All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding
A synonym of “blather” is __________.
investigate
prattle
manage
contest
explain
prattle
“Blather” is a word that when used as a verb, means “to talk long-windedly without making sense,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “talk longwindedly without making sense.” That means that “explain” cannot be the correct answer, because “explain” can mean “to make something clear to someone by describing it in detail,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “blather.” “Prattle,” however, when used as a verb, means “talk at length in a foolish way,” and because “prattle” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “blather,” “prattle” is the correct answer.
Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding
A synonym of “tattle” is __________.
inform on
define
experience
press
expound
inform on
“Tattle” is a verb that can mean “to report another’s wrongdoing” or “to gossip,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “to report another’s wrongdoing” or “to gossip.” That means that “expound” cannot be the correct answer, because “expound” means “present and explain something in detail,” which is quite distant from that of “tattle.” “Inform on,” however, is a phrase that means “give information about someone to the police,” and because “inform on” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “tattle,” “inform on” is the correct answer.
Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs
Synonyms: choose the word with a meaning most similar to the word in question.
Succumb
Surrender
Plant
Repress
Belong
Display
Surrender
To "succumb" is to give in to a superior force. The best answer choice is the word "surrender."
Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding
Synonyms: choose the word with a meaning most similar to the word in question.
Pique
Offend
Strive
Reciprocate
Court
Overthrow
Offend
To "pique" is to offend or to excite. This is from the Latin root word, "piccare," which means to pick.
Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Verbs
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Presume
to regulate
to reside
to discover
to monitor
to assume
to assume
"Presume" means to assume.
Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Verbs
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Oppress
to produce
To tyrannize
to disgrace
to consent
to lose
To tyrannize
"Oppress" means to tyrannize or rule with an iron fist.
Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Verbs
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Assure
to examine
to treat
to lie
to guarantee
to dispose
to guarantee
"Assure" means to guarantee.
Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Observe
to secede
to search
to succeed
to see
to travel
to see
"Observe" means to look and see; to search means to look for something; to travel means to move; to secede means to separate; and to succeed is to become successful.
Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, And Understanding
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Prohibit
to ban
to relocate
to allow
to encourage
to consent
to ban
"Prohibit" means to ban; to allow is the opposite; to encourage means to support; to relocate is to move from one spot to another spot; and to consent means to agree.
Example Question #20 : Synonyms: Verbs
Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Reveal
to experience
to shield
to study
to solve
to tell
to tell
"Reveal" means to tell or to disclose.
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All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
