SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #225 : Analogies

Myth is to fact as reject is to

Possible Answers:

none of the other answers

accept

refuse

turn away

turn down

Correct answer:

accept

Explanation:

Both sets of words are antonyms.  

Example Question #121 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Temporary is to permanent as veteran is to

Possible Answers:

experienced

novice

seasoned

none of the other answers

expert

Correct answer:

novice

Explanation:

Both sets of words are antonyms. 

Example Question #122 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Loose is to tight as deep is to

Possible Answers:

sound

heavy

none of the other answers.

shallow

far

Correct answer:

shallow

Explanation:

Both of the sets are antonyms.  

Example Question #211 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Hungry is to full as . . .

Possible Answers:

music is to dancing

sleepy is to bed

leaf is to tree

quiet is to indoors

exhausted is to energetic

Correct answer:

exhausted is to energetic

Explanation:

Since "hungry" and "full" are opposites, we need to pick out another pair of words which are also opposites. Since "exhausted" ("very tired") is an opposite of "energetic," "exhausted is to energetic" is the correct answer.

Example Question #212 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Welcome is to excluded as prepared is to . . .

Possible Answers:

unready

beautiful

limited

burdened

ready

Correct answer:

unready

Explanation:

"Welcome," when used as an adjective, means "of a guest or new arrival: gladly received," and "excluded" is an adjective that means "deny (someone) access to or bar (someone) from a place, group, or privilege," so the two words are antonyms. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two antonyms. "Ready" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "ready" is a synonym, not an antonym, of "prepared." "Unready," however, is an antonym of "prepared," just like "welcome" is an antonym of "excluded," so "unready" is the correct answer.

Example Question #213 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Friend is to enemy as . . .

Possible Answers:

confidence is to shyness

justice is to fairness

quiet is to silent

wriggle is to writhe

ponder is to think

Correct answer:

confidence is to shyness

Explanation:

“Friend” and “enemy” are nouns that are opposites, or antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns which are also opposites. While “confidence is to shyness” and “justice is to fairness” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “justice” is a noun that means “the quality of being fair and reasonable,” so “justice” and “fairness” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “justice is to fairness” cannot be the correct answer. “Confidence,” however, is a noun that means “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities,” while “shyness” is a noun that means “the quality of feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people.” So, because “confidence” is an antonym of “shyness” just as “friend” is an antonym of “enemy,” “confidence is to shyness” is the correct answer.

Example Question #214 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Active is to inactive as amateur is to  __________. 

Possible Answers:

lazy 

professional

employed 

taxes 

income 

Correct answer:

professional

Explanation:

"Active" means energetic and lively and is an antonym of "inactive." To solve this analogy, you need to figure out the best available antonym of "amateur." Someone who is an "amateur" is not paid for their work, so the only acceptable antonym is “professional.” None of the other answer choices are antonyms of "amateur": "employed" means having a paid job, "income" is the money one earns by working; and "taxes" are the portion of money that the government takes from your income.

Example Question #215 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Remember is to forget as prevent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

allow

forbid

fix

mysterious

enigmatic

Correct answer:

allow

Explanation:

"Remember" is an antonym of "forget." So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "prevent." "Prevent" means to stop someone from doing something, so the best antonym is “allow,” which means to let someone do something. To help you, "enigmatic" means mysterious, and "forbid" means the same thing as "prevent", or in other words, they are synonyms.

Example Question #216 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Cowardly is to brave as ignorant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

meek 

timid 

wise 

strong 

vulnerable 

Correct answer:

wise 

Explanation:

"Cowardly" is an antonym of "brave," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "ignorant." Someone who is "ignorant" is stupid, and does not know very much. The word that is the best opposite of "ignorant" is “wise,” which means very intelligent. To help you, "vulnerable" means in danger, and "timid" and "meek" both mean shy.

Example Question #217 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Happy is to sad as greedy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

generous 

envious 

laughing 

smiling 

jealous 

Correct answer:

generous 

Explanation:

"Happy" is the opposite of "sad," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out which of these answer choices is an opposite of "greedy." To be greedy means selfish and keeping things for oneself instead of sharing them, so "generous" has the opposite meaning and is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "envious" and "jealous" both mean desiring something that belongs to someone else.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors