This is a 40-minute mixed-format Verbal Reasoning practice test (Set I), styled on GL Assessment 11+ multiple-choice papers. There are 45 questions in 10 timed sections: Closest in Meaning, Opposite in Meaning, Word Analogies, Compound Words, Hidden Words, Move a Letter, Letter Sequences, Number Series, Word Codes and Odd One Out. 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 (Move a Letter): one letter can move from the first word to the second word to make two new, correctly spelled words. Which letter moves from (SPOIL) to (AT)? Answer: P. Test each letter of SPOIL in turn to see whether removing it leaves a real word: removing P leaves SOIL, a real word, so P is a strong candidate. Check the second word next: adding P to the front of AT gives PAT, also a real word, so both halves work. Removing any of the other letters (S, O, I or L) from SPOIL does not leave a real English word, so P is the only letter that can move. In every Move a Letter question, first find which single letter can be removed from the first word to leave a real word, then check that the same letter can be added to the second word to make another real word before choosing your answer.
1
SECTION 1: CLOSEST IN MEANING (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word in capitals.
Q1. Choose the word closest in meaning to VIVID.
A) Dull
B) Vague
C) Bright
D) Faint
E) Blurred
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
(Closest in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to CLUMSY.
A) Graceful
B) Awkward
C) Nimble
D) Skilled
E) Elegant
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
(Closest in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word closest in meaning to ELOQUENT.
A) Silent
B) Articulate
C) Hesitant
D) Confused
E) Awkward
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
(Closest in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word closest in meaning to FORMIDABLE.
A) Harmless
B) Feeble
C) Intimidating
D) Trivial
E) Pleasant
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
(Closest in Meaning) Q5. Choose the word closest in meaning to PRECARIOUS.
A) Secure
B) Stable
C) Unstable
D) Permanent
E) Solid
(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)
6
SECTION 2: OPPOSITE IN MEANING (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capitals.
Q1. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to ARTIFICIAL.
A) Fake
B) Synthetic
C) Natural
D) Manufactured
E) Imitation
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
(Opposite in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to RECKLESS.
A) Careless
B) Cautious
C) Rash
D) Wild
E) Hasty
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
(Opposite in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to ORDERLY.
A) Tidy
B) Organised
C) Chaotic
D) Systematic
E) Neat
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
(Opposite in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to MUNDANE.
A) Ordinary
B) Routine
C) Extraordinary
D) Dull
E) Tedious
(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)
10
SECTION 3: WORD ANALOGIES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Choose the word that completes the second pair in the same way as the first pair.
Q1. KEY is to LOCK as PASSWORD is to ?
A) Account
B) Door
C) Computer
D) Keyboard
E) Number
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
(Word Analogies) Q2. THIMBLE is to FINGER as HELMET is to ?
A) Hair
B) Neck
C) Head
D) Face
E) Body
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
(Word Analogies) Q3. CRUMB is to LOAF as SPARK is to ?
A) Flame
B) Ash
C) Fire
D) Smoke
E) Ember
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
(Word Analogies) Q4. APIARY is to BEES as AVIARY is to ?
A) Insects
B) Fish
C) Birds
D) Reptiles
E) Bats
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
(Word Analogies) Q5. THAW is to FREEZE as WAKE is to ?
A) Sleep
B) Dream
C) Rest
D) Tired
E) Awake
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
SECTION 4: COMPOUND WORDS (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Find the one word that completes the word before the gap and also begins the word after the gap, making two real compound words. Choose from the options.
Q1. NEWS ( .... ) WORK
A) Flash
B) Cast
C) Paper
D) Stand
E) Letter
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
(Compound Words) Q2. BED ( .... ) TABLE
A) Room
B) Time
C) Side
D) Spread
E) Rock
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
(Compound Words) Q3. UNDER ( .... ) AGE
A) Stand
B) Go
C) Cover
D) Mine
E) Take
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
(Compound Words) Q4. GRAND ( .... ) BY
A) Father
B) Mother
C) Stand
D) Child
E) Parent
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
SECTION 5: HIDDEN WORDS (4 minutes, 5 questions)
A shorter word is hidden inside the word in capitals, spelled using letters that are next to each other and in the same order. Find the hidden word.
Q1. Which four-letter word is hidden inside CRATER?
A) Rate
B) Crat
C) Ater
D) Cate
E) Trer
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
(Hidden Words) Q2. Which four-letter word is hidden inside PLASTIC?
A) Last
B) Plas
C) Asti
D) Stic
E) Tic
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
(Hidden Words) Q3. Which five-letter word is hidden inside CHARMING?
A) Charm
B) Harmi
C) Armin
D) Rming
E) Harm
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
(Hidden Words) Q4. Which six-letter word is hidden inside GARDENER?
A) Garden
B) Ardene
C) Rdener
D) Den
E) Garde
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
(Hidden Words) Q5. Which seven-letter word is hidden inside DEVELOPER?
A) Develop
B) Evelope
C) Veloper
D) Elope
E) Develo
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
SECTION 6: 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. (CRUST) (OB)
A) C
B) R
C) U
D) S
E) T
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
(Move a Letter) Q2. (PRINT) (AGE)
A) P
B) R
C) I
D) N
E) T
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
(Move a Letter) Q3. (CHORD) (OW)
A) C
B) H
C) O
D) R
E) D
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
(Move a Letter) Q4. (THRONE) (ICE)
A) T
B) H
C) R
D) O
E) N
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
SECTION 7: LETTER SEQUENCES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Find the letter or letters that continue the sequence.
Q1. B, E, H, K, ( ? )
A) M
B) N
C) O
D) L
E) K
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
(Letter Sequences) Q2. Y, W, U, S, ( ? )
A) R
B) Q
C) P
D) O
E) S
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
(Letter Sequences) Q3. G, I, L, P, ( ? )
A) T
B) U
C) V
D) S
E) W
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
(Letter Sequences) Q4. K, J, H, E, ( ? )
A) B
B) A
C) C
D) Z
E) D
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
(Letter Sequences) Q5. D, Y, F, W, H, U, ( ? )
A) S
B) J
C) I
D) T
E) V
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
SECTION 8: NUMBER SERIES (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Find the number that continues the series.
Q1. 8, 17, 26, 35, ( ? )
A) 42
B) 43
C) 44
D) 45
E) 46
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
(Number Series) Q2. 91, 83, 75, 67, ( ? )
A) 57
B) 58
C) 59
D) 60
E) 61
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
(Number Series) Q3. 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, ( ? )
A) 37
B) 38
C) 39
D) 40
E) 41
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
(Number Series) Q4. 5, 7, 11, 19, 35, ( ? )
A) 63
B) 65
C) 67
D) 69
E) 70
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
SECTION 9: WORD CODES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Work out the rule used to make the code, then apply it to find the answer.
Q1. In a code, each letter is moved two places forward in the alphabet. What does SHELF become in this code?
A) UJGNH
B) TJGNH
C) UIGNH
D) UJFNH
E) UJGMH
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
(Word Codes) Q2. In a code, each letter is moved three places back in the alphabet, wrapping round to the end of the alphabet if needed. What does PLATE become in this code?
A) MIXQB
B) NIXQB
C) MJXQB
D) MIXRB
E) MIXQC
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
39
(Word Codes) Q3. In a code, each letter is moved three places forward in the alphabet. If the code for STORM is VWRUP, what is the code for TRACK?
A) WUDFN
B) VUDFN
C) WTDFN
D) WUCFN
E) WUDEN
(Total for Question 39 is 1 mark)
40
(Word Codes) Q4. In a code, each letter is replaced by the letter in the corresponding position counting from the end of the alphabet (A=Z, B=Y, C=X, and so on). What does CHIMP become in this code?
A) XSRNK
B) WSRNK
C) XTRNK
D) XSSNK
E) XSRMK
(Total for Question 40 is 1 mark)
41
(Word Codes) Q5. In a code, the first letter of the word is moved forward one place, the second letter is moved forward two places, the third letter is moved forward three places, and so on, with each letter moved one more place than the letter before it. What does STOVE become in this code?
A) TVRZJ
B) SVRZJ
C) TURZJ
D) TVQZJ
E) TVRYJ
(Total for Question 41 is 1 mark)
42
SECTION 10: ODD ONE OUT (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Four of the five words belong together in the same group. Choose the ONE word that does not belong.
Q1. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Coat
B) Jumper
C) Scarf
D) Umbrella
E) Gloves
(Total for Question 42 is 1 mark)
43
(Odd One Out) Q2. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Emerald
B) Ruby
C) Sapphire
D) Pearl
E) Diamond
(Total for Question 43 is 1 mark)
44
(Odd One Out) Q3. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Telescope
B) Microscope
C) Binoculars
D) Stethoscope
E) Periscope
(Total for Question 44 is 1 mark)
45
(Odd One Out) Q4. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Content
B) Satisfied
C) Gratified
D) Discontented
E) Pleased
(Total for Question 45 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.V39 Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set I
Question 1
B1 C) Bright - bright means strikingly colourful or clear, the closest match to vivid
Answer: C) Bright
Question 2
B1 B) Awkward - awkward means lacking grace or skill in movement, the closest match to clumsy
Answer: B) Awkward
Question 3
B1 B) Articulate - articulate means fluent and clear in speech, the closest match to eloquent
Answer: B) Articulate
Question 4
B1 C) Intimidating - intimidating means inspiring fear or respect through impressive strength, the closest match to formidable
Answer: C) Intimidating
Question 5
B1 C) Unstable - unstable means not securely held or likely to fail, the closest match to precarious
Answer: C) Unstable
Question 6
B1 C) Natural - natural means occurring without human intervention, the opposite of artificial
Answer: C) Natural
Question 7
B1 B) Cautious - cautious means careful to avoid risk or danger, the opposite of reckless
Answer: B) Cautious
Question 8
B1 C) Chaotic - chaotic means in a state of complete disorder, the opposite of orderly
Answer: C) Chaotic
Question 9
B1 C) Extraordinary - extraordinary means remarkable or out of the ordinary, the opposite of mundane
Answer: C) Extraordinary
Question 10
B1 A) Account - a key is used to gain entry through a lock, just as a password is used to gain entry to an account
Answer: A) Account
Question 11
B1 C) Head - a thimble is a protective covering worn on the finger, just as a helmet is a protective covering worn on the head
Answer: C) Head
Question 12
B1 C) Fire - a crumb is a small fragment that comes off a loaf, just as a spark is a small fragment that flies off a fire
Answer: C) Fire
Question 13
B1 C) Birds - an apiary is a place built to house bees, just as an aviary is a place built to house birds
Answer: C) Birds
Question 14
B1 A) Sleep - to thaw is the reverse of the process of freezing, just as to wake is the reverse of the process of sleeping
Answer: A) Sleep
Question 15
B1 C) Paper - completes NEWS to make NEWSPAPER and begins WORK to make PAPERWORK
Answer: C) Paper
Question 16
B1 B) Time - completes BED to make BEDTIME and begins TABLE to make TIMETABLE
Answer: B) Time
Question 17
B1 C) Cover - completes UNDER to make UNDERCOVER and begins AGE to make COVERAGE
Answer: C) Cover
Question 18
B1 C) Stand - completes GRAND to make GRANDSTAND and begins BY to make STANDBY
Answer: C) Stand
Question 19
B1 A) Rate - CRATER contains the letters R-A-T-E in a row (positions 2 to 5), spelling RATE
Answer: A) Rate
Question 20
B1 A) Last - PLASTIC contains the letters L-A-S-T in a row (positions 2 to 5), spelling LAST
Answer: A) Last
Question 21
B1 A) Charm - CHARMING contains the letters C-H-A-R-M in a row (positions 1 to 5), spelling CHARM
Answer: A) Charm
Question 22
B1 A) Garden - GARDENER contains the letters G-A-R-D-E-N in a row (positions 1 to 6), spelling GARDEN
Answer: A) Garden
Question 23
B1 A) Develop - DEVELOPER contains the letters D-E-V-E-L-O-P in a row (positions 1 to 7), spelling DEVELOP
Answer: A) Develop
Question 24
B1 A) C - CRUST loses C to become RUST, and OB gains C at the front to become COB
Answer: A) C
Question 25
B1 B) R - PRINT loses R to become PINT, and AGE gains R at the front to become RAGE
Answer: B) R
Question 26
B1 B) H - CHORD loses H to become CORD, and OW gains H at the front to become HOW
Answer: B) H
Question 27
B1 E) N - THRONE loses N to become THROE, meaning a sudden pang or spasm, and ICE gains N at the front to become NICE
Answer: E) N
Question 28
B1 B) N - each letter is 3 places after the one before (B=2, E=5, H=8, K=11, N=14)
Answer: B) N
Question 29
B1 B) Q - each letter is 2 places before the one before it (Y=25, W=23, U=21, S=19, Q=17)
Answer: B) Q
Question 30
B1 B) U - the gap between letters increases by 1 each time (+2, +3, +4, so the next gap is +5): G=7, I=9, L=12, P=16, U=21
Answer: B) U
Question 31
B1 B) A - the gap between letters decreases by 1 each time (-1, -2, -3, so the next gap is -4): K=11, J=10, H=8, E=5, A=1
Answer: B) A
Question 32
B1 B) J - two sequences are interleaved: D, F, H moving forward through the alphabet (+2 each time), and Y, W, U moving backward (-2 each time), so the next term continues the forward sequence with J
Answer: B) J
Question 33
B1 C) 44 - each number increases by 9 (8, 17, 26, 35, 44)
Answer: C) 44
Question 34
B1 C) 59 - each number decreases by 8 (91, 83, 75, 67, 59)
Answer: C) 59
Question 35
B1 C) 39 - the gap between numbers increases by 2 each time (+3, +5, +7, +9, so the next gap is +11): 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, 39
Answer: C) 39
Question 36
B1 C) 67 - the rule is double the number, then subtract 3 (5x2-3=7, 7x2-3=11, 11x2-3=19, 19x2-3=35), so 35x2-3=67
Answer: C) 67
Question 37
B1 A) UJGNH - each letter moves forward two places: S->U, H->J, E->G, L->N, F->H
Answer: A) UJGNH
Question 38
B1 A) MIXQB - each letter moves back three places, wrapping round the alphabet where needed: P->M, L->I, A->X, T->Q, E->B
Answer: A) MIXQB
Question 39
B1 A) WUDFN - each letter moves forward three places, matching the STORM example: T->W, R->U, A->D, C->F, K->N
Answer: A) WUDFN
Question 40
B1 A) XSRNK - each letter's position p is replaced by the letter at position (27 - p): C->X, H->S, I->R, M->N, P->K
Answer: A) XSRNK
Question 41
B1 A) TVRZJ - S moves forward 1 place to T, T moves forward 2 places to V, O moves forward 3 places to R, V moves forward 4 places to Z, E moves forward 5 places to J
Answer: A) TVRZJ
Question 42
B1 D) Umbrella - an umbrella is carried to keep off rain, while coat, jumper, scarf and gloves are all items of clothing worn on the body
Answer: D) Umbrella
Question 43
B1 D) Pearl - a pearl forms organically inside an oyster, while emerald, ruby, sapphire and diamond are all crystalline mineral gemstones
Answer: D) Pearl
Question 44
B1 D) Stethoscope - a stethoscope is used for listening to sounds inside the body, while telescope, microscope, binoculars and periscope are all used for viewing things
Answer: D) Stethoscope
Question 45
B1 D) Discontented - discontented means dissatisfied, while content, satisfied, gratified and pleased all describe a feeling of happy satisfaction