This is a 40-minute mixed-format Verbal Reasoning practice test (Set C), styled on GL Assessment 11+ multiple-choice papers. There are 45 questions in 10 timed sections, covering: closest in meaning, opposite in meaning, word analogies, compound words, hidden words, letter sequences, word codes, odd one out, word association (double meaning) and move a letter. Every question is worth 1 mark, for 45 marks in total. Difficulty increases within each section and across the pack as a whole. For each question, choose the ONE best answer from the options A to E. No calculator is allowed. Work through the sections in order and try to keep to the suggested time shown at the start of each section. If you are unsure of an answer, mark your best guess and move on, then return to it at the end if there is time left.
Worked example. Worked example (Word Association): which word matches BOTH meanings below?
a) the long nose of an elephant
b) the storage compartment at the back of a car
Which word fits both meanings? Answer: Trunk. An elephant's trunk is its long nose, and a car's trunk is its rear storage compartment. The same word, TRUNK, fits both meanings exactly, so it is the answer. Always check that your chosen word matches BOTH definitions given, not just one, before selecting your final answer.
1
SECTION 1: CLOSEST IN MEANING (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Choose the word closest in meaning to the word in capitals.
Q1. VIVID
A) Dull
B) Bright
C) Faint
D) Grey
E) Ordinary
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
(Closest in Meaning) Q2. HUMBLE
A) Proud
B) Modest
C) Angry
D) Lazy
E) Confident
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
(Closest in Meaning) Q3. CAUTIOUS
A) Careless
B) Bold
C) Wary
D) Confident
E) Hasty
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
(Closest in Meaning) Q4. ECCENTRIC
A) Ordinary
B) Unconventional
C) Friendly
D) Serious
E) Elegant
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
(Closest in Meaning) Q5. TENACIOUS
A) Persistent
B) Weak
C) Forgetful
D) Careless
E) Timid
(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)
6
SECTION 2: OPPOSITE IN MEANING (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Choose the word most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word in capitals.
Q1. BRIGHT
A) Shiny
B) Dim
C) Loud
D) Fast
E) Heavy
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
(Opposite in Meaning) Q2. ARRIVE
A) Depart
B) Enter
C) Wait
D) Stay
E) Return
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
(Opposite in Meaning) Q3. SHALLOW
A) Wide
B) Deep
C) Narrow
D) Flat
E) Small
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
(Opposite in Meaning) Q4. ABUNDANT
A) Plentiful
B) Common
C) Scarce
D) Large
E) Wealthy
(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)
10
(Opposite in Meaning) Q5. TRANSIENT
A) Brief
B) Fleeting
C) Permanent
D) Sudden
E) Rare
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
SECTION 3: WORD ANALOGIES (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Choose the word that completes the second pair in the same way as the first pair.
Q1. PILOT is to AEROPLANE as CAPTAIN is to ?
A) Ship
B) Sea
C) Anchor
D) Sailor
E) Port
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
(Word Analogies) Q2. PETAL is to FLOWER as LEAF is to ?
A) Root
B) Tree
C) Branch
D) Seed
E) Bark
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
(Word Analogies) Q3. THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as SPEEDOMETER is to ?
A) Distance
B) Speed
C) Fuel
D) Engine
E) Direction
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
(Word Analogies) Q4. SCULPTOR is to STATUE as ARCHITECT is to ?
A) Brick
B) Building
C) City
D) Design
E) Site
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
SECTION 4: COMPOUND WORDS (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Find the one word that can be joined onto the end of the first word and the front of the second word to make two new real words.
Q1. SIDE ( .... ) WALK
A) Board
B) Line
C) Show
D) Track
E) Kick
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
(Compound Words) Q2. PLAY ( .... ) GROUND
A) Back
B) Time
C) Mate
D) Room
E) House
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
(Compound Words) Q3. CLASS ( .... ) ROOM
A) Work
B) Mate
C) Time
D) Out
E) Book
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
(Compound Words) Q4. SPOT ( .... ) HOUSE
A) Light
B) Bulb
C) Shade
D) Beam
E) Weight
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
SECTION 5: HIDDEN WORDS (4 minutes, 5 questions)
A word is hidden where two consecutive words join in the sentence below, using the last letter(s) of one word and the first letter(s) of the next. Which word is hidden?
Q1. "The old sidecar driver waved at the crowd."
A) CARD
B) CARS
C) ARID
D) DRIVE
E) SIDE
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
(Hidden Words) Q2. "The young goat herd wandered near the village pond."
A) OATH
B) GOAT
C) HERD
D) THEN
E) OATS
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
(Hidden Words) Q3. "They began to plan detailed travel routes for the summer."
A) LAND
B) PLAN
C) TAIL
D) DATE
E) NAIL
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
(Hidden Words) Q4. "Grandad's old stove nearby needed cleaning before the party."
A) OVEN
B) STOVE
C) EARN
D) NEAR
E) VEIN
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
(Hidden Words) Q5. "The strong rainy winds battered the coastal town for three days."
A) GRAIN
B) STRONG
C) RAINY
D) TRON
E) ONGR
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
SECTION 6: LETTER SEQUENCES (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Find the letter that continues the sequence.
Q1. D, H, L, P, ( ? )
A) S
B) T
C) U
D) R
E) V
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
(Letter Sequences) Q2. Y, U, Q, M, ( ? )
A) G
B) H
C) I
D) J
E) K
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
(Letter Sequences) Q3. B, D, G, K, ( ? )
A) N
B) O
C) P
D) Q
E) R
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
(Letter Sequences) Q4. E, V, G, T, I, ( ? )
A) H
B) J
C) K
D) R
E) L
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
SECTION 7: WORD CODES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Work out the rule used to make the code, then apply it to find the answer.
Q1. If the code for MILK is RNQP, what is the code for FISH, using the same rule?
A) KNXM
B) JNXM
C) KMXM
D) KNWM
E) LOXN
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
(Word Codes) Q2. If the code for GRAPE is DOXMB, what is the code for PLUM, using the same rule?
A) MIRJ
B) NIRJ
C) MJRJ
D) MIQJ
E) LHQI
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
(Word Codes) Q3. In this code, each letter is replaced by its 'mirror' letter in the alphabet: A becomes Z, B becomes Y, C becomes X, and so on. If CAKE is coded as XZPV, what is the code for ROBE, using the same rule?
A) ILYV
B) IMYV
C) ILXV
D) JLYV
E) ILYW
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
(Word Codes) Q4. If GARDEN is coded as 134567 and HARDEN is coded as 834567, work out the code for HEAD using the same rule.
A) 8635
B) 8630
C) 8735
D) 8645
E) 3685
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
(Word Codes) Q5. In a code, each letter is shifted forward through the alphabet by a number of places equal to its position in the word (the 1st letter moves 1 place, the 2nd letter moves 2 places, and so on). Using this rule, SONG becomes TQQK. What does RIVER become?
A) SKYIW
B) SKXIW
C) SJYIW
D) SKYHW
E) RKYIW
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
SECTION 8: ODD ONE OUT (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Four of these five words belong together in some way. Which ONE word does NOT belong with the others?
Q1. DRIZZLE, HAIL, THUNDER, SLEET, BLIZZARD.
A) Drizzle
B) Hail
C) Thunder
D) Sleet
E) Blizzard
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
(Odd One Out) Q2. SPATULA, WHISK, LADLE, UMBRELLA, TONGS.
A) Spatula
B) Whisk
C) Ladle
D) Umbrella
E) Tongs
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
(Odd One Out) Q3. TRAM, MONORAIL, FUNICULAR, FERRY, CABLE CAR.
A) Tram
B) Monorail
C) Funicular
D) Ferry
E) Cable car
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
(Odd One Out) Q4. DILIGENT, INDUSTRIOUS, CONSCIENTIOUS, INDOLENT, ASSIDUOUS.
A) Diligent
B) Industrious
C) Conscientious
D) Indolent
E) Assiduous
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
SECTION 9: WORD ASSOCIATION (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Which word matches BOTH meanings given below?
Q1. a) a flying nocturnal mammal b) a piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball
A) Racket
B) Bat
C) Club
D) Stick
E) Paddle
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
(Word Association) Q2. a) the outer covering of a tree b) the sound a dog makes
A) Howl
B) Trunk
C) Bark
D) Growl
E) Yelp
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
39
(Word Association) Q3. a) the inner surface of your hand b) a tall tree found in tropical places
A) Palm
B) Finger
C) Coconut
D) Leaf
E) Wrist
(Total for Question 39 is 1 mark)
40
(Word Association) Q4. a) a financial institution where you keep money b) the land along the edge of a river
A) Shore
B) Vault
C) Bank
D) Coast
E) Branch
(Total for Question 40 is 1 mark)
41
(Word Association) Q5. a) a tool used for drawing straight lines or measuring b) a person who governs a country
A) Governor
B) Ruler
C) Monarch
D) Measure
E) President
(Total for Question 41 is 1 mark)
42
SECTION 10: MOVE A LETTER (4 minutes, 4 questions)
One letter can move from the first word to the second word to make two new, correctly spelled words. Which letter moves?
Q1. (STONE) (AGE)
A) S
B) T
C) O
D) N
E) E
(Total for Question 42 is 1 mark)
43
(Move a Letter) Q2. (CHASE) (AT)
A) C
B) H
C) A
D) S
E) E
(Total for Question 43 is 1 mark)
44
(Move a Letter) Q3. (PLATE) (AN)
A) P
B) L
C) A
D) T
E) N
(Total for Question 44 is 1 mark)
45
(Move a Letter) Q4. (STARE) (OIL)
A) S
B) E
C) T
D) A
E) R
(Total for Question 45 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.V27 Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set C
Question 1
B1 B) Bright - VIVID and BRIGHT both describe something producing strong, clear colour or light
Answer: B) Bright
Question 2
B1 B) Modest - HUMBLE and MODEST both describe someone who does not boast about their achievements
Answer: B) Modest
Question 3
B1 C) Wary - CAUTIOUS and WARY both describe being careful to avoid danger or mistakes
Answer: C) Wary
Question 4
B1 B) Unconventional - ECCENTRIC and UNCONVENTIONAL both describe unusual or odd behaviour that differs from the norm
Answer: B) Unconventional
Question 5
B1 A) Persistent - TENACIOUS and PERSISTENT both describe holding firmly on to something and not giving up
Answer: A) Persistent
Question 6
B1 B) Dim - BRIGHT means full of light; its opposite is DIM, giving little light
Answer: B) Dim
Question 7
B1 A) Depart - ARRIVE means to reach a place; its opposite is DEPART, to leave a place
Answer: A) Depart
Question 8
B1 B) Deep - SHALLOW means not far from the surface; its opposite is DEEP, extending far down
Answer: B) Deep
Question 9
B1 C) Scarce - ABUNDANT means existing in large quantities; its opposite is SCARCE, existing in very small quantities
Answer: C) Scarce
Question 10
B1 C) Permanent - TRANSIENT means lasting only a short time; its opposite is PERMANENT, lasting forever or a very long time
Answer: C) Permanent
Question 11
B1 A) Ship - a pilot is the person who operates an aeroplane, just as a captain is the person who operates a ship
Answer: A) Ship
Question 12
B1 B) Tree - a petal is one part that grows on a flower, just as a leaf is one part that grows on a tree
Answer: B) Tree
Question 13
B1 B) Speed - a thermometer is an instrument that measures temperature, just as a speedometer is an instrument that measures speed
Answer: B) Speed
Question 14
B1 B) Building - a sculptor is a creator whose work is a statue, just as an architect is a creator whose work is a building
Answer: B) Building
Question 15
B1 A) Board - SIDE + BOARD = SIDEBOARD and BOARD + WALK = BOARDWALK, both real words
Answer: A) Board
Question 16
B1 A) Back - PLAY + BACK = PLAYBACK and BACK + GROUND = BACKGROUND, both real words
Answer: A) Back
Question 17
B1 A) Work - CLASS + WORK = CLASSWORK and WORK + ROOM = WORKROOM, both real words
Answer: A) Work
Question 18
B1 A) Light - SPOT + LIGHT = SPOTLIGHT and LIGHT + HOUSE = LIGHTHOUSE, both real words
Answer: A) Light
Question 19
B1 A) CARD - hidden across 'sidecar driver': the last three letters of SIDECAR ('car') plus the first letter of DRIVER ('d') spell CARD
Answer: A) CARD
Question 20
B1 A) OATH - hidden across 'goat herd': the last three letters of GOAT ('oat') plus the first letter of HERD ('h') spell OATH
Answer: A) OATH
Question 21
B1 A) LAND - hidden across 'plan detailed': the last three letters of PLAN ('lan') plus the first letter of DETAILED ('d') spell LAND
Answer: A) LAND
Question 22
B1 A) OVEN - hidden across 'stove nearby': the last three letters of STOVE ('ove') plus the first letter of NEARBY ('n') spell OVEN
Answer: A) OVEN
Question 23
B1 A) GRAIN - hidden across 'strong rainy': the last letter of STRONG ('g') plus the first four letters of RAINY ('rain') spell GRAIN
Answer: A) GRAIN
Question 24
B1 B) T - each letter is 4 places after the one before (D=4, H=8, L=12, P=16, T=20) cao
Answer: B) T
Question 25
B1 C) I - each letter is 4 places before the one before (Y=25, U=21, Q=17, M=13, I=9) cao
Answer: C) I
Question 26
B1 C) P - the gaps between letters increase by one each time (+2, +3, +4, so the next gap is +5): B=2, D=4, G=7, K=11, P=16 cao
Answer: C) P
Question 27
B1 D) R - this sequence interleaves two patterns: the 1st, 3rd and 5th letters go forward in steps of 2 (E, G, I, ...) and the 2nd and 4th letters go backward in steps of 2 (V, T, ...); the missing 6th term is an even position, so it continues the backward pattern - after V(22), T(20) comes R(18) cao
Answer: D) R
Question 28
B1 A) KNXM - each letter moves 5 places forward in the alphabet (M->R, I->N, L->Q, K->P), so F->K, I->N, S->X, H->M
Answer: A) KNXM
Question 29
B1 A) MIRJ - each letter moves 3 places back in the alphabet, wrapping A to X (G->D, R->O, A->X, P->M, E->B), so P->M, L->I, U->R, M->J
Answer: A) MIRJ
Question 30
B1 A) ILYV - the mirror rule pairs letter position p with position (27-p): C(3)->X(24), A(1)->Z(26), K(11)->P(16), E(5)->V(22), so R->I, O->L, B->Y, E->V
Answer: A) ILYV
Question 31
B1 A) 8635 - comparing the two codes shows A=3, R=4, D=5, E=6, N=7 stay the same, and the differing first letters give G=1, H=8; so HEAD uses H=8, E=6, A=3, D=5, giving 8635
Answer: A) 8635
Question 32
B1 A) SKYIW - checking the rule with SONG: S(19)+1=T(20), O(15)+2=Q(17), N(14)+3=Q(17), G(7)+4=K(11), giving TQQK; applying the same rule to RIVER: R(18)+1=S(19), I(9)+2=K(11), V(22)+3=Y(25), E(5)+4=I(9), R(18)+5=W(23), giving SKYIW
Answer: A) SKYIW
Question 33
B1 C) Thunder - Drizzle, Hail, Sleet and Blizzard are all forms of precipitation falling from the sky; Thunder is a sound, not a form of precipitation, so it is the odd one out
Answer: C) Thunder
Question 34
B1 D) Umbrella - Spatula, Whisk, Ladle and Tongs are all kitchen utensils; Umbrella is used for shelter from rain, so it is the odd one out
Answer: D) Umbrella
Question 35
B1 D) Ferry - Tram, Monorail, Funicular and Cable car all travel along a fixed rail, track or line; a Ferry travels freely across open water with no fixed track, so it is the odd one out
Answer: D) Ferry
Question 36
B1 D) Indolent - Diligent, Industrious, Conscientious and Assiduous all describe careful, hard-working effort; Indolent means lazy, so it is the odd one out
Answer: D) Indolent
Question 37
B1 B) Bat - a bat is both a flying nocturnal mammal and a piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball
Answer: B) Bat
Question 38
B1 C) Bark - bark is both the outer covering of a tree and the sound a dog makes
Answer: C) Bark
Question 39
B1 A) Palm - palm is both the inner surface of the hand and a tall tropical tree
Answer: A) Palm
Question 40
B1 C) Bank - bank is both a financial institution and the land along the edge of a river
Answer: C) Bank
Question 41
B1 B) Ruler - a ruler is both a tool for drawing straight lines and measuring, and a person who governs a country
Answer: B) Ruler
Question 42
B1 A) S - STONE loses S to become TONE, and AGE gains S at the front to become SAGE
Answer: A) S
Question 43
B1 B) H - CHASE loses H to become CASE, and AT gains H at the front to become HAT
Answer: B) H
Question 44
B1 A) P - PLATE loses P to become LATE, and AN gains P at the front to become PAN
Answer: A) P
Question 45
B1 A) S - STARE loses S to become TARE, and OIL gains S at the front to become SOIL