This is a 40-minute mixed-format Verbal Reasoning practice test (Set K), styled on GL Assessment 11+ multiple-choice papers. There are 45 questions in 10 timed sections: Odd One Out, Closest in Meaning, Opposite in Meaning, Word Analogies, Compound Words, Hidden Words, Word Codes, Sound Alikes, 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 - every question is text-based. 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 (SHARK) to (AT)? Answer: S. Test each letter of SHARK in turn to see whether removing it leaves a real word: removing S leaves HARK, a real word meaning to listen closely, so S is a strong candidate. Check the second word next: adding S to the front of AT gives SAT, also a real word, so both halves work. Removing any of the other letters (H, A, R or K) from SHARK does not leave a real English word, so S is the only letter that can move. In every Move a Letter question in this pack, 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 FRONT of the second word to make another real word before choosing your answer.
1
SECTION 1: ODD ONE OUT (4 minutes, 5 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) Apple
B) Pear
C) Carrot
D) Plum
E) Peach
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
(Odd One Out) Q2. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Football
B) Rugby
C) Tennis
D) Cricket
E) Chess
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
(Odd One Out) Q3. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Ruby
B) Emerald
C) Sapphire
D) Diamond
E) Pearl
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
(Odd One Out) Q4. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Kayak
B) Canoe
C) Yacht
D) Bicycle
E) Rowing boat
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
(Odd One Out) Q5. Which word does not belong with the others?
A) Loquacious
B) Verbose
C) Talkative
D) Garrulous
E) Taciturn
(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)
6
SECTION 2: 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 HAPPY.
A) Joyful
B) Sad
C) Angry
D) Tired
E) Bored
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
(Closest in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to QUICK.
A) Rapid
B) Slow
C) Lazy
D) Late
E) Weak
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
(Closest in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word closest in meaning to GENEROUS.
A) Selfish
B) Charitable
C) Stingy
D) Greedy
E) Mean
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
(Closest in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word closest in meaning to RELUCTANT.
A) Unwilling
B) Eager
C) Willing
D) Keen
E) Enthusiastic
(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)
10
(Closest in Meaning) Q5. Choose the word closest in meaning to OBSTINATE.
A) Flexible
B) Agreeable
C) Stubborn
D) Compliant
E) Yielding
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
SECTION 3: OPPOSITE IN MEANING (3 minutes, 4 questions)
Choose the word that is most opposite in meaning to the word in capitals.
Q1. Choose the word most opposite in meaning to ANCIENT.
A) Modern
B) Old
C) Aged
D) Historic
E) Antique
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
(Opposite in Meaning) Q2. Choose the word most opposite in meaning to GENUINE.
A) Fake
B) Real
C) Authentic
D) True
E) Honest
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
(Opposite in Meaning) Q3. Choose the word most opposite in meaning to FRUGAL.
A) Wasteful
B) Thrifty
C) Economical
D) Careful
E) Sparing
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
(Opposite in Meaning) Q4. Choose the word most opposite in meaning to BENEVOLENT.
A) Malicious
B) Kind
C) Generous
D) Charitable
E) Compassionate
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
SECTION 4: WORD ANALOGIES (4 minutes, 5 questions)
Choose the word that completes the second pair in the same way as the first pair.
Q1. KITTEN is to CAT as PUPPY is to ?
A) Dog
B) Cow
C) Sheep
D) Horse
E) Pig
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
(Word Analogies) Q2. PEN is to WRITE as SCISSORS is to ?
A) Cut
B) Draw
C) Paint
D) Fold
E) Glue
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
(Word Analogies) Q3. CHAPTER is to BOOK as SCENE is to ?
A) Play
B) Novel
C) Poem
D) Actor
E) Stage
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
(Word Analogies) Q4. DOCTOR is to HOSPITAL as TEACHER is to ?
A) School
B) Hospital
C) Office
D) Library
E) Clinic
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
(Word Analogies) Q5. MYOPIC is to SHORT-SIGHTED as LUCID is to ?
A) Clear
B) Confused
C) Vague
D) Blurry
E) Dim
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
SECTION 5: COMPOUND WORDS (3 minutes, 4 questions)
Each question gives two words. Choose the ONE word from the options that will join with BOTH of them to make two real compound words.
Q1. Which word joins with both FOOT and BASE to make two real compound words?
A) Ball
B) Case
C) Work
D) Light
E) Stand
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
(Compound Words) Q2. Which word joins with both BED and CLASS to make two real compound words?
A) Room
B) Time
C) Side
D) Spread
E) Post
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
(Compound Words) Q3. Which word joins with both OVER and UNDER to make two real words?
A) State
B) Cut
C) Dog
D) Go
E) Mine
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
(Compound Words) Q4. Which word joins with both WATER and FIRE to make two real compound words?
A) Proof
B) Place
C) Wood
D) Arm
E) Fall
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
SECTION 6: HIDDEN WORDS (3 minutes, 4 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 SCARLET?
A) Scar
B) Carl
C) Arle
D) Rlet
E) Late
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
(Hidden Words) Q2. Which four-letter word is hidden inside BLANKET?
A) Lank
B) Blan
C) Anke
D) Nket
E) Bank
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
(Hidden Words) Q3. Which five-letter word is hidden inside COMPLAIN?
A) Compl
B) Ompla
C) Plain
D) Mplai
E) Claim
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
(Hidden Words) Q4. Which seven-letter word is hidden inside ADVENTURE?
A) Venture
B) Advent
C) Dventur
D) Adventu
E) Enture
(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. In a code, each letter is moved two places forward in the alphabet (A becomes C, B becomes D, and so on). What does BIRD become in this code?
A) CKTF
B) DJTF
C) DKTF
D) DKSF
E) DKTE
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
(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 GARDEN become in this code?
A) DXOABK
B) DYOABK
C) DXPABK
D) DXOBBK
E) DXOACK
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
(Word Codes) Q3. In a code, each letter is moved the same number of places forward in the alphabet. If the code for LIGHT is OLJKW, what is the code for STORM?
A) VWRUP
B) UVQTO
C) WXSVQ
D) VWQUP
E) VWRUQ
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
(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 CLOUD become in this code?
A) WOLFW
B) XPLFW
C) XOLFW
D) XOMFW
E) XOLGW
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
(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 PRIZE become in this code?
A) PTLDJ
B) QSLDJ
C) QTKDJ
D) QTLCJ
E) QTLDJ
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
SECTION 8: SOUND ALIKES (3 minutes, 4 questions)
Choose the word that sounds the same as the word in capitals but is spelled differently and has a different meaning.
Q1. Choose the word that sounds the same as MAIL.
A) Male
B) Mile
C) Mall
D) Meal
E) Mill
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
(Sound Alikes) Q2. Choose the word that sounds the same as FLOWER.
A) Flour
B) Floor
C) Flavour
D) Flew
E) Flee
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
(Sound Alikes) Q3. Choose the word that sounds the same as COARSE.
A) Course
B) Curse
C) Cross
D) Chorus
E) Coarser
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
(Sound Alikes) Q4. Choose the word that sounds the same as CEREAL.
A) Serial
B) Cereals
C) Surreal
D) Circle
E) Several
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
SECTION 9: WORD ASSOCIATION / DOUBLE MEANING (3 minutes, 4 questions)
Each question gives two meanings. Find the ONE word that fits BOTH meanings and choose the matching option.
Q1. Which ONE word means both 'a flying nocturnal mammal' and 'the equipment used to hit the ball in cricket or rounders'?
A) Bat
B) Racket
C) Club
D) Stick
E) Paddle
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
(Word Association / Double Meaning) Q2. Which ONE word means both 'a student at a school' and 'the black circular opening in the centre of the eye'?
A) Pupil
B) Student
C) Iris
D) Cornea
E) Learner
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
39
(Word Association / Double Meaning) Q3. Which ONE word means both 'a straight-edged instrument used to measure or draw straight lines' and 'a person who governs a country'?
A) Ruler
B) Governor
C) Measure
D) Monarch
E) President
(Total for Question 39 is 1 mark)
40
(Word Association / Double Meaning) Q4. Which ONE word means both 'a coiled piece of metal that can be stretched and squeezed back into shape' and 'the season of the year between winter and summer'?
A) Spring
B) Season
C) Coil
D) Bounce
E) Summer
(Total for Question 40 is 1 mark)
41
SECTION 10: MOVE A LETTER (4 minutes, 5 questions)
One letter can move from the first word to the second word to make two new, correctly spelled words. Which letter moves?
Q1. (CRANE) (OW)
A) C
B) R
C) A
D) N
E) E
(Total for Question 41 is 1 mark)
42
(Move a Letter) Q2. (CLOTH) (EN)
A) C
B) L
C) O
D) T
E) H
(Total for Question 42 is 1 mark)
43
(Move a Letter) Q3. (SPARE) (ORE)
A) S
B) P
C) A
D) R
E) E
(Total for Question 43 is 1 mark)
44
(Move a Letter) Q4. (PLATE) (ID)
A) P
B) L
C) A
D) T
E) E
(Total for Question 44 is 1 mark)
45
(Move a Letter) Q5. (GRIND) (ID)
A) G
B) R
C) I
D) N
E) D
(Total for Question 45 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.V41 Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set K
Question 1
B1 C) Carrot - a carrot is a vegetable, while apple, pear, plum and peach are all fruits
Answer: C) Carrot
Question 2
B1 E) Chess - chess is a board game played without a ball, while football, rugby, tennis and cricket are all sports played with a ball
Answer: E) Chess
Question 3
B1 E) Pearl - a pearl is formed inside an oyster and is not a mineral, while ruby, emerald, sapphire and diamond are all mineral gemstones formed within rock
Answer: E) Pearl
Question 4
B1 D) Bicycle - a bicycle travels on land, while kayak, canoe, yacht and rowing boat are all types of watercraft that travel on water
Answer: D) Bicycle
Question 5
B1 E) Taciturn - taciturn means reluctant to talk or say very little, while loquacious, verbose, talkative and garrulous all describe someone who talks a great deal
Answer: E) Taciturn
Question 6
B1 A) Joyful - joyful means full of happiness, the closest match to happy
Answer: A) Joyful
Question 7
B1 A) Rapid - rapid means happening or moving very fast, the closest match to quick
Answer: A) Rapid
Question 8
B1 B) Charitable - charitable means willing to give freely to others, the closest match to generous
Answer: B) Charitable
Question 9
B1 A) Unwilling - unwilling means not wanting to do something, the closest match to reluctant
Answer: A) Unwilling
Question 10
B1 C) Stubborn - obstinate means refusing to change one's mind or approach, the closest match among the options
Answer: C) Stubborn
Question 11
B1 A) Modern - modern means belonging to the present time, the opposite of ancient
Answer: A) Modern
Question 12
B1 A) Fake - fake means not genuine or real, the opposite of genuine
Answer: A) Fake
Question 13
B1 A) Wasteful - wasteful means using more than is needed, the opposite of frugal
Answer: A) Wasteful
Question 14
B1 A) Malicious - malicious means intending to do harm, the opposite of benevolent
Answer: A) Malicious
Question 15
B1 A) Dog - a kitten is a young cat, just as a puppy is a young dog
Answer: A) Dog
Question 16
B1 A) Cut - a pen is used to write, just as scissors are used to cut
Answer: A) Cut
Question 17
B1 A) Play - a chapter is one part that makes up a book, just as a scene is one part that makes up a play
Answer: A) Play
Question 18
B1 A) School - a doctor typically works in a hospital, just as a teacher typically works in a school
Answer: A) School
Question 19
B1 A) Clear - myopic means short-sighted, just as lucid means clear in thought or expression
Answer: A) Clear
Question 20
B1 A) Ball - FOOT + BALL makes FOOTBALL and BASE + BALL makes BASEBALL, both real compound words
Answer: A) Ball
Question 21
B1 A) Room - BED + ROOM makes BEDROOM and CLASS + ROOM makes CLASSROOM, both real compound words
Answer: A) Room
Question 22
B1 A) State - OVER + STATE makes OVERSTATE and UNDER + STATE makes UNDERSTATE, both real words
Answer: A) State
Question 23
B1 A) Proof - WATER + PROOF makes WATERPROOF and FIRE + PROOF makes FIREPROOF, both real compound words
Answer: A) Proof
Question 24
B1 A) Scar - SCARLET contains the letters S-C-A-R in a row (positions 1 to 4), spelling SCAR
Answer: A) Scar
Question 25
B1 A) Lank - BLANKET contains the letters L-A-N-K in a row (positions 2 to 5), spelling LANK, meaning limp and thin
Answer: A) Lank
Question 26
B1 C) Plain - COMPLAIN contains the letters P-L-A-I-N in a row (positions 4 to 8), spelling PLAIN
Answer: C) Plain
Question 27
B1 A) Venture - ADVENTURE contains the letters V-E-N-T-U-R-E in a row (positions 3 to 9), spelling VENTURE
Answer: A) Venture
Question 28
B1 C) DKTF - each letter moves forward two places: B->D, I->K, R->T, D->F
Answer: C) DKTF
Question 29
B1 A) DXOABK - each letter moves back three places, wrapping round the alphabet where needed: G->D, A->X, R->O, D->A, E->B, N->K
Answer: A) DXOABK
Question 30
B1 A) VWRUP - the rule is move each letter forward three places (L->O, I->L, G->J, H->K, T->W matches LIGHT->OLJKW), so applying +3 to STORM gives S->V, T->W, O->R, R->U, M->P
Answer: A) VWRUP
Question 31
B1 C) XOLFW - each letter's position p is replaced by the letter at position (27 - p): C->X, L->O, O->L, U->F, D->W
Answer: C) XOLFW
Question 32
B1 E) QTLDJ - P moves forward 1 place to Q, R moves forward 2 places to T, I moves forward 3 places to L, Z moves forward 4 places (wrapping round the alphabet) to D, E moves forward 5 places to J
Answer: E) QTLDJ
Question 33
B1 A) Male - Male sounds the same as Mail but is spelled differently and means of the sex that cannot bear offspring
Answer: A) Male
Question 34
B1 A) Flour - Flour sounds the same as Flower but is spelled differently and means the powder used to make bread and cakes
Answer: A) Flour
Question 35
B1 A) Course - Course sounds the same as Coarse but is spelled differently and means a route, a school subject, or part of a meal
Answer: A) Course
Question 36
B1 A) Serial - Serial sounds the same as Cereal but is spelled differently and means arranged in a series, one after another
Answer: A) Serial
Question 37
B1 A) Bat - a bat is a flying nocturnal mammal, and a bat is also the equipment used to hit the ball in cricket or rounders
Answer: A) Bat
Question 38
B1 A) Pupil - a pupil is a student at a school, and the pupil is also the black circular opening in the centre of the eye
Answer: A) Pupil
Question 39
B1 A) Ruler - a ruler is a straight-edged instrument used to measure or draw straight lines, and a ruler is also a person who governs a country
Answer: A) Ruler
Question 40
B1 A) Spring - a spring is a coiled piece of metal that returns to its shape, and spring is also the season between winter and summer
Answer: A) Spring
Question 41
B1 B) R - CRANE loses R to become CANE, and OW gains R at the front to become ROW
Answer: B) R
Question 42
B1 E) H - CLOTH loses H to become CLOT, and EN gains H at the front to become HEN
Answer: E) H
Question 43
B1 A) S - SPARE loses S to become PARE, and ORE gains S at the front to become SORE
Answer: A) S
Question 44
B1 B) L - PLATE loses L to become PATE, and ID gains L at the front to become LID
Answer: B) L
Question 45
B1 E) D - GRIND loses D to become GRIN, and ID gains D at the front to become DID