All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1321 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
BIZARRE
Disparate
Alike
Garrulous
Strange
Lucent
Strange
Another word for "bizarre" is "strange." All of the other answer choices have meanings unrelated to "bizarre": "garrulous" means excessively talkative; "disparate" means different; "lucent" means shining; and "alike" means similar.
Example Question #1322 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
VILE
Unpleasant
Whimsical
Sly
Energetic
Viral
Unpleasant
"Vile" means extremely unpleasant or foul. The correct answer is therefore "unpleasant." The other choices do not have similar definitions: "viral" means spreading quickly, "energetic" means full of energy, "sly" means sneaky, and "whimsical" means delightful and fantastical.
Example Question #1323 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PENURIOUS
Understood
Destitute
Mercenary
Loquacious
Worldly
Destitute
“Penurious” means very poor, so the best available synonym is “destitute,” which means to be completely poor and downtrodden. For clarification, "worldly" means knowledgeable and wise; "mercenary" means not loyal, willing to go against your conscience for money; "loquacious" means long-winded or talkative.
Example Question #1324 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PERNICIOUS
Public
Private
Detrimental
Beneficial
Ominous
Detrimental
“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 #1325 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FEY
Rational
Mundane
Supernatural
Extroverted
Introspective
Supernatural
“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 #1326 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AFFLUENT
Wealthy
Grandiose
Torpid
Squishy
Forgotten
Wealthy
"Affluent" means having lots of material wealth.
Example Question #1327 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
ODIOUS.
Charming
Wanton
Adventurous
Sensory
Revolting
Revolting
“Odious” means revolting. For clarification, "sensory" means relating to the senses; "wanton" means random or indiscriminate.
Example Question #1328 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
OMINOUS.
Tricky
Effortless
Purposeful
Foreboding
Rewarding
Foreboding
“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 #1329 : Identifying Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
PRECARIOUS
Preventative
Inattentive
Uncertain
Risky
Precious
Risky
"Precarious" means dangerous, so "risky," which means potentially harmful, is the correct answer.
Example Question #1330 : Identifying Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PEJORATIVE
Sensible
Sneer
Lenient
Elitist
Deprecatory
Deprecatory
"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.
Certified Tutor
All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
