable

understood

Correct answer:

deplorable

Explanation:

“Abysmal” is an adjective that means “extremely bad; appalling,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “extremely bad.” That means that “phenomenal” cannot be the correct answer, because “phenomenal” is an adjective that can mean “very remarkable; extraordinary,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “abysmal.” “Deplorable,” however, is an adjective that can mean “shockingly bad in quality,” and because “deplorable” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “abysmal,” “deplorable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1264 : Identifying Synonyms

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

EXQUISITE

Possible Answers:

Pliable

Unkind 

Beautiful 

Haughty 

Laughable 

Correct answer:

Beautiful 

Explanation:

Something that is “exquisite” is beautiful and perfect. For clarification, "pliable" means flexible, and "haughty" means proud or self-important.

Example Question #1265 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BANAL

Possible Answers:

None of these answers 

Comfortable

Uncomfortable 

Unoriginal 

Original 

Correct answer:

Unoriginal 

Explanation:

"Banal" means trite, cliché, and unimaginative; as such, it is most similar in meaning to “unoriginal.”

Example Question #1451 : Synonyms

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

DECENT

Possible Answers:

Insufficient

Familial

Unreasonable

Insane

Satisfactory

Correct answer:

Satisfactory

Explanation:

"Decent" means satisfactory. "Insufficient" means lacking in quantity and "unreasonable" means not reasonable, as one can infer from the word being a combination of the negative prefix "un-," which means not, and "reasonable." As for the other answers, neither of them are close in meaning to "decent": "familial" means of or relating to family, and "insane," being a combination of the negative prefix "in-," which means not, and "sane," means not sane, or suffering from a severe mental illness.

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