Synonyms questions ask you to find the word most similar in meaning to the given word. SSAT tests vocabulary at a high level — words are rarely simple. You must distinguish shades of meaning.
🔑 Key Strategies
Break words into roots, prefixes, suffixes: bene-(good), mal-(bad), -ology(study)
Consider connotation: positive, negative, or neutral?
Eliminate obvious wrong answers first
Look for Latin/Greek cognates in choices
📘 Must-Know Words (Synonyms)
Loquacious= talkative
Benevolent= kind
Sagacious= wise
Laconic= brief
Ostentatious= showy
Tenacious= persistent
Ameliorate= improve
Perfidious= treacherous
Lugubrious= mournful
Obdurate= stubborn
📝 Worked Example
LOQUACIOUS most nearly means: A) silent B) talkative C) hostile D) clever E) careful
✓ Answer: B — loquacious = given to excessive talking
◆ Section 2 · Analogies
Mastering Analogies
Analogies test your ability to see logical relationships between word pairs. Write a bridge sentence that clearly states the relationship, then find the pair that fits the same bridge.
🔑 Common Relationship Types
Part to Whole: wheel : bicycle (a wheel is part of a bicycle)
Cause and Effect: drought : famine
Tool and User: scalpel : surgeon
Degree: warm : scalding (scalding is an extreme degree of warm)
Antonym: transparent : opaque
Function: rudder : steer (rudder is used to steer)
Characteristic: miser : stingy
📝 Worked Example
COMPOSER : SYMPHONY → ? A) painter : canvas B) author : novel C) reader : library D) actor : stage
✓ Answer: B — A composer creates a symphony; an author creates a novel.
◆ Section 3 · Sentence Completion
Sentence Completion Strategy
These questions test vocabulary in context. Read the entire sentence before looking at choices. Identify clue words (although, because, however, despite) to determine whether the blank should be positive or negative, similar or contrasting.
🔑 Signal Words to Watch
Contrast signals: although, despite, however, yet, but, while, rather than
Agreement signals: because, since, therefore, thus, as a result, so
Intensifier signals: even, especially, particularly, most notably
📝 Worked Example
Although the scientist's theory was initially _______, later experiments proved it to be revolutionary. A) celebrated B) dismissed C) published D) replicated
SSAT passages are 250–850 words. Focus on main idea, tone, inference, and vocabulary in context. Always refer back to the passage — never answer from memory or opinion.
🔑 Question Types to Master
Main Idea: What is the passage primarily about?
Author's Tone: Is the author critical? admiring? neutral? ironic?
Inference: What can be concluded from lines X–Y?
Vocabulary in Context: The word "X" (line N) most nearly means...
Supporting Detail: According to the passage, which of the following is true?
📝 Worked Example
Passage: "The monarch butterfly's migration is an extraordinary feat of navigation, spanning thousands of miles through terrain the butterflies have never before encountered." The word "feat" most nearly means: A) celebration B) accomplishment C) problem D) journey
✓ Answer: B — "feat" in context means an extraordinary accomplishment.