All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #28 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SOMNOLENT
Sleepy
Representative
Qualified
Philosophical
Apathetic
Sleepy
"Somnolent" means sleepy. The Latin root word, "somnus," means sleep.
Example Question #29 : Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ATTENUATE
Weaken
Circle
Condemn
Delegate
Insert
Weaken
To "attenuate" is to weaken or make thin. The Latin root word, "tenuis," means thin.
Example Question #2253 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPEDE
Debate
Clarify
Accompish
Block
Inspire
Block
"Impede" means to block.
Example Question #2251 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMPUGN
Excel
Attack
Consider
Rent
Lurk
Attack
To "impugn" is to attack someone either verbally or physically. It also means to challenge someone's statements as false. The Latin root word, "pugnare," means to fight.
Example Question #2252 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMBIGUOUS
Pristine
Ambidextrous
Undeniable
Unclear
Indubitable
Unclear
If you don't recognize a word, it is almost always a good idea to try to use roots to figure out its meaning. You can break the word ambiguous into its component parts fairly easily ("ambi" + "guous"). "Ambi-" is a pretty common prefix, so you should recognize it even if you don't know what the whole word means. It's even in one of the other answer choices: "ambidextrous." The prefix "ambi-" has to do with something that goes in two directions at once. "Ambidextrous," for instance, means able to use both hands to do tasks (e.g. to write). "Ambiguous" means unclear, or having an unclear or undecidable meaning—a meaning that is unclear because it is one among multiple possible meanings. The answer choices "pristine," "indubitable," and "undeniable" each have to do with either clearness or certainty, and we already know what ambidextrous means, so "unclear" is the only choice left.
Example Question #2253 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ELUCIDATE
Lucid
Read
Intelligent
Clarify
Learn
Clarify
The word "elucidate" means to clarify or to explain. The best answer choice is "clarify," which means to make clear or to explain. The word "lucid", though related to the verb "elucidate", is not itself a verb. It is an adjective which means clear or easily understood.
Example Question #2254 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SIMILITUDE
Ardor
Pleasantry
Resemblance
Bastion
Felicity
Resemblance
"Similitude" is a noun derived from the Latin root "similis", meaning similar. "Resemblance" is a noun meaning the state of being alike, so it is a synonym for "similitude."
Example Question #2255 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FIDELITY
Ennui
Inadequacy
Ministry
Tint
Loyalty
Loyalty
"Fidelity" is a noun derived from the Latin root fidelis meaning faithfulness. "Loyalty" is a noun meaning a strong feeling of allegiance or faithfulness, and is an appropriate synonym.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Roots From Greek
Synonyms: choose the word closest in meaning to the word in question.
UNORTHODOX
Strange
Putrid
Ordinary
Malevolent
Pedestrian
Strange
"Unorthodox" means unusual or strange or not traditional, so "strange" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2256 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SAVANT
Epicure
Scholar
Mirage
Irony
Accumulation
Scholar
A "savant" is a person of extensive learning, so the best choice is the word "scholar." "Savant" is derived from the French word "savoir," which means to know.
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
