SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

DEFT

Possible Answers:

Daft

Useless 

Pompous

Assuming 

Skillful 

Correct answer:

Skillful 

Explanation:

Someone who is “deft” is quick and skillful. For clarification, "pompous" means arrogant and self-important, and "daft" means silly or foolish.

Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

POMPOUS

Possible Answers:

Meek 

Quiet 

Whimsical 

Arrogant 

Timid 

Correct answer:

Arrogant 

Explanation:

Someone who is “pompous” is arrogant and self-important. For clarification, "meek" means mild-mannered and cowardly, "timid" means shy, and "whimsical" means quirky or silly.

Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

ZEALOUS

Possible Answers:

Unworthy 

Unkind 

Passionate 

Underwhelming 

Apathetic 

Correct answer:

Passionate 

Explanation:

To be "zealous" about something means to be passionate. For clarification, apathetic means not caring.

Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

FRUGAL

Possible Answers:

Slapdash 

Careless 

Casual 

Hasty 

Thrifty 

Correct answer:

Thrifty 

Explanation:

"Frugal" means to be careful with money, to be practical. As such it is closest in meaning to "thrifty," which means economical with money. For clarification, the other four answer choices are loosely synonyms of one another and careless is a good antonym of frugal.

Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

JOVIAL

Possible Answers:

Tiny 

Giant 

Gaunt 

Just 

Jolly

Correct answer:

Jolly

Explanation:

Someone who is "jovial" is friendly and jolly. For clarification, something that is "just" is fair; gaunt means skeletal and unhealthily skinny.

Example Question #161 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

JOCULAR

Possible Answers:

Humorous 

Mitigate 

Keen 

Susceptible

Unfair 

Correct answer:

Humorous 

Explanation:

To be "jocular" means to be humorous. For clarification, "mitigate" means lessen, alleviate; "keen" means eager; "susceptible" means vulnerable.

Example Question #162 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

GRAVE

Possible Answers:

Preposterous

Serious 

Absurd 

Insignificant 

Deplorable 

Correct answer:

Serious 

Explanation:

A situation that is "grave" is serious and somber. For clarification, "deplorable" means deserving of hatred; "absurd" and "preposterous" are synonyms that both mean ridiculous.

Example Question #163 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

NAÏVE

Possible Answers:

Innocent 

Lofty 

Experienced

Mundane 

Jocular 

Correct answer:

Innocent 

Explanation:

If you are "naïve" you are innocent and gullible. Naïve people are easily lied to and manipulated. For clarification, "lofty" means very high or proud; "mundane" means ordinary or boring; "jocular" means humorous.

Example Question #164 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

GREGARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Outgoing 

Passionate 

Shy 

Disrespectful

Nostalgic

Correct answer:

Outgoing 

Explanation:

Someone who is "gregarious" is very social and outgoing. For clarification, "nostalgia" is a fond remembrance of the past.

Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Personality Traits

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

ALTRUISTIC

Possible Answers:

Decadent 

Haughty 

Tenuous 

Charitable

Mousy 

Correct answer:

Charitable

Explanation:

Someone who is "altruistic" is very charitable and inclined towards generosity. For clarification, "mousy" means dull or timid; "tenuous" means uncertain; "haughty" means arrogant; "decadent" means corrupt and luxurious.

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