In last week’s post, ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT Synonym Questions: Avoiding Traps, we discussed common pitfalls in synonym questions on secondary school entrance exams like the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT. Now, we’ll explore specific strategies to tackle these questions with confidence. These approaches can help students not only avoid traps but also identify the correct answer more efficiently.
1. Create Your Own Synonym First
One of the most effective strategies for synonym questions is to come up with your own synonym for the stem word before you even look at the answer choices. This way, you avoid being influenced by any distractor answers that might share similar prefixes, suffixes, or sounds.
How It Works:
When you see the stem word, pause and think about what it means in your own words. Ask yourself, “If I were explaining this word to someone, what word would I use?” Once you have your synonym, compare it to the answer choices.
Example:
Stem Word: “Timid”
Before looking at the answer choices, you think: “Timid means scared.”
Answer Choices:
A) Brazen
B) Reserved
C) Reckless
D) Ambitious
Explanation:
Since you already thought of “scared” as a synonym for “timid,” you can quickly identify that B) Reserved as the most similar answer without being confused by the other options. Perhaps the word we made up in this case wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely good enough to guide us to the best answer.
Why It Works:
Generating a synonym first keeps you focused on meaning and guards against traps that look or sound like the word but are incorrect.
2. Use Prefixes and Suffixes to Guide You
While prefix and suffix traps exist, having a strong understanding of common prefixes and suffixes can also help you. Knowing what these parts mean can clarify which words make sense and which ones are distractions.
How It Works:
Prefixes like “un-,” “dis-,” or “re-” often provide clues about a word’s meaning. For example, “un-” usually implies a negative or opposite meaning, while “re-” suggests repetition or doing something again.
Example:
Stem Word: “Discontent”
Think: “Discontent means not content.”
Answer Choices:
A) Amicability
B) Unhappiness
C) Appeasement
D) Gratitude
Explanation:
The prefix “dis-” indicates something negative or opposite. When you break down the stem word, you realize that B) Unhappiness is the synonym because “discontent” literally means lacking contentment, just as the un- prefix in “unhappy” indicates that this word literally means not happy. Answers A) Amicability and C) Appeasement have the opposite meaning, and if we are familiar with the re- prefix in “reflective,” we also realize that this option doesn’t fit the definition either.
3. Antonyms in the Answer Choices: A Powerful Clue
Another useful trick involves paying attention to antonyms within the answer choices. If two answer choices are opposites (antonyms), there’s a good chance that one of them is the correct answer. This strategy helps you narrow down your options and focus on the two most likely answers.
Example:
Stem Word: “Vigorous”
Think: “Vigorous means healthy or strong.”
Answer Choices:
A) Analogous
B) Feeble
C) Energetic
D) Passive
Explanation:
B) Feeble and C) Energetic are antonyms. Since “vigorous” means healthy or strong, you can safely eliminate B) Feeble and focus on C) Energetic as the correct answer. The other choices don’t fit, and recognizing the antonyms helps you make a quicker decision.
4. Pay Attention to Word Charge (Positive or Negative Connotation)
Another powerful strategy for tackling synonym questions is to focus on the connotation or “charge” of the words. Words generally have either a positive, negative, or neutral tone, and this can help guide you toward the correct answer. If the stem word has a positive connotation, the correct answer is likely to also have a positive charge, and the same goes for negative words.
How It Works:
When you see the stem word, quickly assess whether it carries a positive or negative tone. Then, as you look at the answer choices, eliminate those that don’t match the tone of the stem word.
Example:
Stem Word: “Hostile”
Think: “Hostile has a negative connotation, meaning aggressive or unfriendly.”
Answer Choices:
A) Friendly
B) Aggressive
C) Neutral
D) Sympathetic
Explanation:
The stem word “hostile” clearly has a negative charge, so you can immediately eliminate A) Friendly and D) Sympathetic since they both carry positive connotations. That leaves you with B) Aggressive and C) Neutral, but since “hostile” means actively unfriendly, the word B) Aggressive matches the negative tone and meaning, making it the correct answer.
Why It Works:
Matching the connotation of the stem word to the answer choices is an efficient way to narrow down your options. Many incorrect answers are designed to distract students by offering words that don’t align with the tone of the stem word, and understanding this can help you avoid those traps.
Final Tips for Synonym Questions
- Trust Your Vocabulary Knowledge: Even if a word seems unfamiliar at first, you might know more than you think! Trust your ability to break down words and recall their meanings.
- Eliminate the Obvious Wrong Choices: If a word doesn’t align with the meaning you created for the stem word, cross it out immediately. Narrowing your options improves your chances of selecting the right answer.
- Practice Contextual Use: Try using the stem word in a sentence to clarify its meaning. This can give you a better sense of which answer choice best fits.
Conclusion
By developing these strategies—generating your own synonym first, leveraging your knowledge of prefixes and suffixes, and watching for antonym pairs—you can approach synonym questions on the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT with greater confidence. Practice these techniques as part of a Mindfish ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT prep program to strengthen your word recognition and reasoning skills, making test day less daunting.
