All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
BENEVOLENCE
Evil
Malevolence
Goodness
Vice
Desire
Goodness
"Benevolence" means goodness; someone who is benevolent is virtuous. For clarification, "malevolence" is the antonym of benevolence and means evil or vice.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
CREDENTIALS
Qualifications
Prospects
Excessive
Requirements
Misdemeanors
Qualifications
“Credentials” are qualities that make a person suitable for a job or task. It is closest in meaning to "qualifications." To provide further help, “misdemeanors” are petty crimes, bad behavior; “prospects” are opportunities; “requirements” are things that are needed; “excessive” means too much.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
AUDIBLE
Able to be tasted
Able to be heard
None of these answers
Able to be felt
Able to be seen
Able to be heard
Something that is "audible" is able to be heard. The prefix, aud-, generally refers to sound or hearing, as in audible or audio.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
NEBULOUS
Dusty
Alien
Astronomical
Hazy
Definite
Hazy
"Nebulous" means hazy or indistinct, so "hazy" is the correct answer.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
VOCIFEROUS
Enlighten
Soft
Noisy
Quiet
Vapid
Noisy
"Vociferous" is a synonym of noisy. It has the root "voc-" in it, which means voice and is found in words like vocal and advocate.
Words you may not know:
- "Enlighten" means to make aware or to inform.
- "Vapid" means lacking life or substance.
Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
SANCTIMONIOUS
Self-centered
Self-obsessed
Parsimonious
Self-righteous
Pious
Self-righteous
Sanctimonious means self-righteous, or assured of one’s own superiority. So, "self-righteous" is the correct answer. Someone who is "self-centered" is very selfish, "pious" means religious, and "parismonious" means stingy.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TACITURN
Appropriate
Tedious
Humble
Reticent
Repulsive
Reticent
"Taciturn" most nearly means not saying much, or "reticent." One might write, "The taciturn man listened to the conversation, but didn't volunteer his own opinion."
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
MINISCULE
Ostentatious
Very large
Grandiose
Timid
Very small
Very small
"Miniscule" means tiny. For clarification, "grandiose" and "ostentatious" are synonyms that both mean very large and luxurious; "timid" means very shy.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INNOVATIVE
Traditional
Mobile
Worn
Incomplete
New
New
"Innovative" is an adjective that means original and unprecedented. Of the answer choices, the word with the closest meaning is "new."
Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms
Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
INNOCUOUS
off-kilter
under the skin
harmless
proper
antagonistic
harmless
"Innocuous" means harmless.
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