All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1961 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
EMBELLISH
Terminate
Decorate
Define
Mimic
Plagiarize
Decorate
"Embellish" means to "decorate" or to add ornaments to something; one might embellish a story by adding details that are not true to an otherwise true account. "Terminate" means to end or to conclude. "Mimic" means to imitate or to copy. "Plagiarize" means to copy another person's work without crediting that person for it. "Define" means to state the definition or qualities of a person or thing.
Example Question #1962 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
THRUST
Force
Fly
Dance
Catapult
Change
Force
"Thrust" means force something upon someone, or shove something forcibly. The correct answer is therefore "force." The other choices do not have similar definitions: "dance" means move your body to music, "catapult" means hurl something using an ancient military device, "change" means make different, and "fly" means propel oneself through the air.
Example Question #1963 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
TWEAK
Predict
Breathe
Alter
Damage
Hop
Alter
"Tweak" means make small changes to something, and "alter" means change, so "alter" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "tweak": "breathe" means to inhale and exhale, "hop" means jump, "predict" means guess what will happen in the future based on information known at the present moment, and "damage" means cause harm to something.
Example Question #1964 : Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
BURNISH
Fry
Develop
Polish
Trade
Wear
Polish
To "burnish" is to polish or shine, so "polish" is the correct answer. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "burnish": “wear” means to display on the body; “trade” means exchange commodities;“fry” means to cook with oil or fat; and “develop” means grow.
Example Question #1965 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TARNISH
Berate
Sully
Attempt
Extinguish
Prepare
Sully
"Tarnish" and "sully" are both words that mean make something dirtier or less valuable.
Example Question #1966 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONVERGE
Meet
Protest
Inoculate
Divulge
Scatter
Meet
"Converge" is a verb meaning come to the same place (metaphorically or physically) at the same time, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like come together. "Protest" and "scatter" might look like potentially correct answer choices initially, but they are each antonyms of "converge," so neither of them can be the correct answer. Because "meet" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "converge," "meet" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1967 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ERECT
Straighten
Construct
Marginalize
Ignore
Rattle
Construct
"Erect" means raise, build, or construct, so "construct" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1968 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMALGAMATE
Bloom
Pinpoint
Hallow
Meld
Dissociate
Meld
“Amalgamate” is a verb that means unify multiple things into one, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like combine. That means that “dissociate” cannot be the correct answer, because “dissociate” means separate, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “amalgamate.” “Meld,” however, when used as a verb, means combine, and because “meld” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “amalgamate,” “meld” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1969 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ENERVATE
Strengthen
Weaken
Improve
Energize
Moderate
Weaken
“Enervate” is a transitive verb that means weaken someone physically or mentally, so "weaken" is the correct answer. “Strengthen,” “energize,” and “improve” are all antonyms, and "moderate" is not related in meaning to "enervate."
Example Question #1970 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ABRIDGE
float
cross
transfer
shorten
climb
shorten
"Abridge" means to shorten something without losing the main idea.
All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
