2013 SSAT Verbal Section Practice Questions with Answers

Perilous means risky or dangerous. Construction of skyscrapers is perilous work.

Perilous means risky or dangerous. Con- struction of skyscrapers is perilous work. Stationary means not moving or not movable. It is the adjective form of the noun station. Choice (D) refers to the homophone stationery. Unlike Easter, Christmas is a stationary holiday; it always occurs on the same date:

To transcribe is to write out in full or to make a recording. The court stenographer transcribed the full proceedings of the trial.

Proficient means highly skilled, competent, or adept. The concert pianist is proficient at the art.

To deceive is to make a person believe what is not true. The purpose of a lie is to deceive.

Agile means deft, active, and lively. Prize- Winning gymnasts are always agile.

The duration is the time that a thing continues or lasts. The duration of a school semester is a four-month term.

Ambiguous means having two meanings or being vague and uncertain. The prefix ambi-means both and implies that both possible interpretations might be correct and therefore neither is clear. Her ambiguous answer left us uncertain as to whether she meant "Yes" or "No".

A prerogative is a right, privilege, or special advantage. The aged and the disabled have the prerogative of sitting at the in front of the bus.

That which is intriguing excites interest and curiosity and is fascinating. His interpretation of the event presents an intriguing new theory.

The agenda is the program of things to be done or the schedule. Preparation of next year's budget was the top item on the agenda for the meeting.

Credible means plausible, reliable, or believable. The presence of many squirrels in my yard is a credible explanation for the many holes.

Placid means tranquil, calm, or peaceful. Lake Placid in New York is so placid that its waters are seldom stormy.

To intervene is to come between two: people or things either to interfere or to influence positively. Intervene is a verb. An intermediary may intervene in a dispute.

Mundane means commonplace, earthly or ordinary. Every morning I perform the mundane tasks of brushing my teeth. and making my bed.

To dehydrate is to remove water, therefore dehydrated means waterless.. The root hydr-refers to water, and the prefix d e is a negative prefix. Dehydrated foods are lightweight and are easy to store for long periods of time.

Prevalent means widely existing, prevailing; or generally accepted. Preeminent means excelling. The prevalent mood among the Boy Scouts was one of eager anticipation:

Succinct means brief and to the point. The legislator gave a succinct background of the reasons for the proposed law.

That which is nocturnal happens: at night. Bats do not fly about in the daytime because they are nocturnal creatures.

Equitable means fair and just. You should: see the root equal in this word. The will provided for an equitable distribution of the property,

To saturate is to wet something thoroughly or soak it. You saturate a sponge in water, for example.

Genteel describes something elegant, aristocratic or refined.

Winsome means pleasing or charming, such as a winsome smile.

To reproach means to express disapproval or disappointment in someone. (A) is tempting, but you can complain without blaming anything specific.

To demonstrate means to explain clearly or show.

A camouflage is a disguise or a concealment. An outfit, (D), may or may not be a camouflage:

Aghast is an adjective that means to be struck with amazement or horror-in other words, to be shocked.

To recollect means to remember.

To initiate means to begin or start.

To suffocate is to choke or deprive of air.

A fossil is a substance which is petrified. A solution is a substance which is dissolved. Wood (D) is not necessarily hard, nor are snowflakes (E) necessarily wet.

A sphere is round in shape in the same way that a honeycomb is hexagonal in shape. A protractor (D) is used to measure an angle.

To be picky is to be extremely careful. Similarly, to be exhausted is to be extremely tired. To be alert (E) is to be awake.

A cave is the rounded, hollowed out part of a rock, just as an apse is the rounded, hollowed out part of a church. A plateau (A) is a large flat rock.

Lemonade is made from lemons, just as paper is made from wood. Juice (C) may or may not be made from cherries; it can be made from other ingredients as well.

A frog is a type of amphibian, as a whale is a type of mammal.

A dentist uses a drill in the way that a surgeon uses a scalpel. A doctor doesn't use a stretcher-his patients do. And though a farmer may harvest grain, he does not by definition use it.

A mosaic is a picture made up of individual tiles, the way a tapestry is a picture made up of individual threads. A sweater (E) may or may not be made out of wool.

A pebble is a tiny bit of rock, just as a drop is a tiny bit of liquid.

A levee is the border of a river, just as a shoulder is the border of a road. A path may or may not go through a forest.

When an injury heals, it disappears. When a malfunction is repaired, it disappears. In both cases, the thing that heals or. is repaired gets better, which is why (B) is not quite right.

A jog is a slow run; a sprint is a fast run. A trot is, a slow run for a horse, while a gallop is a fast run. (B) means to wander about--not at a great speed, while (C) means to stroll. (A) means flying, not running.

A bone is one part of the structural system of the body—the system that holds it up. Similarly, a beam-a long piece of timber or steel-is one part of the structural system that holds up a building. (D) may be tempting, but floors don't generally connect to other floors the way beams and bones do.

Amorphous means "without shape". So amorphous is to shape as odorless is to odor, or scent.

Another relationship of opposites. A vain person is, by definition, not humble. Similarly, an extroverted or outgoing person is, by definition, not shy. (E) may be tempting since boisterous means noisy, exuberant. But anxious people aren't by definition quiet; one may be anxious and act boisterously by talking too much out of nervousness, for example. Cantankerous in (A) means bad-tempered, quarrelsome, and discursive in ( B) means to talk in a rambling way.

You study for a test the way you rehearse for a play. One is preparation for the other. (E) seems close, but apply is not quite "preparation" for a job.

You smile when you're happy and frown when you're sad or angry. You cheer to signal your approval and jeer your disapproval of a sports team, for example. Wince, in (C), means to express pain.

To peel a banana is to pull off its outer covering. To husk an ear of corn is to pull off its outer covering (also called a husk).

Tactile refers to anything perceptible through the sense of touch, just as olfactory refers to anything perceptible through the sense of smell. If they had been correct, (A) would have read, "sight is to visual", and (D›, "taste is to oral".

Articulateness is the quality of speaking or writing in a clear manner. Similarly, legibility is handwriting that's clear.

The relationship is object to its function. A poltroon (coward) is by definition pusillanimous (cowardly). An optimist is by definition sanguine (confident).

Gold was important to Midas; wisdom was important to Athena. The relationship is worker and creation. Choices (E) and (B) are incorrect because the relationship is item to category. Choice (D) is incorrect because the relationship is synonymous Choice (A) is incorrect because the relationship is type to characteristic.

One who is deaf cannot perceive tone; one who is blind cannot perceive color This is the analogy of action of object. The other answers cannot be correct choice (C) is incorrect because touch and smell: are both senses and equal therefore, they cannot parallel. "tone g to deaf". By the same token, choice (A)) is incorrect because one uses a brush to paint is close to the proper answer; however, the relationship is object to its function. A brush is used to paint.

The radius is half the diameter of a given circle. Similarly, 5 is half of 10. This is the analogy of part to whole. There appears to be no relationship with choices (A) and (B). Choices (C) and (D) do have a relationship of sorts, but it is not one half of the question.

An oak grows from an acorn; a tulip grows from a bulb. This is the cause-to- effect relationship. Notice that in choice (C), the relationship is word to synonym. Both a stable and a barn are shelters for animals. Choice (A) is whole to part. Part of a tree is a branch. Choice (E) also has the relationship of part to whole. Part of a library is the books. Choice (D) has the relationship of object to its function. A ruler will allow you to make a line.

12 1/2% is equal to ⅛ as 66 2/3 % is equal 2/3 Both are fractions. The relationship is one of equals or synonyms. Choice (A) indicates a relationship of part to whole; a decade is one tenth of a century and is therefore incorrect for the relationship being sought; the same is true for choice (E). A second is part of a minute. Choice (B) is incorrect because there is not the relationship of equality that we need for the question. Choice (C) is incorrect because 6/10 does NOT equal 1/2 The premise is incorrect.

A bibliophile, one who loves books, will spend time in the library. A philatelist, one who collects stamps, will spend time in the post office. The relationship is worker workplace. Choice ( C ) is incorrect because the relationship is object to its function. A dog should eat a biscuit. Choices (A) and (D) are both the worker and creation relationship. None of these other choices have the worker to workplace relationship of the question.

A galley is a kitchen, but on a ship, not in a house. The relationship is synonymous. Choice (D) is incorrect because it is part to whole. Yarn makes fabric. Choice (C) has no relationship that can fit with the question. Both items are part of the human body, but without the relationship of the question. Choice (E) has the relationship of object to its function: a box makes a package. Choice (B) is incorrect because a roof holds up the walls and is the relationship of object to function.

The retina helps the eye function. A piston helps an engine to work. The relationship is cause to effect. Choice (D) is not correct because while both a wagon and a car are modes of trans- portation, their actual function is totally different. The relationship is item to category. Choice (C) has the relationship of part to whole. A leg is part of the chair. Choice (A) names two celestial objects: the relationship would be item to category. Choice (B) has the relationship of object to its function. One uses a spur to manipulate a horse:

A choreographer directs a ballet. as a director directs a play. The relationship is worker and creation. Choice (D) is not correct because the relationship is part to whole: 500 pages equal a ream. Choice (E) is worker and creation; the people elect. Choice (A) is part to whole: a trigger is part.of a piston. Choice (B). is symbolic, a dove is the sign of peace.