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 #93 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Convivial is to gregarious as amiable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

apathetic 

disrespectful

affable 

wonderment 

ridiculous

Correct answer:

affable 

Explanation:

Convivial and gregarious both mean friendly and sociable. You therefore need to identify which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for amiable. Amiable means pleasant and friendly so the correct answer is affable.

Example Question #94 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Loquacious is to garrulous as prattle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

loopy 

ramble 

circumlocution

expressive 

jumble 

Correct answer:

ramble 

Explanation:

Loquacious means talkative, which is a synonym for garrulous. In order to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these answer choices is the best available synonym for prattle. Prattle is an intransitive verb that refers to idle or childish speech that lacks direction. The correct matching definition is "ramble," which means to talk aimlessly. For clarification, circumlocution means indirect or verbose speech; jumble means mix-up; loopy means crazy or silly.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Benevolent is to compassionate as malevolent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

malicious 

miserly 

generous

morose

considerate 

Correct answer:

malicious 

Explanation:

Benevolent is a synonym for compassionate as both words refer to showing kindness or charity to others. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for malevolent. Malevolent means evil or exhibiting ill-will. The correct answer is therefore malicious. For clarification, miserly refers to someone who is not charitable; morose means somber.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Adroit is to skillful as pulchritudinous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

intelligent

disgusting 

beautiful 

succinct 

mundane 

Correct answer:

beautiful 

Explanation:

Adroit and skillful are synonyms that refer to someone who is highly skilled or talented. To solve this analogy, look for a synonym for the word, pulchritudinous. Pulchritudinous might sound as if it means gross or disgusting, but it actually means beautiful.

Example Question #181 : Analogies

Obvious is to palpable as __________.

Possible Answers:

magnificent is to subpar

soda is to liquid

engorge is to vomit

noxious is to salubrious

translucent is to pellucid

Correct answer:

translucent is to pellucid

Explanation:

“Obvious” is an adjective that means “easily perceived or understood; clear, self-evident, or apparent,” while “palpable” can mean “clear to the mind or plain to see.” So, “obvious” and “palpable” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of two synonyms. While “translucent is to pellucid” and “noxious is to salubrious” might each look like potentially correct answers, “noxious” means “harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant,” while “salubrious” means “health-giving; healthy,” so the two words are antonyms, not synonyms, and “noxious is to salubrious” cannot be the correct answer. “Translucent,” however, is used to refer to a substance and means “allowing light, but not detailed images, to pass through; semitransparent,” while “pellucid” can mean “translucently clear.” So, because “translucent” is a synonym of “pellucid” just as “obvious” is a synonym of “palpable,” “translucent is to pellucid” is the correct answer.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy 

Industrious is to hard-working as slovenly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Careless 

Miserly 

Gregarious 

Nonchalant 

Affable 

Correct answer:

Careless 

Explanation:

Industrious and hard-working are synonyms so you are looking for the answer choice that is the best synonym for slovenly. Slovenly means messy or careless so the best answer choice is “careless”. For clarification miserly means not generous; gregarious means outgoing; affable means friendly or likable; nonchalant means apathetic.

Example Question #182 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Parsimonious is to miserly as gregarious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

imposing 

impressive 

implacable 

sociable 

unhinged 

Correct answer:

sociable 

Explanation:

"Parsimonious" and "miserly" are synonyms that both mean frugal and ungenerous with money. To solve this analogy you must identify the best available synonym for "gregarious," which means outgoing or sociable. For clarification, "unhinged" means imbalanced or disturbed; "implacable" means relentless or ruthless; "imposing" means impressive and striking.

Example Question #183 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pariah is to outcast as raconteur is to __________.

Possible Answers:

assailant

leader 

innovator 

progressive 

storyteller 

Correct answer:

storyteller 

Explanation:

"Pariah" and "outcast" are synonyms that are both used to describe someone who is excluded from a group by others. To solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the best synonym for "raconteur," which is a narrator or storyteller. For clarification, an "innovator" is someone who comes up with new ideas; an "assailant" is an attacker; "progressive" means to be moving forward or to be forward thinking.

Example Question #184 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Conscientious is to scrupulous as carefully is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gingerly 

appropriately

disproportionately

disdainfully 

distastefully

Correct answer:

gingerly 

Explanation:

"Conscientious" and "scrupulous" are synonyms that both mean to be deliberate with making decisions that are morally defensible. To solve this analogy you must therefore identify the best synonym for "carefully," which is “gingerly.” For clarification, "distastefully" describes something done without taste or class; "disdainfully" is something done to disrespect or criticize somebody; "disproportionately" means something done without equality or fairness.

Example Question #185 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Hidden is to clandestine as obscure is to __________.

Possible Answers:

obliterate 

enliven 

abstract 

nonchalant 

helpful 

Correct answer:

abstract 

Explanation:

"Clandestine" is a synonym for "hidden," and most nearly means concealed or unauthorized. To solve this analogy you must identify the best available synonym for "obscure," which means hard to understand or indistinct or unknown. The best answer is therefore “abstract,” which means theoretical or indistinct. For clarification, "enliven" means to energize; "obliterate" means to completely destroy; "nonchalant" means apathetic.

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