All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
A synonym of “insignificant” is __________.
unworthy
noteworthy
petty
young
palpable
petty
“Insignificant” is an adjective that can mean “too small or unimportant to be worth consideration,” “without power or influence” when used of a person, or “meaningless.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “unimportant,” “without power,” or “meaningless.” That means that “noteworthy” cannot be the correct answer, because “noteworthy” means “interesting, significant, or unusual,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “insignificant.” “Petty,” however, is an adjective that means “ of little importance; trivial,” and because “petty” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “insignificant,” “petty” is the correct answer.
Example Question #12 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
INDIFFERENT
Careless
Belligerent
Aggressive
Apathetic
Jocular
Apathetic
"Indifferent" means apathetic or not caring, so "apathetic," an adjective that means unconcerned or unemotional, is the correct answer. For clarification, "careless" means negligent, "jocular" means good-humored, joking, or playful, and "aggressive" and "belligerent" are synonyms that each mean hostile and confrontational.
Example Question #13 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.
Submerged
Dry
Underwater
Mandatory
Tedious
Brief
Underwater
"Submerged" means underwater; Dry means without water; Brief means temporary; Mandatory means required; and Tedious means boring.
Example Question #14 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
UBIQUITOUS
Present
Scarce
Everywhere
At once
Urbane
Everywhere
"Ubiquitous" means existing or being everywhere.
Words you may not know:
- "Scarce" means not abundant.
- "Urbane" means having sophistication or elegance, a quality often associated with cities. The root "urb-" (as in urban) means city.
Example Question #15 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
A synonym of "convivial" is __________.
particular
affable
minced
hostile
voracious
affable
"Convivial" is an adjective that means "friendly, lively, and enjoyable" when being used to describe an atmosphere or event, and "cheerful and friendly; jovial" when being used to describe a person. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "friendly." "Hostile," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "hostile" means "unfriendly; antagonistic," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "convivial." "Affable," however, is an adjective that means "friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to," and because "affable" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "convivial," "affable" is the correct answer.
Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Prefixes
Synonyms: choose the word with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Incompetent
Unskilled
Vast
Deft
Fortunate
Formal
Unskilled
"Incompetent" means unskilled or incapable.
Example Question #16 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CIRCUMSPECT
Sane
Obscure
Relevant
Cautious
Tolerable
Cautious
"Circumspect" is derived from the Latin for to look around, so the best meaning is "cautious," as in, "The administration was very circumspect about the responses they gave to the media's questions."
Example Question #17 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
SUPERFLUOUS
Fey
Happy
Fundamental
Extra
Essential
Extra
"Superfluous" means extra or not required, so "extra" is the correct answer. "Superfluous" is an antonym of "essential," which means necessary or required. For clarification, "fundamental" means basic, important, or essential, and "fey" means supernatural or mystical.
Example Question #18 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
A synonym of "superfluous" is __________.
essential
perceptive
great
redundant
mean
redundant
"Superfluous" is an adjective that means "unnecessary, especially through being more than enough." So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "unnecessary." "Essential," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "essential" means "absolutely necessary; extremely important," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "superfluous." "Redundant," however, is an adjective that means "no longer needed or useful; superfluous," and because "redundant" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "superfluous," "redundant" is the correct answer.
Example Question #19 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
MONOTONOUS
Fresh
Exciting
Enormous
Successful
Boring
Boring
"Monotonous" means boring or dull. "Fresh" means new or recent. "Exciting" means causing interest or excitement. "Enormous" means extremely big. "Successful" means triumphant or accomplishing a goal.
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All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
