SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, and Sensory Imagery

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

CONSTRICTIVE

Possible Answers:

snake-like

mean-spirited

restrictive

liberating

hazardous

Correct answer:

restrictive

Explanation:

Constrictive means something is restrictive.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

A synonym of "limber" is __________.

Possible Answers:

minuscule

novel

stretched

cumbersome

lithe

Correct answer:

lithe

Explanation:

"Limber" is an adjective that means "flexible" or "bending easily," so we need to pick out another adjective that also means "flexible." While "stretched" may look like a good answer because "flexible" means "able to stretch," "stretched" does not mean "flexible," so it can't be correct. "Lithe," on the other hand, means "characterized by flexibility and grace," and since it is closest in meaning to "limber," it is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

A synonym of “grubby” is __________.

Possible Answers:

spotless

municipal

forthright

derogatory

filthy

Correct answer:

filthy

Explanation:

“Grubby” is an adjective that means either “dirty; grimy” or “disreputable; sordid.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “grimy” or “disreputable.” That means that “spotless” cannot be the correct answer, because “spotless” is an adjective that means “absolutely clean or pure; immaculate,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “grubby.” “Filthy,” however, is an adjective that can mean “disgustingly dirty,” and because “filthy” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “grubby,” “filthy” is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

Arid

Possible Answers:

Moist

Desert

Outer space

Inundated

Dry

Correct answer:

Dry

Explanation:

"Arid" means dry; Moist means slightly wet; Inundated means flooded; Desert is a place that has sand and is dry; and Outer space it the area outside the earth's atmosphere.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

TORRID

Possible Answers:

Whimsical 

Dispute

Mediocre

Stifling

Frigid 

Correct answer:

Stifling

Explanation:

"Torrid" means scorching hot or extremely challenging. In this instance the best synonym for one of those meanings is “stifling” which means uncomfortably hot. For clarification, a dispute is an argument or disagreement; mediocre describes something that is average in a negative way; whimsical means silly and quirky; frigid means very cold, and is an antonym of stifling and torrid.

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

IMMACULATE

Possible Answers:

Spotless 

Messy 

Jumbled 

Cluttered 

Untidy 

Correct answer:

Spotless 

Explanation:

Something that is "immaculate" is perfect, clean, unblemished or spotless. The other four answer choices are all antonyms of immaculate.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

FRAGILE

Possible Answers:

Sturdy

Vociferous

Breakable

Persuasive

Broken

Correct answer:

Breakable

Explanation:

"Fragile" means breakable.

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Adjectives And Adverbs

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

LUSCIOUS

Possible Answers:

Rotten

Modern

Delicious

Ancient

Bitter

Correct answer:

Delicious

Explanation:

"Luscious" means delicious.

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

INDUSTRIAL

Possible Answers:

Current

Rural

Prolonged

Heavy-duty

Eventful

Correct answer:

Heavy-duty

Explanation:

"Industrial" means of or relating to manufacturing or heavy-duty. None of the other answers are close in meaning to "industrial": "prolonged" means extended; "eventful" means significant; "rural" means of or relating to the countryside, as opposed to the city; and "current" means of, related to, or happening at the present time.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Adjectives Describing Appearance, Materiality, And Sensory Imagery

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

DINGY

Possible Answers:

Grimy

Careful 

Immaculate

Pointless 

Careless 

Correct answer:

Grimy

Explanation:

"Dingy" means grimy, dirty or depressing, so "grimy" is the correct answer.. For clarification, "immaculate" means perfect, unblemished, or spotless, and is an antonym "dingy" and "grimy." As for the other answers, "careless" means inattentive; "careful" means cautious or attentive, and "pointless" means futile.

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