Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, and Understanding

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HSPT Language Skills › Synonyms: Verbs About Communicating, Arguing, and Understanding

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

FATHOM

Understand

Bewilder

Satisfy

Pelt

Irritate

Explanation

"Fathom" means comprehend or understand, so "understand" is the correct answer. "Bewilder" is an antonym of "fathom"; it means confuse. "Satisfy" means meet a certain condition or meet the expectations of someone. "Pelt" means bombard or attack someone or something with projectiles. "Irritate" means bother or annoy.

2

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

ELUCIDATE

Clarify

Strengthen

Undermine

Douse

Construct

Explanation

"Elucidate" means to clarify; to strengthen is to make stronger; to undermine is to weaken; to douse is to drench; and to construct is to build.

3

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

CAJOLE

Persuade

Injure

Conciliate

Rejuvinate

Celebrate

Explanation

"Cajole" means to persuade using coaxing and flattery.

4

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

COAX

Persuade

Buffet

Classify

Diminish

Withdraw

Explanation

"Coax" means to convince or to "persuade." "Buffet" means to strike something, such as with a punch. "Classify" means to arrange into classes or groups usually based on similar or shared qualities. "Diminish" means to lessen or to decrease. "Withdraw" means to rescind, to remove, or to retreat.

5

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

BEMOAN

Lament

Devastate

Bewilder

Dispute

Pollute

Explanation

"Bemoan" means show sadness about something, so "lament," a word that when used as a verb means grieve or wail, is the correct answer. "Devastate" means destroy or wreck. "Bewilder" means confuse or baffle. "Dispute" means to debate or to argue. "Pollute" means to contaiminate or to poison.

6

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

HEED

Obey

Hinder

Hoard

Abhor

Enliven

Explanation

"Heed" can be used as both a noun and a verb. For example, as a noun: "He paid no heed to the warnings." As a verb, "He should heed the teacher's warning." The word closest in meaning to "heed" on this list is "obey."

"Hinder" means to create problems that result in delay.

"Hoard" means to stockpile. You might hoard all the chocolate in your house so that no one else can eat it.

"Abhor" means a deep revulsion. You might abhor the sight of blood.

"Enliven" means to make more lively.

7

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

OSTRACIZE

Exclude

Include

Birdlike

Craft

Burn

Explanation

"Ostracize" means exclude or banish someone from something, so "exclude" is the correct answer. Considering the other answer choices, "include" cannot be the correct answer becuase "include" means accept or welcome into a group, making it an antonym of "ostracize" and "exclude." "Birdlike" means avian, "burn" means set on fire or injure with fire, and "craft," when used as a verb, means make or construct.

8

"Baffle" most nearly means _____________.

bewilder

determined

mythical

complete

crystal

Explanation

As a verb, "baffle" means to confuse someone, or to be confused. An example is, "Walking through the maze, Diana was baffled about how to get out." If you're confused, you are "bewildered." Although "complete" is also a verb, it means to finish. None of the other words are verbs. "Determined" and "mythical" are adjectives. "Determined" means to have made a firm decision and "mythical" means having something to do with ancient myths or legends. "Crystal" is a noun and means a specific type of glass.

9

"Beguile" most nearly means __________.

manipulate

destroy

invest

disturb

intrude

Explanation

"Beguile" means to charm, sometimes in a deceptive way. For instance, "The little boy beguiled his grandmother into giving him a cookie when he told her she was a wonderful cook." When you "manipulate" someone, you convince him or her to do something by tricking him or her or using his or her emotions against him or her. For example, "Mandy manipulated Mark into taking her to the dance by telling him she already had a dress but no one to go with."

10

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

PROPOUND

offer

condemn

choose

conciliate

proceed

Explanation

"Propound"means to put forward or offer for consideration.

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