All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3001 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COMPLACENT
Wounded
Central
Surprising
Amphibious
Smug
Smug
"Complacent" means pleased, especially with oneself or one's situation. Thus, the best answer choice is smug. The root word "plac-" means please.
Example Question #3002 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COSMOPOLITAN
Transferable
Worldly
Scourged
Agitated
Vital
Worldly
"Cosmopolitan" means familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. It also means sophisticated. Thus, the best answer choice is "worldly," which also means sophisticated. The root word "cosmo-" means world or universe, and the root word "poli" means city.
Example Question #3003 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Synonyms: pick the word that is most similar in meaning to the word in question.
MAGNATE
Tycoon
Viability
Dissipation
Penalty
Indulgence
Tycoon
A "magnate" is an influential or powerful person. A tycoon is a businessperson of great power and wealth. The root word "magnus" means great.
Example Question #3004 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ODIOUS
Grandiose
Just
Detestable
Speechless
Smelly
Detestable
"Odious" means detestable or causing hatred. The Latin root word, "odium," means hatred.
Example Question #3005 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
GRANDILOQUENT
Pretentious
Uniting
Concealed
Known
Enormous
Pretentious
"Grandiloquent" means pompous or extravagant in one's speaking. The best answer choice is "pretentious." The Latin root word, "grandis," means great, and the Latin root word, "loqui," means to speak.
Example Question #3006 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SOMNOLENT
Qualified
Representative
Sleepy
Apathetic
Philosophical
Sleepy
"Somnolent" means sleepy. The Latin root word, "somnus," means sleep.
Example Question #3007 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ATTENUATE
Insert
Weaken
Delegate
Condemn
Circle
Weaken
To "attenuate" is to weaken or make thin. The Latin root word, "tenuis," means thin.
Example Question #3008 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPEDE
Clarify
Inspire
Debate
Accompish
Block
Block
"Impede" means to block.
Example Question #71 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPUGN
Rent
Attack
Excel
Lurk
Consider
Attack
To "impugn" is to attack someone either verbally or physically. It also means to challenge someone's statements as false. The Latin root word, "pugnare," means to fight.
Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMBIGUOUS
Ambidextrous
Unclear
Undeniable
Indubitable
Pristine
Unclear
If you don't recognize a word, it is almost always a good idea to try to use roots to figure out its meaning. You can break the word ambiguous into its component parts fairly easily ("ambi" + "guous"). "Ambi-" is a pretty common prefix, so you should recognize it even if you don't know what the whole word means. It's even in one of the other answer choices: "ambidextrous." The prefix "ambi-" has to do with something that goes in two directions at once. "Ambidextrous," for instance, means able to use both hands to do tasks (e.g. to write). "Ambiguous" means unclear, or having an unclear or undecidable meaning—a meaning that is unclear because it is one among multiple possible meanings. The answer choices "pristine," "indubitable," and "undeniable" each have to do with either clearness or certainty, and we already know what ambidextrous means, so "unclear" is the only choice left.
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
