All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ACQUIT
Sentence
Exonerate
Ignore
Imprision
Judge
Exonerate
When someone is “acquitted” of an action, he or she is “forgiven” or set free from any sort of charges of that action. For instance, someone “acquitted of murder” is judged to be innocent of the crime. The word “exonerate” best matches this usage. It means to remove blame officially. Literally, it is derived from the Latin meaning to lift the burden from someone. The “-onerate” portion of the word means “burden,” while (as you likely know) “ex-” means out of or away from. The word is related to “onerous,” meaning burdensome or difficult.
Example Question #2231 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
VERBOSE
Soft-spoken
Conjugated
Literary
Wordy
Literal
Wordy
The word “verbose” comes from the Latin for “word.” It is related to words like “verbal” and “verb.” It means using too many words to communicate something. Although the word “wordy” is a bit informal, it means just this—that someone uses too many words.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Roots From Latin
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
MALICE
Information
Presentation
Benevolence
Malevolence
Courage
Malevolence
"Malice" means evil or the quality of desiring to harm others. So, the correct answer is "malevolence," which also means the quality of desiring to harm others.
Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Roots
Synonyms: choose the answer with the meaning closest to the word in question.
Subterfuge
Onset
Grain
Evasion
Underground
Information
Evasion
"Subterfuge" means a stratagem used to evade a consequence or conceal something. The best answer choice is "evasion." The Latin root word, "subter," means secretly, and the Latin root word, "fugere," means to flee.
Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENEVOLENT
Volatile
Friendly
Perfect
Regimented
Captivating
Friendly
Benevolent means kind, friendly, or charitable. The root word "bene" means good or well.
Example Question #13 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
BENEVOLENT
Violent
Flexible
Harmless
Urgent
Kindly
Kindly
Someone who is benevolent is kindly, helpful, or friendly. The root word is "bene," Latin for "good."
Example Question #14 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
Wandering
Journey
Evasion
Spin
Incoherence
Evasion
Circumlocution is the act of talking around the point instead of getting directly to it; it's speaking evasively or indirectly. The roots are "circum", Latin for "around", and "locut-" Latin for "speaking;" "circumlocution" is "around-speaking."
Example Question #15 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
COGENT
Urgent
Machine-like
Hidden
Deluded
Convincing
Convincing
Something that is cogent is logical, sensible, and intelligent. It comes from the Latin root "cog-" meaning "think/know", as in "cognition" (the act of thinking or knowing) and "incognito" (unknown, or under cover).
Example Question #16 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CORPULENT
Thoughtful
Rotting
Obese
Friendly
Unified
Obese
Someone who is corpulent is very fat, or obese. This comes from the Latin root "corp-", meaning body, as in "corpse" and "incorporate."
Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CREDULITY
Cruelty
Hilarity
Fidelity
Gullibility
Misery
Gullibility
Credulity is the condition of being eager to believe something, so the synonym is gullibility. The Latin root here is "cred-", which means to believe, as in "credit" (being willing to trust or believe someone or something), and "incredible" (unbelievable).
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
