SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Verbal
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
Smug
Central
Amphibious
Surprising
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
Agitated
Transferable
Vital
Worldly
Scourged
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
Penalty
Viability
Dissipation
Indulgence
Tycoon
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
Smelly
Speechless
Grandiose
Detestable
Just
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
Enormous
Uniting
Concealed
Known
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
Philosophical
Apathetic
Representative
Sleepy
Qualified
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
Condemn
Insert
Weaken
Delegate
Circle
Weaken
To "attenuate" is to weaken or make thin. The Latin root word, "tenuis," means thin.
Example Question #3003 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPEDE
Clarify
Accompish
Inspire
Block
Debate
Block
"Impede" means to block.
Example Question #3008 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPUGN
Attack
Rent
Consider
Lurk
Excel
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 #71 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMBIGUOUS
Undeniable
Unclear
Ambidextrous
Pristine
Indubitable
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.
All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
