SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2121 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

PERNICIOUS

Possible Answers:

Detrimental

Beneficial

Ominous

Public

Private

Correct answer:

Detrimental

Explanation:

“Pernicious” is an adjective that means gradually harmful over time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like harmful. That means that “beneficial” cannot be the correct answer, because “beneficial” means helpful, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “pernicious.” “Detrimental,” however, is an adjective that means harmful, and because “detrimental” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “pernicious,” “detrimental” is the correct answer.

Example Question #2122 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

FEY

Possible Answers:

Supernatural 

Extroverted 

Introspective

Rational 

Mundane 

Correct answer:

Supernatural 

Explanation:

“Fey” means relating to magic or supernatural phenomenon. For clarification, "rational" means reasonable and sensible; "mundane" means ordinary or boring; "introspective" means inwardly focused with thoughts and feelings; and "extroverted" means outgoing or sociable.

Example Question #2123 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

AFFLUENT

Possible Answers:

Squishy

Wealthy

Grandiose

Forgotten

Torpid

Correct answer:

Wealthy

Explanation:

"Affluent" means having lots of material wealth.

Example Question #2124 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

ODIOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Wanton 

Sensory 

Revolting 

Adventurous 

Charming 

Correct answer:

Revolting 

Explanation:

“Odious” means revolting. For clarification, "sensory" means relating to the senses; "wanton" means random or indiscriminate.

Example Question #2125 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

OMINOUS. 

Possible Answers:

Purposeful 

Rewarding

Effortless 

Foreboding 

Tricky 

Correct answer:

Foreboding 

Explanation:

“Ominous” means scary or foreboding. You might have noticed it has the same root word as “omen,” which might have clued you in to the correct answer "foreboding."

Example Question #2126 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

PRECARIOUS

Possible Answers:

Preventative

Uncertain

Inattentive

Precious

Risky

Correct answer:

Risky

Explanation:

"Precarious" means dangerous, so "risky," which means potentially harmful, is the correct answer.

Example Question #2127 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

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

PEJORATIVE

Possible Answers:

Elitist

Sensible

Deprecatory

Sneer

Lenient

Correct answer:

Deprecatory

Explanation:

"Pejorative" is an adjective that means "expressing contempt or disapproval," so we need to find another word that means about the same thing - roughly, "disapproving." While "sneer" (""a contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone, or to make such an expression or comment") might seem like a good answer because a sneer is often a pejorative gesture, it is not an adjective that means "disapproving," so it can't be the correct answer. "Deprecatory," on the other hand, is an adjective that means "showing a critical or disrespectful attitude," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pejorative," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1331 : Identifying Synonyms

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

ILLUSORY

Possible Answers:

Truthful

Feral

False

Honest

Fortuituous

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

"Illusory" means deceptive or false. Honest and Truthful are the antonyms of Illusory. Fortuitous means to be lucky, and Feral means to be wild. Both of these words have no relation to Illusory in this context.

Example Question #1374 : Synonyms

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

OPULENT

Possible Answers:

Shiny

Ostentatious

Quarrelsome

Wealthy

Naive

Correct answer:

Wealthy

Explanation:

Opulent means wealthy.  

Example Question #1332 : Identifying Synonyms

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

DEFUNCT

Possible Answers:

Non-working

Hard of hearing

Stupid

Terrible

Blunt

Correct answer:

Non-working

Explanation:

Something that is "defunct" is no longer in use or no longer capable of being used or done; something that is it is non-working.

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