All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
Novelty is to outdatedness as dull is to __________.
gull
sharp
tedious
ennui
warp
sharp
Since "novelty" means "the quality or state of being new, different, and interesting," and "outdatedness" means "the quality of no longer being useful, acceptable, modern, or current," "novelty" and "outdatedness" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "dull." While "ennui" may look like a good answer choice, "ennui" means "a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest," so while one might feel ennui at the prospect of doing something dull, "ennui" does not mean the opposite of "dull," so it can't be the correct answer. "Sharp," however, is an antonym of "dull" when "dull" is used to mean "having an edge or point that is not sharp," so "sharp" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Antonyms
Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .
verdant
incipient
corrugated
correctable
legible
correctable
Since someone who is generous is not miserly ("hating to spend money"), the two words are antonyms, so we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "incorrigible." "Incorrigible" is an adjective that refers to people or their tendencies, and means "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed." While "corrugated" sounds somewhat like "incorrigible," "corrugated" means "shaped into alternate ridges and grooves" and is used with materials, surfaces, and structures. Since "corrugated" is not an opposite of "incorrigible," it can't be the correct answer. "Correctable," however, means the opposite of "incorrigible," so "correctable" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Antonyms
Candor is to falsehood as __________.
anger is to fury
distance is to map
genius is to brilliant
happiness is to misery
dirty is to soiled
happiness is to misery
"Candor" is a noun that means "the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness," so it is an antonym of "falsehood." That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of antonyms. While "anger is to fury" might look like a potentially correct answer, "anger" and "fury" are synonyms, not antonyms, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Happiness is to misery," however, is the correct answer, because just as "candor" is an antonym of "falsehood," "happiness" is an antonym of "misery."
Example Question #4 : Antonyms
Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.
sad
worried
confused
mad
pleased
pleased
"Hazy" and "clear" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "livid." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry." So, "mad" cannot be the correct answer, because while "mad" and "livid" are synonyms, we are not looking for synonyms, but antonyms. "Pleased," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, esp. at an event or a situation," and because "pleased" is the answer choice that is most nearly an antonym of "livid," "pleased" is the correct answer.
Example Question #5 : Antonyms
Doubt is to trust as __________.
heal is to wound
hop is to jump
hurry is to hustle
howl is to yowl
dig is to ditch
heal is to wound
“Doubt” is a word that when used as a verb can mean “ feel uncertain about,” “question the truth or fact of (something),” or “disbelieve (a person or their word).” “Trust,” on the other hand, when used as a verb, means “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.” So, “doubt” and “trust” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which consists of a pair of antonyms. While “hurry is to hustle” might look like a potentially correct answer choice, “hurry” means “move or act with haste; rush” when used as a verb, and “hustle” can be used as a verb that means “hurry; bustle,” so the two words are synonyms, not antonyms, and “hurry is to hustle” cannot be the correct answer. “Heal is to wound,” however, consists of a pair of antonyms, because “wound” can mean “inflict an injury on (someone)” whereas heal can mean “cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again” when used of a person or treatment. So, because “heal” and “wound” are opposites just as “doubt” and “trust” are opposites, “heal is to wound” is the correct answer.
Example Question #6 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy
Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.
fat
ugly
tall
small
cute
ugly
"Corpulent" means fat, so it is an antonym of skinny. In order to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for comely. "Comely" means cute, so the best antonym is “ugly.”
Example Question #7 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Penurious is to generous as feral is to __________.
uncertain
domesticated
wild
natural
untamed
domesticated
"Penurious" means stingy or not very generous and is an antonym of "generous." To solve this analogy you have to identify the most accurate antonym for feral. "Feral" means wild, untamed, so the correct antonym is “domesticated,” which means house-trained; a dog is an example of a domesticated animal.
Example Question #8 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Unbelievable is to plausible as robust is to __________.
sleepy
depressed
healthy
unhealthy
energetic
unhealthy
"Unbelievable" is an antonym of plausible, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for robust. "Robust" means in good shape, healthy, so the correct antonym is unhealthy.
Example Question #9 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Novice is to expert as subjective is to __________.
objective
youthful
wizened
predictive
invective
objective
A "novice" is the opposite of an "expert," so to solve this analogy you have to find the opposite of subjective. An opinion or feeling based on individual thoughts or perception is "subjective;" an opinion based on facts and evidence is "objective." For clarification, "invective" means criticism or tirade; "wizened" means old and wise.
Example Question #10 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Insipid is to fascinating as hovel is to __________.
hillside
port
mansion
hamlet
forest
mansion
"Insipid" means boring and as such is an antonym of fascinating. To solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best antonym for hovel. "Hovel" means a small house, a shack, so the best antonym is “mansion.” For clarification, a "port" is a harbor.