SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Identifying Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #72 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Time, Age, Movement, And Location

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

EPISODIC

Possible Answers:

Limpid

Acclaimed

Fallow

Irresolute

Intermittent

Correct answer:

Intermittent

Explanation:

The adjective "episodic" means occurring in episodes, occurring in a series of regularly repeating segments. So, a television show could often be described as "episodic." This definition is closest in meaning to "intermittent" which means occurring at irregular intervals, not continuous. Additionally, "fallow" means (of soil) not being used to grow crops; "irresolute" means uncertain, unsure; "acclaimed" means widely praised; "limpid" means (of a liquid) clear.

Example Question #73 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Time, Age, Movement, And Location

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

PRIMORDIAL

Possible Answers:

Palpable

Ancient

Glossy

Dictatorial

Urgent

Correct answer:

Ancient

Explanation:

"Primordial" is an adjective meaning prehistoric, existing at or from the beginning of time. "Ancient" is an adjective meaning belonging to the very distant past, and is an appropriate synonym.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SPARSE

Possible Answers:

unintelligent

aggressive

menacing

obvious

infrequent

Correct answer:

infrequent

Explanation:

"Sparse" means scattered, meager, or infrequent.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

SPARSE

Possible Answers:

thriving

hungry

gregarious

meager

meticulous

Correct answer:

meager

Explanation:

Sparse means thinly dispersed or meager.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

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

RIFE.

Possible Answers:

Misplaced 

Common 

Roomy 

Obvious 

Rare 

Correct answer:

Common 

Explanation:

“Rife” means common or found frequently. Usually you will hear as part of the expression something was rife with something. For example, her hair was rife with lice. The correct synonym is “common.”

Example Question #2301 : Identifying Synonyms

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

BEREFT. 

Possible Answers:

Donate 

Lacking 

Surplus 

Surfeit 

Excess

Correct answer:

Lacking 

Explanation:

To be “bereft” means to be lacking. As in, “she was bereft of ideas, having tried everything.” For clarification, "excess," "surfeit" and "surplus" are all synonyms and mean to have too much of something; as such they are antonyms of “bereft” and “lacking.”

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

INEXHAUSTIBLE

Possible Answers:

few

rampant

unlimited

weary

fluid

Correct answer:

unlimited

Explanation:

"Inexhaustible" means existing in abundance, or unlimited.

Example Question #2451 : Synonyms

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

ABUNDANT.

Possible Answers:

Poignant 

Plentiful 

Vain 

Serendipitous

Miserable

Correct answer:

Plentiful 

Explanation:

“Abundant” means plentiful, or well-supplied. For clarification, serendipitous means fortunate or relating to good fortune; vain can either mean pointless when used to describe an activity or action or it can mean obsessed with one’s own image if used to describe a person; poignant means moving, or particularly penetrating and perceptive.

Example Question #2452 : Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Abundant

Possible Answers:

Implacable

Diminutive

A lot

Dehydrated

Famished

Correct answer:

A lot

Explanation:

"Abundant" means a lot; Diminutive means small; Famished means starving or without food; Dehydrated means without water or thirsty; and Implacable means cannot be be satsifed.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Quality, Quantity, And Variety

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

CUMULATIVE

Possible Answers:

poignant

trite

amassed

selective

alleged

Correct answer:

amassed

Explanation:

"Cumulative" means increasing in quantity by successive additions, or amassed.

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