Verbal Reasoning: Closest and Opposite Meaning Set 3
Verbal Reasoning: Closest and Opposite Meaning Set 3 is a third practice round on closest-in-meaning and opposite-in-meaning vocabulary questions from 11+ verbal reasoning papers, moving to more formal and abstract vocabulary and to option sets containing two or three plausible-looking words at once, so precisely ranking how close each option is becomes as important as ruling wrong options out.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the word given in capital letters and put its exact meaning into a short definition of your own before reading any option.
- Check carefully whether the question asks for the closest meaning or the opposite meaning; the two formats look identical and it is easy to answer the wrong one when working quickly.
- Where several options seem loosely connected to the topic, rank them by how precisely each one matches your own definition rather than accepting the first one that fits the general subject.
- Watch for an option that is close in meaning when the question wants an opposite, or nearly opposite when the question wants the closest meaning, since these near-miss traps appear in almost every question at this level.
- If two options both look correct, decide which one matches the exact strength of the given word, since a milder or a more extreme word is often placed deliberately to catch a hurried answer.
- Test your final choice by reading it back in a short sentence in place of the given word, to confirm the sentence keeps the same, or opposite, sense intended.
Worked example
Choose the word closest in meaning to AUDACIOUS. A) Timid B) Daring C) Careful D) Foolish E) Quiet
- AUDACIOUS means showing a willingness to take bold risks, often in a surprising or shocking way.
- TIMID is the opposite of audacious, so rule it out immediately.
- CAREFUL and QUIET both describe cautious or reserved behaviour, which is close to the opposite of audacious rather than a match.
- FOOLISH suggests poor judgement, which is not the same as deliberate boldness, so it is a near-miss trap rather than a true match.
- DARING means bold and willing to take risks, matching audacious most closely of the five options.
- Final answer: B) Daring.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Choose the word closest in meaning to TRANQUIL. A) Noisy B) Peaceful C) Busy D) Anxious E) SuddenShow answer
Answer: B) Peaceful - tranquil means calm and undisturbed, matching peaceful most closely.
Q2Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to DILIGENT. A) Hardworking B) Lazy C) Clever D) Honest E) QuickShow answer
Answer: B) Lazy - diligent means careful and hardworking, so its opposite is lazy; hardworking is a synonym, not an opposite.
Q3Choose the word closest in meaning to OBSTINATE. A) Flexible B) Stubborn C) Confused D) Shy E) FriendlyShow answer
Answer: B) Stubborn - obstinate means refusing to change one's mind, matching stubborn; flexible is close to the opposite.
Q4Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to LENIENT. A) Strict B) Kind C) Fair D) Gentle E) CalmShow answer
Answer: A) Strict - lenient means merciful or not harsh, so its opposite is strict; kind, fair and gentle are all close in meaning to lenient, not opposite to it.
Q5Choose the word closest in meaning to FRIVOLOUS. A) Serious B) Silly C) Generous D) Wealthy E) CautiousShow answer
Answer: B) Silly - frivolous means not serious or sensible, matching silly; serious is close to the opposite.
Q6Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to RETICENT. A) Shy B) Quiet C) Talkative D) Nervous E) PoliteShow answer
Answer: C) Talkative - reticent means reluctant to speak, so its opposite is talkative; shy and quiet are close in meaning to reticent, not opposite to it.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to BENEVOLENT. A) Generous B) Malicious C) Wealthy D) Cheerful E) Calm
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Choose the word closest in meaning to PRUDENT. A) Reckless B) Sensible C) Proud D) Generous E) Quick
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Two of these four words are opposite in meaning to each other, and a third word is closest in meaning to one member of that pair. Identify the opposite pair, then say which word is closest in meaning to which member: GENEROUS, STINGY, CHARITABLE, ALOOF.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: closest and opposite meaning set 3 worksheet pack - 15 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 19 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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