This is a 40-minute mixed-format Verbal Reasoning practice test (Set J), styled on GL Assessment 11+ multiple-choice papers. It is a tenth, all-new set of mixed reasoning questions on this topic. There are 45 questions in 10 timed sections: Closest in Meaning, Opposite in Meaning, Word Analogies, Hidden Words, Compound Words, Letter Sequences, Number Series, Word Codes, Odd One Out and Related Words. 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 (Hidden Words): a shorter word is hidden inside a longer word, spelled using letters that are next to each other and in the same order. Which four-letter word is hidden inside GRATEFUL? Answer: Rate. Spell out the letters of GRATEFUL one at a time: G-R-A-T-E-F-U-L. Test each possible run of four consecutive letters in turn: GRAT is not a real word, RATE (positions 2 to 5) is a real word meaning a measure or a charge, and ATEF, TEFU and EFUL are not real words either. So RATE is the only four-letter word hidden inside GRATEFUL. Apply this same letter-by-letter approach throughout the pack, even as the sections move from meanings and analogies to compound words, letter and number sequences, coded words, odd one out and related-word groups: work through each source word or pattern methodically, test every option carefully, and rule out anything that is not a genuine match 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 GENEROUS.
A) Selfish
B) Stingy
C) Mean
D) Greedy
E) Giving
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
(Closest in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to ENORMOUS.
A) Tiny
B) Small
C) Slight
D) Huge
E) Minor
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
(Closest in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word closest in meaning to ANCIENT.
A) Modern
B) Recent
C) Aged
D) New
E) Current
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
(Closest in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word closest in meaning to RELUCTANT.
A) Eager
B) Willing
C) Keen
D) Enthusiastic
E) Unwilling
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
(Closest in Meaning) Q5. Choose the word closest in meaning to FRUGAL.
A) Wasteful
B) Thrifty
C) Extravagant
D) Generous
E) Lavish
(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 ARRIVE.
A) Enter
B) Reach
C) Come
D) Return
E) Depart
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
(Opposite in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to WIDE.
A) Broad
B) Vast
C) Narrow
D) Spacious
E) Large
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
(Opposite in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to GENUINE.
A) Real
B) Fake
C) True
D) Honest
E) Authentic
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
(Opposite in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to FRIVOLOUS.
A) Serious
B) Silly
C) Playful
D) Trivial
E) Careless
(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. KNIFE is to CUT as BROOM is to ?
A) Wash
B) Polish
C) Scrub
D) Sweep
E) Dust
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
(Word Analogies) Q2. CHICK is to HEN as LAMB is to ?
A) Goat
B) Cow
C) Pig
D) Deer
E) Sheep
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
(Word Analogies) Q3. PILOT is to AEROPLANE as CAPTAIN is to ?
A) Car
B) Train
C) Ship
D) Bicycle
E) Bus
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
(Word Analogies) Q4. WHISPER is to SHOUT as WALK is to ?
A) Stand
B) Sprint
C) Sit
D) Rest
E) Wait
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
(Word Analogies) Q5. COBBLER is to SHOES as TAILOR is to ?
A) Clothes
B) Bread
C) Furniture
D) Jewellery
E) Pottery
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
SECTION 4: 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 BARGAIN?
A) Barg
B) Arga
C) Rgai
D) Bar
E) Gain
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
(Hidden Words) Q2. Which four-letter word is hidden inside SPINACH?
A) Pina
B) Inac
C) Nach
D) Spin
E) Pin
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
(Hidden Words) Q3. Which five-letter word is hidden inside TRIANGLE?
A) Tria
B) Riang
C) Angle
D) Iangl
E) Rian
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
(Hidden Words) Q4. Which five-letter word is hidden inside ORCHESTRA?
A) Rches
B) Chest
C) Hestr
D) Estra
E) Orche
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
(Hidden Words) Q5. Which six-letter word is hidden inside SUPERMARKET?
A) Super
B) Market
C) Ermark
D) Rmarke
E) Uperma
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
SECTION 5: 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. BASKET ( .... ) ROOM
A) Court
B) Net
C) Hoop
D) Team
E) Ball
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
(Compound Words) Q2. CARD ( .... ) WALK
A) Game
B) Path
C) Board
D) Paper
E) Table
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
(Compound Words) Q3. HAND ( .... ) CASE
A) Book
B) Bag
C) Shake
D) Rail
E) Cuff
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
(Compound Words) Q4. DRAGON ( .... ) WHEEL
A) Fire
B) Snake
C) Scale
D) Fly
E) Fish
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
SECTION 6: LETTER SEQUENCES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Find the letter or letters that continue the sequence.
Q1. C, F, I, L, ( ? )
A) M
B) N
C) O
D) P
E) L
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
(Letter Sequences) Q2. Y, W, U, S, ( ? )
A) R
B) Q
C) P
D) T
E) O
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
(Letter Sequences) Q3. B, E, I, N, ( ? )
A) S
B) T
C) U
D) R
E) V
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
(Letter Sequences) Q4. K, J, H, E, ( ? )
A) B
B) C
C) D
D) Z
E) A
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
(Letter Sequences) Q5. E, V, G, T, I, R, ( ? )
A) P
B) J
C) K
D) L
E) S
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
SECTION 7: NUMBER SERIES (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Find the next number in the series.
Q1. 5, 10, 15, 20, ?
A) 24
B) 25
C) 30
D) 22
E) 26
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
(Number Series) Q2. 1, 3, 9, 27, ?
A) 54
B) 60
C) 81
D) 78
E) 90
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
(Number Series) Q3. 2, 6, 12, 20, ?
A) 28
B) 30
C) 32
D) 26
E) 24
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
(Number Series) Q4. 1, 2, 6, 24, ?
A) 96
B) 100
C) 110
D) 120
E) 144
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
SECTION 8: 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 (A becomes C, B becomes D, and so on). What does MILK become in this code?
A) OKNM
B) OJNM
C) OKMM
D) NKNM
E) OKNL
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
(Word Codes) Q2. In a code, each letter is moved three places back in the alphabet. What does SHOP become in this code?
A) QELM
B) PFLM
C) PEMM
D) PELM
E) PELN
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
(Word Codes) Q3. In a code, each letter is moved six places forward in the alphabet, wrapping round to the start of the alphabet if needed. If the code for PLUM is VRAS, what is the code for GRAPE?
A) LXGVK
B) MXFVK
C) MWGVK
D) MXGWK
E) MXGVK
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
(Word Codes) Q4. In a code, every vowel (A, E, I, O, U) is moved two places forward in the alphabet, and every consonant is moved one place back in the alphabet. What does STAR become in this code?
A) RSCQ
B) RSDQ
C) RTCQ
D) QSCQ
E) RSCP
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
(Word Codes) Q5. In a code, the letters of the word are reversed, and then each letter is moved three places forward in the alphabet. What does CHAIR become in this code?
A) TLDKF
B) ULCKF
C) ULDJF
D) ULDKF
E) ULDKE
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
SECTION 9: 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) Oak
B) Pine
C) Birch
D) Maple
E) Granite
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
39
(Odd One Out) Q2. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Flute
B) Violin
C) Cello
D) Harp
E) Guitar
(Total for Question 39 is 1 mark)
40
(Odd One Out) Q3. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Ecstatic
B) Jubilant
C) Lethargic
D) Elated
E) Euphoric
(Total for Question 40 is 1 mark)
41
(Odd One Out) Q4. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Whale
B) Dolphin
C) Seal
D) Shark
E) Walrus
(Total for Question 41 is 1 mark)
42
SECTION 10: RELATED WORDS (4 minutes, 4 questions)
Each question gives three words that are connected in the same way. Choose the ONE word from the options that is connected to them in the same way.
Q1. Look at these three words: DAFFODIL, TULIP, ROSE. Which ONE of the options below is connected to them in the same way?
A) Sunflower
B) Cabbage
C) Carrot
D) Potato
E) Onion
(Total for Question 42 is 1 mark)
43
(Related Words) Q2. Look at these three words: HAMMER, SCREWDRIVER, SPANNER. Which ONE of the options below is connected to them in the same way?
A) Ladder
B) Bucket
C) Torch
D) Chisel
E) Rope
(Total for Question 43 is 1 mark)
44
(Related Words) Q3. Look at these three words: TIMID, MEEK, DOCILE. Which ONE of the options below is connected to them in the same way?
A) Placid
B) Aggressive
C) Bold
D) Fierce
E) Assertive
(Total for Question 44 is 1 mark)
45
(Related Words) Q4. Look at these three words: MERCURY, VENUS, SATURN. Which ONE of the options below is connected to them in the same way?
A) Neptune
B) Sirius
C) Orion
D) Pluto
E) Andromeda
(Total for Question 45 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.V40 Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set J
Question 1
B1 E) Giving - giving means willing to share freely, the closest match to generous
Answer: E) Giving
Question 2
B1 D) Huge - huge means extremely large, the closest match to enormous
Answer: D) Huge
Question 3
B1 C) Aged - aged means very old, the closest match to ancient
Answer: C) Aged
Question 4
B1 E) Unwilling - unwilling means hesitant or not wanting to do something, the closest match to reluctant
Answer: E) Unwilling
Question 5
B1 B) Thrifty - thrifty means careful and economical with money or resources, the closest match to frugal
Answer: B) Thrifty
Question 6
B1 E) Depart - depart means to leave, the opposite of arrive
Answer: E) Depart
Question 7
B1 C) Narrow - narrow means having a small distance from side to side, the opposite of wide
Answer: C) Narrow
Question 8
B1 B) Fake - fake means not real or authentic, the opposite of genuine
Answer: B) Fake
Question 9
B1 A) Serious - serious means having a genuine, important purpose, the opposite of frivolous
Answer: A) Serious
Question 10
B1 D) Sweep - a knife is used to cut, just as a broom is used to sweep
Answer: D) Sweep
Question 11
B1 E) Sheep - a chick is a young hen, just as a lamb is a young sheep
Answer: E) Sheep
Question 12
B1 C) Ship - a pilot is in charge of an aeroplane, just as a captain is in charge of a ship
Answer: C) Ship
Question 13
B1 B) Sprint - a whisper is a much quieter version of a shout, just as a walk is a much slower version of a sprint
Answer: B) Sprint
Question 14
B1 A) Clothes - a cobbler is a skilled worker who makes shoes, just as a tailor is a skilled worker who makes clothes
Answer: A) Clothes
Question 15
B1 E) Gain - BARGAIN contains the letters G-A-I-N in a row (positions 4 to 7), spelling GAIN
Answer: E) Gain
Question 16
B1 D) Spin - SPINACH contains the letters S-P-I-N in a row (positions 1 to 4), spelling SPIN
Answer: D) Spin
Question 17
B1 C) Angle - TRIANGLE contains the letters A-N-G-L-E in a row (positions 4 to 8), spelling ANGLE
Answer: C) Angle
Question 18
B1 B) Chest - ORCHESTRA contains the letters C-H-E-S-T in a row (positions 3 to 7), spelling CHEST
Answer: B) Chest
Question 19
B1 B) Market - SUPERMARKET contains the letters M-A-R-K-E-T in a row (positions 6 to 11), spelling MARKET
Answer: B) Market
Question 20
B1 E) Ball - BASKET gains BALL to become BASKETBALL, and BALL gains ROOM to become BALLROOM
Answer: E) Ball
Question 21
B1 C) Board - CARD gains BOARD to become CARDBOARD, and BOARD gains WALK to become BOARDWALK
Answer: C) Board
Question 22
B1 A) Book - HAND gains BOOK to become HANDBOOK, and BOOK gains CASE to become BOOKCASE
Answer: A) Book
Question 23
B1 D) Fly - DRAGON gains FLY to become DRAGONFLY, and FLY gains WHEEL to become FLYWHEEL
Answer: D) Fly
Question 24
B1 C) O - each letter is 3 places after the one before (C=3, F=6, I=9, L=12, O=15)
Answer: C) O
Question 25
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 26
B1 B) T - the gap between letters increases by 1 each time (+3, +4, +5, so the next gap is +6): B=2, E=5, I=9, N=14, T=20
Answer: B) T
Question 27
B1 E) A - the gap between letters increases in size by 1 each time (-1, -2, -3, so the next gap is -4): K=11, J=10, H=8, E=5, A=1
Answer: E) A
Question 28
B1 C) K - two sequences are interleaved: E, G, I moving forward through the alphabet in steps of 2, and V, T, R moving backward in steps of 2, so the next term continues the forward sequence with K
Answer: C) K
Question 29
B1 B) 25 - each term adds 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25)
Answer: B) 25
Question 30
B1 C) 81 - each term multiplies by 3 (1, 3, 9, 27, 81)
Answer: C) 81
Question 31
B1 B) 30 - the gap between terms grows by 2 each time (+4, +6, +8, so the next gap is +10)
Answer: B) 30
Question 32
B1 D) 120 - each term is multiplied by an increasing whole number (x2, x3, x4, x5): 1x2=2, 2x3=6, 6x4=24, 24x5=120
Answer: D) 120
Question 33
B1 A) OKNM - each letter moves forward two places: M->O, I->K, L->N, K->M
Answer: A) OKNM
Question 34
B1 D) PELM - each letter moves back three places: S->P, H->E, O->L, P->M
Answer: D) PELM
Question 35
B1 E) MXGVK - each letter moves forward six places, wrapping round the alphabet where needed: G->M, R->X, A->G, P->V, E->K
Answer: E) MXGVK
Question 36
B1 A) RSCQ - S and T are consonants and move back 1 place (S->R, T->S), A is a vowel and moves forward 2 places (A->C), R is a consonant and moves back 1 place (R->Q)
Answer: A) RSCQ
Question 37
B1 D) ULDKF - reversing CHAIR gives RIAHC, then each letter moves forward three places: R->U, I->L, A->D, H->K, C->F
Answer: D) ULDKF
Question 38
B1 E) Granite - granite is a type of rock, while oak, pine, birch and maple are all trees
Answer: E) Granite
Question 39
B1 A) Flute - a flute is a wind instrument, while violin, cello, harp and guitar are all string instruments
Answer: A) Flute
Question 40
B1 C) Lethargic - lethargic means lacking energy, while ecstatic, jubilant, elated and euphoric all describe intense happiness
Answer: C) Lethargic
Question 41
B1 D) Shark - a shark is a fish, while whale, dolphin, seal and walrus are all marine mammals
Answer: D) Shark
Question 42
B1 A) Sunflower - daffodil, tulip and rose are all flowers, and a sunflower is also a flower
Answer: A) Sunflower
Question 43
B1 D) Chisel - hammer, screwdriver and spanner are all hand tools used to fix or shape things, and a chisel is also this kind of tool
Answer: D) Chisel
Question 44
B1 A) Placid - timid, meek and docile all describe a gentle, easily-led temperament, and placid also describes this calm, gentle temperament
Answer: A) Placid
Question 45
B1 A) Neptune - Mercury, Venus and Saturn are all planets in the Solar System, and Neptune is also a full planet