Cracking the SSAT & ISEE - The Princeton Review 2019
SSAT verbal
The SSAT
INTRODUCTION
The Verbal section on the SSAT consists of:
· 30 synonym questions (questions 1 to 30)
· 30 analogy questions (questions 31 to 60)
That’s 60 questions—but you have only 30 minutes! Should you try to spend 30 seconds on each question to get them all done? NO!
Elementary Level
You will have 15 synonyms and 15 analogies.
You Mean I Don’t Have to Answer All the Questions?
Nope. You’ll actually improve your score by answering fewer questions, as long as you’re still using all of the allotted time.
Remember, this test is designed for students in three or four different grade levels. There will be vocabulary in some of these questions that is aimed at students older than you, and almost no one in your grade will get those questions right. On the SSAT score report, you will be compared only with students in your own grade. The younger you are in your test level, the fewer questions you are expected to complete. Fifth graders are expected to do the least number of questions on the Middle Level test. Eighth graders are expected to do the least number of questions on the Upper Level test.
“Allotted Time”?
If you can’t define allotted, make a flash card for it! Look in Chapter 1 for ideas on how to use flash cards to learn new words.
Why rush through the questions you can get right to get to the really tough ones that almost nobody gets? That approach only ensures that you will make hasty, careless errors. Work slowly on the questions that have vocabulary that you know to make sure you get them right. Then try the ones that have some advanced words in them.
Which Questions Should I Answer?
The questions are arranged in a rough order of difficulty—the more complex synonyms tend to come toward the end of the synonym section, and the advanced analogies tend to come at the end of the analogy section. However, everyone is different, and some questions are harder for certain people than they are for others. You know some words that your friends don’t, and vice versa.
You get as many points for a question you find easy as you do for one you find more complicated. So here’s the plan: do all the questions that you find easy first. Easy questions will be those for which you know the definitions of all the words involved. Then go back through and do the questions with words that sound familiar, even if you are not sure of their dictionary definitions—these are words you sort of know. As you work through these questions, you’ll probably be concentrating mostly on the beginning and middle of each section, but don’t be afraid to glance ahead—there may be some words you know toward the end. Remember to skip a number on the answer sheet when you skip a question.
Knowing your own vocabulary is the key to quickly deciding if you can answer a question easily.
Bubble Practice
Whenever you do a practice test, use the sample answer sheet so you get used to skipping around when you’re filling in bubbles.
Know Yourself
Categorize the words you see in SSAT questions into:
· Words you know
· Words you sort of know
· Words you really don’t know
Be honest with yourself when it comes to deciding whether you know a word or not so you can tell which of the techniques you learn in this book works best for each question you tackle. Keep your idea of the word’s meaning flexible because the test writers sometimes use the words in ways that you and I do not! (They claim to use dictionary definitions.)
The easiest way to get a verbal question right is by making sure all the words in it fall into the first category—words you know. The best way to do this is by learning new vocabulary every day. Check out the Vocabulary chapter (Chapter 1) for the best ways to do this.
You can raise your verbal score moderately just by using the techniques we teach in this chapter. But if you want to see a substantial rise, you need to build up your vocabulary, too.
Eliminate Choices
With math questions, there’s always a correct answer; the other answers are simply wrong. With verbal questions, however, things are not that simple. Words are much more slippery than numbers. So verbal questions have best answers, not correct ones. The other answers aren’t necessarily wrong, but the people who score the SSAT think they’re not as good as the best ones. This means that your goal is to eliminate worse choices in the Verbal and Reading sections.
Get used to looking for worse answers. There are many more of them than there are best answers, so worse answers are easier to find! When you find them, cross them out in the question booklet to make sure you don’t spend any more time looking at them. No matter which other techniques you use to answer a question, eliminate wrong answers first instead of trying to magically pick out the best answer right away.
Cross Out the Bad Ones
Even when none of the answers look particularly right, you can usually eliminate at least one.
One thing to remember for the Verbal section: you should not eliminate choices that contain words you don’t know. If you don’t know what a word means, it could be the right answer.
What If I Can’t Narrow It Down to One Answer?
Should you guess? Yes. If you can eliminate even one choice, you should guess from the remaining choices.
Where Do I Start?
In the Verbal section, do analogies first—they’re easier to get right when you don’t know all the words in the question.
Take two passes over each section, in the following order:
· analogies with words you know
· analogies with words you sort of know
· analogies with words you really don’t know
· synonyms with words you know
· synonyms with words you sort of know
There is no need to ever try to attempt synonyms with words that you really don’t know. You will rarely be able to eliminate choices in a synonym question for which you do not know the stem word.
REVIEW—THE VERBAL PLAN
Pacing and Verbal Strategy
When I start the Verbal section, with which question number do I start?
What’s the order in which I answer questions in the Verbal section?
1.__________________
2.__________________
3.__________________
4.__________________
5.__________________
How many choices must I have eliminated to guess productively?
Can I eliminate choices that contain words I don’t know?
If you have trouble answering any of the questions above, reread this chapter!
Knowing My Vocabulary
Look at each of the following words and decide if it’s a word that you know, sort of know, or really don’t know. If you know it, write down its definition on a sheet of scratch paper.
insecticide (noun)
trifle (verb)
repugnant (adjective)
mollify (verb)
camouflage (verb)
historic (adjective)
Use a dictionary to check the ones you thought you knew or sort of knew. Make flash cards for the ones you didn’t know, the ones you sort of knew, and any that you thought you knew but for which you actually had the wrong definition.
ANALOGIES
What Is an Analogy?
An analogy, on the SSAT, asks you to:
1.Decide how two words are related.
2.Choose another set of words that has the same relationship.
It looks like this:
A is to B as
(A)C is to D
(B)C is to D
(C)C is to D
(D)C is to D
(E)C is to D
Or like this:
A is to B as C is to
(A)D
(B)D
(C)D
(D)D
(E) D
A, B, C, and D stand for words. We will call any words that are in the question part of the analogy the stem words. To figure out the relationship, ignore the “A is to B as C is to D” sentence that they’ve given you. It doesn’t tell you what you need to know. Cross out “is to” and “as.”
Next use the techniques that we describe on the next few pages depending on the words in the question. Get your pencil ready because you need to try these strategies out as we go along.
When You Know the Words
Make a Sentence
Here’s an analogy for which you’ll know all the words.
Kitten is to cat as
(A)bull is to cow
(B)snake is to frog
(C)squirrel is to raccoon
(D)puppy is to dog
(E)spider is to fly
You want to be sure you get a question like this one right because it’s worth just as much as an advanced one. Here’s how to be sure you don’t make a careless mistake.
Picture what the first two words (“A” and “B”) stand for and how those two words are related.
(Cross out “is to” and “as.” Just picture a kitten and a cat.)
Make a sentence to describe what you see. (We sometimes call this a “definitional” sentence.) A good sentence will do two things:
· Define one of the words using the other one.
· Stay short and simple.
A kitten __________________ cat.
(Make a sentence.)
Now look at the choices and eliminate any that cannot have the same relationship as the one you’ve got in your sentence.
(A)bull is to cow
(B)snake is to frog
(C)squirrel is to raccoon
(D)puppy is to dog
(E)spider is to fly
Shop Around
Try every choice in a verbal question to be sure you’re picking the best answer there.
If your sentence was something like “A kitten is a young cat,” you can eliminate all but (D). After all, a bull is not a young cow; a snake is not a young frog; a squirrel is not a young raccoon; and a spider is not a young fly. If you had a sentence that did not work, think about how you would define a kitten. Stay away from sentences that use the word you, as in “You see kittens with female cats.” Also avoid sentences like “A kitten is a cat.” These sentences don’t give you a definition or description of one of the words. Get specific. Yes, a kitten is a cat, but what else do you know about it?
As you go through the choices, cross out the choices as you eliminate them. In the kitten analogy, you probably knew that (D) was a good fit for your sentence, but don’t stop there! Always check all the answers. On the SSAT, often a so-so answer will appear before the best answer in the choices, and you don’t want to get sidetracked by it. Try all the answers so you can be sure to get all the analogies you find easy right.
In making your sentence, you can start with either of the first two words. Try to start your sentence by defining the first word, but if that doesn’t work, start by defining the second word.
Rev It Up
Use the most specific, descriptive words you can when you make a sentence. You want the sentence to define one of the words.
House is to tent as (Cross out “is to” and “as.” Picture a house and a tent.)
A house__________________ tent.
(Can you make a definitional sentence? Not really.)
A tent ________________ house.
(Make a sentence. Now eliminate choices.)
(A)table
(B)stool
(C)floor
(D)blanket
(E)hammock
Draw an arrow to remind yourself that you started with the second word instead of the first, as we have here. If you reverse the words in your sentence, you need to reverse them when you’re trying out the choices, too. If you have a sentence like, “A tent is a temporary house,” then you can eliminate all but (E).
Write your sentence above the question, between the two words. It’s a good idea to do this as you start practicing analogies, and most students find it helpful to write out their sentences all the time. If you have a tendency to change your sentence as you go through the answers, you should always write it down.
Notice that in the house analogy, they’ve given you the first word of the answer pair. Some of the analogies will be like this, but they’re really no different from the others. You’ll still be using the same techniques for them, and you may find them a little easier.
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
Then try the other word! You can start your sentence with the first word (A) or the second word (B).
Make Another Sentence
Why would you ever need to change your sentence? Let’s see.
Motor is to car as (Cross out. Picture them. Write a sentence. Eliminate.)
(A)knob is to door
(B)shovel is to earth
(C)bulb is to lamp
(D)sail is to boat
(E)pond is to ocean
Did you get it down to one? If not, make your sentence more specific. You may have said “A car has a motor,” in which case you can only eliminate (B) and (E). The best words to use are active verbs and descriptive adjectives. What does a motor do for a car? Make a more specific sentence. (Remember to draw an arrow if you start with the word car.)
A motor makes a car move. You could also say that a car is powered by a motor. Either sentence will help you eliminate all but (D). When your sentence eliminates some, but not all, of the choices, make it more specific.
If you have trouble picturing the relationship or making a more specific sentence, ask yourself questions that will help you get at how the two words are related.
Below are some questions to ask yourself that will help you make sentences. (“A” and “B” are the first two words in the analogy. Remember, you can start with either one.) Refer back to these questions if you get stuck when trying to make a sentence.
· What does A/B do?
· What does A/B mean?
· How does A/B work?
· What does A/B look like?
· How is A/B used?
· Where is A/B found?
· How do A and B compare?
· How are A and B associated?
Help!
These questions will help you come up with a sentence that defines one of the words in an analogy. Refer to them as much as you need to, until you are asking yourself these questions automatically.
PRACTICE DRILL 1—MAKING SENTENCES
Try making a sentence for each of these analogies for which you know both words. Use the questions above to guide you if you have trouble. Avoid using “A is B” or “A is the opposite of B.” Instead, try using “has” or “lacks,” or you can use “with” or “without.” Use active verbs. Check your sentences in Chapter 9 before you move on to the next practice set. Don’t forget to time yourself!
1.Chapter is to book as is a section of a
2.Scale is to weight as
3.Striped is to lines as
4.Anger is to rage as
5.Rehearsal is to performance as
6.Mechanic is to car as
7.Traitor is to country as
8.Aggravate is to problem as
9.Trout is to fish as
10.General is to army as
11.Law is to crime as
12.Buckle is to belt as
13.Truculent is to fight as
14.Cure is to illness as
15.Toxic is to poison as
16.Mountain is to pinnacle as
17.Perilous is to safety as
18.Humanitarian is to philanthropy as
19.Notorious is to reputation as
20.Miser is to generosity as
When You Are Done
Make flash cards for the words you sort of know or don’t know at all.
PRACTICE DRILL 2—BASIC ANALOGY TECHNIQUES
For each analogy that has words you know:
· Make a sentence.
· Try out your sentence on the choices.
· Eliminate the choices that don’t fit.
· If you need to, make your sentence more specific and eliminate again.
· If there are words you don’t know or just sort of know in a question, skip it.
· If there are words you don’t know or just sort of know in a choice, do not eliminate it. Just narrow your choices down as far as you can.
· As always, look up the words you can’t define and write them down on flash cards.
When you are done, check your answers in Chapter 9.
1.Chapter is to book as
(A)glass is to water
(B)lamp is to light
(C)scene is to play
(D)stew is to meat
(E)elevator is to building
2.Refrigerator is to cool as furnace is to
(A)radiator
(B)house
(C)oil
(D)heat
(E)furniture
3.Fish is to fin as
(A)fruit is to stem
(B)bird is to wing
(C)insect is to shell
(D)cod is to school
(E)dog is to tail
4.Driver is to car as
(A)pilot is to airplane
(B)police officer is to highway
(C)secretary is to letter
(D)baker is to cake
(E)carpenter is to house
5.Clock is to time as thermometer is to
(A)air
(B)pressure
(C)wind
(D)ice
(E)temperature
6.Envelope is to letter as
(A)suitcase is to clothes
(B)pen is to paper
(C)box is to cardboard
(D)table is to wood
(E)frame is to picture
7.Librarian is to library as curator is to
(A)museum
(B)studio
(C)mall
(D)workshop
(E)garden
8.Pen is to write as
(A)pencil is to point
(B)actor is to perform
(C)knife is to cut
(D)desk is to sit
(E)ink is to stain
9.Hurricane is to breeze as
(A)storm is to tempest
(B)fire is to flame
(C)tidal wave is to ripple
(D)cloud is to sunlight
(E)temperature is to weather
10.Circle is to ball as
(A)square is to cube
(B)pyramid is to triangle
(C)point is to line
(D)side is to rectangle
(E)hexagon is to polygon
11.Egg is to shell as banana is to
(A)fruit
(B)tree
(C)bunch
(D)peel
(E)seed
12.Cup is to quart as
(A)week is to time
(B)minute is to hour
(C)liter is to metric
(D)coin is to dollar
(E)spoon is to measure
13.Coach is to team as
(A)captain is to platoon
(B)singer is to chorus
(C)batter is to baseball
(D)teacher is to homework
(E)king is to queen
14.Bat is to mammal as
(A)boar is to hog
(B)porpoise is to shark
(C)butterfly is to insect
(D)whale is to fish
(E)reptile is to lizard
15.Famished is to hungry as
(A)clean is to dirty
(B)destitute is to poor
(C)worried is to lonely
(D)misdirected is to lost
(E)worried is to scared
16.Sterilize is to germ as
(A)cut is to surgeon
(B)sneeze is to dust
(C)scour is to grime
(D)inject is to virus
(E)rinse is to mouth
17.Director is to actors as conductor is to
(A)writers
(B)dancers
(C)painters
(D)musicians
(E)playwrights
18.Applicant is to hire as
(A)judge is to jury
(B)candidate is to elect
(C)cashier is to work
(D)student is to study
(E)writer is to research
19.Stale is to bread as
(A)American is to cheese
(B)rancid is to meat
(C)thick is to milk
(D)dry is to rice
(E)pulpy is to juice
20.Prejudice is to unbiased as worry is to
(A)adamant
(B)active
(C)blithe
(D)concerned
(E)occupied
When You Know Only One of the Words
Working Backward
If you know only one of the words, go straight to the choices. Make a sentence with each choice. Keep your sentence as definitional as possible. If your sentence uses can or might or could, or if you find yourself really reaching to try to make up a sentence, then the relationship is not a strong definitional one and that answer is probably not right. Eliminate it. Each time you can create a good sentence with an choice, you should then try the sentence with the stem words. If you don’t know a word in a choice, do not eliminate it.
Pick the best or most likely relationship for cygnet and swan. Which relationship is most like a definition?
Cross out (C), because we couldn’t make a sentence at all. Choices (B) and (E) are not great because snakes and spiders eat other things, too, and their definitions are not based on what they eat. Eliminate them. Now look at (A) and (D). Try their sentences on the stem words. Could something lay a swan? Probably not! Could something be a young swan? Sure, there could be a word that means baby swan. Sure enough, cygnet is exactly that.
Try Working Backward with these analogies.
Kinesiology is to motion as
(A)numerology is to progress
(B)navigation is to ocean
(C)astronomy is to weather
(D)criminology is to perversion
(E)psychology is to mind
Only (B) and (E) allow you to make strong sentences. Navigation is how you get around on the ocean. Psychology is the study of the mind. So try those sentences: Could kinesiology be how you get around on the motion? No. Could kinesiology be the study of human motion? Yep. We got it down to (E).
Apiary is to bees as
(A)stable is to horses
(B)jar is to honey
(C)florist is to flowers
(D)dirt is to ants
(E)leash is to dog
Eliminate (B), (D), and (E) because the word relationships are not strong. A stable is a place where horses are kept. A florist is someone who works with flowers. Now, do you think that an apiary is a place where bees are kept? Possibly. Do you think an apiary is someone who works with bees? Also possible. Take a guess between (A) and (C). Look up apiary and make a flash card for it.
PRACTICE DRILL 3—WORKING BACKWARD
We’ve hidden one of the words in the stem pair, so you can’t know it. But you’ll still be able to take a good guess at the answer. Work backward.
· Make sentences with the choices.
· Eliminate the sentences that don’t show a strong, definitional relationship.
· Try out each definitional sentence on the stem words.
· If it helps, say “something” when you have to insert the unknown word.
· Does it seem possible that the unknown word has that definition? If not, eliminate it.
· Don’t eliminate any choices that contain words you don’t know.
· Get as far as you can, and then guess.
When you are done, check your answers in Chapter 9.
1.Island is to ??????? as
(A)castle is to moat
(B)star is to galaxy
(C)river is to delta
(D)bay is to peninsula
(E)earth is to hemisphere
2.??????? is to king as
(A)legality is to lawyer
(B)monarchy is to sovereign
(C)hierarchy is to heir
(D)feudalism is to farmer
(E)duplicity is to thief
3.??????? is to enthusiasm as submissive is to
(A)solitude
(B)defiance
(C)conviction
(D)admiration
(E)withdrawn
4.??????? is to jury as
(A)eradicate is to problem
(B)quarantine is to patient
(C)elect is to politician
(D)liquidate is to opponent
(E)evacuate is to city
5.??????? is to shape as
(A)amorous is to trust
(B)temporal is to patience
(C)enticing is to guile
(D)bland is to zest
(E)classical is to harmony
When You Sort of Know the Words
Use “Side of the Fence”
If you can’t make a definitional sentence because you’re not sure what the words mean, but you’ve got some idea from having seen the words before, determine whether the words are on the same side of the fence or different sides. That is, are they similar enough to be grouped together, or are they different enough that you’d say they’re on different sides of a fence? If they are similar in meaning, write “S” next to the pair. If their meanings are more like opposites, write “D.” So cat and kitten would get an “S,” while black and white would get a “D.”
Because the answer pair has to have the same relationship as that of the stem words, you can eliminate any answers that don’t match. If your words are similar, you can eliminate any answers that are different. If your words are different, you can eliminate any answers that are similar.
PRACTICE DRILL 4—JUDGING “SIDE OF THE FENCE”
Mark the following pairs of words as “S” (similar) or “D” (different).
1.healthy is to ailing
2.limitless is to end
3.rapture is to happiness
4.humane is to brutality
5.obscure is to sight
6.incendiary is to flame
7.apathetic is to passion
8.boast is to vain
9.tactful is to diplomacy
10.innocent is to guile
11.miser is to greedy
12.frivolous is to serious
Now we can try a whole analogy.
Lurid is to horror as
(A)comical is to amusement
(B)illegal is to law
(C)cowardly is to fear
(D)ghastly is to serenity
(E)humane is to treatment
Don’t try to make a sentence—just decide if lurid and horror are similar or different. Then make the same decision for all the choices. You should wind up with a question that looks as follows:
Lurid is to horror as |
S |
(A) comical is to amusement |
S |
( |
D |
(C) cowardly is to fear |
S |
( |
D |
( |
nice phrase, but it’s not a relationship |
Now you can guess from just two answers—you’ve increased your odds considerably! Remember to mark up your test booklet as you eliminate, and guess even if you’ve eliminated only one choice. If you’re not sure of the definition of lurid, or any other word on this page, make a flash card for it!
PRACTICE DRILL 5—USING “SIDE OF THE FENCE”
In these analogies, we’ve taken out the stem words but told you whether they’re similar or different. Eliminate the answers that you know are definitely wrong because you’ve written a letter next to them that doesn’t match the letter next to the stem words. Remember, you can’t eliminate answers that contain words you don’t know!
1.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)miserly is to greed
(B)gentle is to harm
(C)famous is to privacy
(D)objective is to opinion
(E)fanciful is to theory
2.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)athletic is to shapely
(B)darkened is to light
(C)free is to liberated
(D)brave is to cowardly
(E)normal is to unusual
3.(DIFFERENT WORDS)
(A)refurbish is to worn
(B)repaint is to beautiful
(C)shining is to new
(D)revive is to tired
(E)cultivate is to fertile
4.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)humid is to moisture
(B)displeased is to anger
(C)silent is to discourse
(D)pointless is to relevance
(E)guilty is to neutral
5.(DIFFERENT WORDS)
(A)flourish is to revive
(B)wilt is to deaden
(C)protect is to harm
(D)heal is to injure
(E)discuss is to debate
6.(DIFFERENT WORDS)
(A)modify is to vary
(B)mutter is to speak
(C)vacillate is to stand
(D)rectify is to fix
(E)verify is to discover
7.(DIFFERENT WORDS)
(A)charitable is to selfish
(B)favorable is to despised
(C)productive is to arid
(D)predictable is to ordinary
(E)verbose is to tacit
8.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)anticipate is to hope
(B)alleviate is to lessen
(C)innovate is to predict
(D)disseminate is to gather
(E)elucidate is to muddle
9.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)slander is to libel
(B)avenge is to forgive
(C)provoke is to calm
(D)quibble is to argue
(E)satiate is to fill
10.(SIMILAR WORDS)
(A)supreme is to zenith
(B)infallible is to certain
(C)prevalent is to vacant
(D)listless is to energetic
(E)pessimistic is to negative
Don’t forget to check your answers in Chapter 9.
Work Backward
You can use this technique for words you just sort of know, in addition to using it on analogies where you just know one of the words. Try it on this one. Patent is a word we all sort of know.
Patent is to inventor as
(A)advertisement is to merchant
(B)money is to consumer
(C)monopoly is to customer
(D)copyright is to author
(E)novelty is to journalist
Choices (C) and (E) should be crossed out for sure—the words are not strongly related. You’ve made sentences with the other choices. Which sentence works best with patent and inventor? Choice (D).
When You Really Don’t Know Either of the Words
If you have never seen the stem words before, you’re better off putting a circle around the question number in the test booklet and skipping the question. If you have time to go back to the ones you’ve circled and skipped, then try this.
Work Backward as Much as You Can
Go straight to the choices, and make sentences with them. Now, you can’t try the sentences with the stem words because you don’t know the stem words, right? So just look at the sentences you have. Which ones are not likely to be correct? The ones that are not like definitions. Eliminate those choices—the ones in which the words are not related in such a way that you need one to define the other.
Look at these possible choices and decide if they’re definitional or if you should eliminate them on a question for which you do not know the stem words. Write a sentence for the answers you’d keep.
PRACTICE DRILL 6—WORKING BACKWARD AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
1.tooth is to chewing
2.hammer is to wood
3.archipelago is to islands
4.engine is to smoke
5.angry is to violence
6.jest is to humorous
7.wind is to season
Remember that you’re not trying to answer all the questions. There are bound to be words on the test that you do not know. Don’t sweat it. Check your Pacing Chart to see how many analogies you need to complete. To reach their target scores, most students don’t need to attempt analogies with words they don’t know at all.
Review—The Analogies Plan
If I Know the Words
If I know the words, then I
A sentence is good if it’s ___________ and _____________.
If my sentence eliminates some, but not all, choices, I can
A specific, definitional sentence uses words that are __________________
Some questions that can help me make a sentence are
If I know the words but can’t make a sentence, then I ask myself
And finally, if none of these questions works with A and B (the first two words in the analogy), then I ask myself
If I Know One of the Words
If I know one of the words, then I
which means that I
and then I
If I Sort of Know the Words
If I sort of know the words, then I
I can also
If I Don’t Know the Words
If I don’t know the words, I
If I have time left, then I go back and
If you have trouble with any of the questions above, go back and reread the appropriate part of this chapter.
PRACTICE DRILL 7—ALL ANALOGIES TECHNIQUES
The following questions ask you to find relationships between words. For each question, select the answer choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.
Elementary Level
Stop after question 13.
1.Chocolate is to candy as
(A)fish is to mammal
(B)meat is to animal
(C)cat is to animal
(D)brick is to house
(E)fire is to forest
2.Pound is to weight as
(A)decibel is to sound
(B)inch is to foot
(C)quart is to liter
(D)fathom is to height
(E)length is to distance
3.Class is to student as
(A)cast is to actor
(B)teacher is to staff
(C)conductor is to band
(D)director is to play
(E)musician is to band
4.Composer is to symphony as
(A)mechanic is to auto
(B)major is to troops
(C)architect is to building
(D)tycoon is to wealth
(E)writer is to paragraph
5.Link is to chain as
(A)obstacle is to course
(B)group is to member
(C)sidewalk is to path
(D)mural is to museum
(E)word is to sentence
6.Tadpole is to frog as caterpillar is to
(A)worm
(B)cocoon
(C)crawl
(D)larvae
(E)butterfly
7.Cuff is to wrist as
(A)string is to hood
(B)buckle is to waist
(C)cap is to hat
(D)vest is to body
(E)collar is to neck
8.Congregation is to worshippers as
(A)galaxy is to stars
(B)party is to politics
(C)mine is to gems
(D)job is to employers
(E)pottery is to shards
9.Tactile is to touch as
(A)delectable is to drink
(B)audible is to sound
(C)potable is to food
(D)servile is to obey
(E)nutritious is to meal
10.Conviction is to opinion as
(A)report is to story
(B)reverence is to admiration
(C)debate is to argument
(D)appeal is to affectation
(E)ascend is to precipice
11.Caricature is to drawing as
(A)joke is to punch line
(B)watercolor is to painting
(C)hyperbole is to statement
(D)star is to feature
(E)dynamite is to blast
12.Deceleration is to speed as
(A)adulation is to praise
(B)descent is to altitude
(C)tyranny is to leader
(D)hydration is to water
(E)fear is to hatred
13.Dull is to insipid as diverting is to
(A)expecting
(B)feeling
(C)astounding
(D)entertaining
(E)surprising
14.Voracious is to food as
(A)greedy is to money
(B)gluttonous is to obesity
(C)clarity is to water
(D)generosity is to object
(E)veracity is to truth
15.Adroit is to motion as
(A)bridled is to emotion
(B)unfettered is to restraint
(C)superior is to skill
(D)ubiquitous is to presence
(E)articulate is to speech
16.Anesthetic is to pain as
(A)lamp is to light
(B)mnemonic is to memory
(C)exercise is to diet
(D)understanding is to comprehension
(E)muffler is to noise
17.Impeccable is to adequate as
(A)impressionable is to eager
(B)inexhaustible is to sufficient
(C)impossible is to prepared
(D)intangible is to popular
(E)impractical is to sensible
18.Symmetrical is to amorphous as
(A)metric is to moronic
(B)shapely is to muscled
(C)balanced is to unshaped
(D)flowing is to lined
(E)external is to internal
19.Incessant is to intermittent
(A)amazed is to underwhelming
(B)horizontal is to inclined
(C)celebrated is to opulent
(D)timid is to brazen
(E)eternal is to perpetual
20.Penicillin is to antibiotic
(A)healthcare is to pharmacist
(B)medicine is to prescription
(C)coughing is to symptom
(D)mold is to bacteria
(E)antibacterial is to sanitization
21.Cobbler is to shoe
(A)tanner is to horse
(B)blacksmith is to sword
(C)porter is to doorbell
(D)dentist is to floss
(E)nurse is to symptoms
22.Fortify is to protect
(A)blitz is to attack
(B)evoke is to elicit
(C)pacify is to incense
(D)recommend is to advocate
(E)invite is to accompany
23.Delinquent is to reprimand
(A)thief is to steal
(B)virtuoso is to recognize
(C)prophet is to trust
(D)jury is to deliberate
(E)tutor is to guide
24.Disinfect is to pristine
(A)insult is to grateful
(B)swim is to upstream
(C)shape is to bend
(D)adore is to envious
(E)learn is to uncomplicated
25.Inconspicuous is to overlook as unfounded is to
(A)scorn
(B)investigate
(C)reject
(D)convolute
(E)offend
26.Student is to graduate
(A)guru is to savant
(B)connoisseur is to amateur
(C)famine is to feast
(D)dilettante is to dabbler
(E)novice is to master
27.Appreciative is to gratitude
(A)ashamed is to compunction
(B)amicable is to aloofness
(C)ravenous is to starvation
(D)pity is to destitute
(E)meticulous is to adoration
28.Egg is to dozen
(A)player is to crowd
(B)day is to week
(C)puppies is to litter
(D)goose is to gaggle
(E)day is to month
29.Illogical is to reason
(A)rude is to impertinence
(B)classified is to catalogue
(C)hasty is to prudence
(D)brazen is to plethora
(E)improvised is to spontaneity
30.Payment is to debt
(A)relief is to hurricane
(B)cover-up is to crime
(C)injury is to repair
(D)recall is to defect
(E)blanket is to snow
Don’t forget to check your answers in Chapter 9.
SYNONYMS
What Is a Synonym?
On the SSAT, a synonym question asks you to choose the choice that comes closest in meaning to the stem word (the word in capitals). Often the best answer won’t mean the exact same thing as the stem word, but it will be closer than any of the other choices.
Just like analogies, you need to decide which vocabulary category the synonym stem word falls into for you, so you know which technique to use. First, try all the synonyms for which you know the stem word, and then go back and try the ones with stem words you sort of know.
When You Know the Stem Word
Write Down Your Own Definition
Come up with a simple definition—a word or a phrase. Write it next to the stem word. Then look at the answers, eliminate the ones that are farthest from your definition, and choose the closest one.
It’s very simple. Don’t let the test writers put words into your mouth. Make sure you’re armed with your own definition before you look at their choices. They often like to put in a word that is a close second to the best answer, and if you’ve got your own synonym ready, you’ll be able to make the distinction.
If you need to, cover the answers with your hand, so you can think of your definition before looking. Eventually you may not have to write down your definitions, but you should start out that way.
As you compare the choices with your definition, cross out the ones that are definitely not right. Crossing out choices is something you should always do—it saves you time because you don’t go back to choices you’ve already decided were not the best.
As always, don’t eliminate the words you don’t know.
Try this one. Write your definition of WITHER before you look at the choices.
WITHER: _________ (definition)
(A)play
(B)spoil
(C)greatly improve
(D)wilt
(E)give freely
The stem word means shrivel or dry up. Which answer is closest? (D). You may have been considering (B), but (D) is closer.
PRACTICE DRILL 8—WRITE YOUR OWN DEFINITION
Write your definition—just a word or two—for each of these stem words.
1.BIZARRE
2.PREFACE:
3.GENEROUS:
4.MORAL (n):
5.ALTER:
6.REVOLVE:
7.HOPEFUL:
8.LINGER:
9.ASSIST:
10.CONSTRUCT:
11.STOOP:
12.CANDID:
13.TAUNT:
14.COARSE:
15.VAIN:
16.SERENE:
17.UTILIZE:
18.VIGOROUS:
19.PROLONG:
20.BENEFIT:
Write Another Definition
Why would you ever need to change your definition? Let’s see.
MANEUVER:
(A)avoidance
(B)deviation
(C)find
(D)contrivance
(E)invent
Your definition may be something like move or control if you know the word from hearing it applied to cars. But that definition isn’t in the choices. The problem is that you’re thinking about maneuver as a verb. However, maneuver can also be a noun. It means a plan, scheme, or trick. Now go back and eliminate. The answer is (D).
The SSAT sometimes uses secondary definitions, which can be the same part of speech or a different part of speech from the primary definition. Just stay flexible in your definitions, and you’ll be fine.
PRACTICE DRILL 9—WRITE ANOTHER DEFINITION
Write down as many definitions as you can think of for the following words. Your definitions may be the same part of speech or different. If you have a hard time thinking of different meanings, look the word up.
1.POINT:
2.INDUSTRY:
3.FLAG:
4.FLUID:
5.CHAMPION
6.TABLE:
7.SERVICE:
PRACTICE DRILL 10—BASIC SYNONYM TECHNIQUES
Try these synonyms.
· Use the definition for the stem word that you wrote down before.
· Look at the choices and eliminate the ones that are farthest from your definition.
1.BIZARRE:
(A)lonely
(B)unable
(C)odd
(D)found
(E)able
2.PREFACE:
(A)introduce
(B)state
(C)propose
(D)jumble
(E)make able
3.GENEROUS:
(A)skimpy
(B)faulty
(C)ample
(D)unusual
(E)cold
4.MORAL:
(A)imitation
(B)full
(C)real
(D)upright
(E)sure
5.ALTER:
(A)sew
(B)make up
(C)react
(D)total
(E)change
6.REVOLVE:
(A)push against
(B)go forward
(C)leave behind
(D)turn around
(E)move past
7.HOPEFUL:
(A)discouraging
(B)promising
(C)fulfilling
(D)deceiving
(E)frustrating
8.LINGER:
(A)hurry
(B)abate
(C)dawdle
(D)attempt
(E)enter
9.ASSIST:
(A)work
(B)discourage
(C)appeal
(D)hinder
(E)help
10.CONSTRUCT:
(A)build
(B)type
(C)live in
(D)engage
(E)enable
11.STOOP:
(A)raise
(B)elevate
(C)condescend
(D)realize
(E)imagine
12.CANDID:
(A)picture
(B)honest
(C)prepared
(D)unfocused
(E)rehearsed
13.TAUNT:
(A)delay
(B)stand
(C)show
(D)horrify
(E)tease
14.COARSE:
(A)smooth
(B)crude
(C)polite
(D)furious
(E)emotional
15.VAIN:
(A)conceited
(B)beautiful
(C)talented
(D)unattractive
(E)helpless
16.SERENE:
(A)helpful
(B)normal
(C)calm
(D)disastrous
(E)floating
17.UTILIZE:
(A)pass on
(B)break down
(C)resort to
(D)rely on
(E)make use of
18.VIGOROUS:
(A)slothful
(B)aimless
(C)energetic
(D)glorious
(E)victorious
19.PROLONG:
(A)affirmative
(B)lengthen
(C)exceed
(D)assert
(E)resolve
20.BENEFIT:
(A)cooperate
(B)struggle
(C)assist
(D)deny
(E)appeal
Don’t forget to check your answers in Chapter 9.
When You Sort of Know the Stem Word
Why Should You Attempt Synonyms Last? Why Are They More Complicated Than Analogies?
Synonyms can be harder to beat than analogies because the SSAT gives you no context with which to figure out words that you sort of know. But that doesn’t mean you should try to answer only the synonyms you find easy. You can get the medium ones, too. You just need to create your own context to figure out words you don’t know very well.
Keep in mind that your goal is to eliminate the worst answers, to make an educated guess. You’ll be able to do this for every synonym that you sort of know, and even if you just eliminate one choice, guess. You’ll gain points overall.
Make Your Own Context
You can create your own context for the word by figuring out how you’ve heard it used before. Think of the other words you’ve heard used with the stem word. Is there a certain phrase that comes to mind? What does that phrase mean?
If you still can’t come up with a definition for the stem word, just use the context in which you’ve heard the word to eliminate answers that wouldn’t fit at all in that same context.
How about this stem word:
ABOMINABLE
Where have you heard abominable? The Abominable Snowman, of course. Think about it—you know it’s a monster-like creature. Which choices can you eliminate?
ABOMINABLE: |
|
(A) enormous |
the enormous snowman? maybe |
(B) terrible |
the terrible snowman? sure |
( |
the rude snowman |
( |
the showy snowman? nope |
( |
the talkative snowman? Frosty! |
You can throw out everything but (A) and (B). Now you can guess, with a much better shot at getting the answer right than guessing from five choices. Or you can think about where else you’ve heard the stem word. Have you ever heard something called an abomination? Was it something terrible or was it something enormous? Choice (B) is the answer.
Try this one. Where have you heard this stem word? Try the answers in that context.
SURROGATE:
(A)friendly
(B)requested
(C)paranoid
(D)numerous
(E)substitute
Have you heard the stem word in surrogate mother? If you have, you can definitely eliminate (B), (C), and (D), and (A) isn’t great either. A surrogate mother is a substitute mother.
Try one more.
ENDANGER:
(A)rescue
(B)frighten
(C)confuse
(D)threaten
(E)isolate
Everyone’s associations are different, but you’ve probably heard of endangered species or endangered lives. Use either of those phrases to eliminate choices that can’t fit into it. Rescued species? Frightened species? Confused species? Threatened species? Isolated species? Choice (D) works best.
PRACTICE DRILL 11—MAKING YOUR OWN CONTEXT
Write down the phrase in which you’ve heard each word.
1.COMMON:
2.COMPETENT:
3.ABRIDGE:
4.UNTIMELY:
5.HOMOGENIZE:
6.DELINQUENT:
7.INALIENABLE:
8.PALTRY:
9.AUSPICIOUS:
10.PRODIGAL:
PRACTICE DRILL 12—USING YOUR OWN CONTEXT
1.COMMON:
(A)beautiful
(B)novel
(C)typical
(D)constant
(E)similar
2.COMPETENT:
(A)angry
(B)peaceful
(C)well-written
(D)capable
(E)possible
3.ABRIDGE:
(A)complete
(B)span
(C)reach
(D)shorten
(E)retain
4.UNTIMELY:
(A)late
(B)punctual
(C)dependent
(D)inappropriate
(E)continuous
5.HOMOGENIZE:
(A)make the same
(B)send away
(C)isolate
(D)enfold
(E)purify quickly
6.DELINQUENT:
(A)underage
(B)negligent
(C)superior
(D)advanced
(E)independent
7.INALIENABLE:
(A)misplaced
(B)universal
(C)assured
(D)democratic
(E)changeable
8.PALTRY:
(A)meager
(B)colored
(C)thick
(D)abundant
(E)indistinguishable
9.AUSPICIOUS:
(A)supple
(B)minor
(C)doubtful
(D)favorable
(E)ominous
10.PRODIGAL:
(A)wasteful
(B)amusing
(C)disadvantaged
(D)lazy
(E)virtuous
Don’t forget to check your answers in Chapter 9.
Use Word Parts to Piece Together a Definition
Prefixes, roots, and suffixes can help you figure out what a word means. You should use this technique in addition to (not instead of) word association, because not all word parts retain their original meanings.
You may have never seen this stem word before, but if you’ve been working on your Vocabulary chapter, you know that the root pac or peac means peace. You can see the same root in Pacific, pacifier, and the word peace itself. So what’s the answer to this synonym?
PACIFIST:
(A)innocent person
(B)person opposed to war
(C)warmonger
(D)wanderer of lands
(E)journeyman
The answer is (B).
In the following stem word, we see cred, a word part that means “belief” or “faith.” You can see this word part in incredible, credit, and credibility. The answer is now simple.
CREDIBLE:
(A)obsolete
(B)believable
(C)fabulous
(D)mundane
(E)superficial
Choice (B) again. What are the word parts in the following stem word?
MONOTONOUS:
(A)lively
(B)educational
(C)nutritious
(D)repetitious
(E)helpful
Mono means “one.” Tone has to do with sound. If something keeps striking one sound, how would you describe it? (D) is the answer.
The only way you’ll be able to use root words is if you know them. Get cracking on the Vocabulary chapter!
Words You Really Don’t Know
Don’t waste time on words you’ve never seen if you don’t know any of their word parts.
PRACTICE DRILL 13—ALL SYNONYMS TECHNIQUES
Directions: Each of the following questions consists of one word followed by five words or phrases. You are to select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
Elementary Level
Stop after question 10.
1.ATROCITY:
(A)hardship
(B)abomination
(C)punishment
(D)utopia
(E)fortress
2.INDULGENT:
(A)spoiled
(B)dugout
(C)doting
(D)insolent
(E)overwhelming
3.REPROACH:
(A)reinvent
(B)replenish
(C)refinish
(D)reinstate
(E)rebuke
4.SCANT:
(A)spare
(B)ample
(C)inconsistent
(D)insufficient
(E)noticeable
5.ANNIHILATE:
(A)obliterate
(B)repair
(C)heal
(D)annotate
(E)undermine
6.AMENDMENT:
(A)law
(B)sanction
(C)endorsement
(D)correction
(E)meeting
7.EMULATE:
(A)simulate
(B)evaluate
(C)copy
(D)instigate
(E)forge
8.EPITOME:
(A)epicenter
(B)paradox
(C)apex
(D)embodiment
(E)paradigm
9.COUNTENANCE:
(A)self-importance
(B)appearance
(C)creativity
(D)empathy
(E)disdain
10.COMMANDEER:
(A)sanction
(B)authorize
(C)seize
(D)instruction
(E)entertain
11.RESILIENT:
(A)rebounding
(B)affluent
(C)silent
(D)extravagant
(E)resounding
12.VAGRANT:
(A)roaming
(B)fibrous
(C)irritable
(D)varied
(E)allowed
13.EVICT:
(A)strain
(B)prosper
(C)incite
(D)eject
(E)remain
14.PROLIFERATE:
(A)perforate
(B)stem
(C)generate
(D)contract
(E)destroy
15.ADHERE
(A)fracture
(B)hold off
(C)lose
(D)surround
(E)obey
16.DISCREPANCY
(A)qualm
(B)unique
(C)scrupulous
(D)disparity
(E)conspicuous
17.INCREDULOUS
(A)complicated
(B)believable
(C)voluminous
(D)skeptical
(E)envious
18.INVOKE
(A)rebuke
(B)invest
(C)summon
(D)innovate
(E)take away
19.OPULENT
(A)indolent
(B)vocal
(C)haughty
(D)luxurious
(E)ovular
20.ARSENAL
(A)fire pit
(B)supply
(C)pavement
(D)barracks
(E)commander
21.VIRTUOSO
(A)realistic
(B)righteous
(C)moral
(D)master
(E)pious
22.SAGE
(A)foolish
(B)herbal
(C)sumptuous
(D)ancient
(E)insightful
23.VISTA
(A)wisdom
(B)industrial
(C)rural
(D)view
(E)port
24.SURREPTITIOUS
(A)secret
(B)understanding
(C)successful
(D)shocking
(E)unexpected
25.PERTURBATION
(A)commotion
(B)excitement
(C)consternation
(D)understanding
(E)jurisdiction
26.MERCURIAL
(A)stern
(B)melancholy
(C)effusive
(D)erratic
(E)cunning
27.ACQUIESCE
(A)control
(B)acquire
(C)quiet
(D)gratify
(E)consent
28.INSUBORDINATE
(A)subdued
(B)obedient
(C)defiant
(D)grateful
(E)suppressed
29.QUERULOUS
(A)winsome
(B)whining
(C)spiteful
(D)arguing
(E)crafty
30.ENERVATE
(A)drain
(B)unnerve
(C)irritate
(D)energize
(E)provoke
Don’t forget to check your answers in Chapter 9.