Stratosphere – Verbal Ability Index Welcome to Stratosphere - A high range Verbal Ability Test. 3 Item types: Antonyms – Analogies – Reading Comprehension 102 Questions - 75 Minutes NO RESOURCES ARE ALLOWED DURING THIS TEST. THE USE OF A DICTIONARY ETC INVALIDATES THE RESULTS. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH QUESTION TYPE BEFORE BEGINNING Antonyms Each question below consists of a word in capital letters, followed by five lettered words or phrases. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters. Since some of the questions require you to distinguish fine shades of meaning, consider all the choices before deciding which is best. EXAMPLE: GOOD a) Sour b) Bad c) Red d) Hot e) Ugly Answer: B Reading Comprehension Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words. Choose the word or set of words that BEST fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Example: Although its publicity has been ---- , the film itself is intelligent, well - acted, handsomely produced, and altogether ---- a) Tasteless. .respectable b) Extensive. .moderate c) Sophisticated. .amateur d) Risqué. .crude e) Perfect. .spectacular Answer: A Analogies Each question below consists of a related pair of words or phrases, followed by five lettered pairs of words or phrases. Select the lettered pair that BEST expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair. Example: YAWN : BOREDOM :: a) Dream : sleep b) Anger : madness c) Smile : amusement d) Face : expression e) Impatience : rebellion Answer: C 75 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THIS TEST NO RESOURCES ARE ALLOWED DURING THIS TEST. THE USE OF A DICTIONARY ETC INVALIDATES THE RESULTS. TURN THE PAGE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BEGIN THE TEST 1. PURIFICATION a) Heterogeneity b) Negligence c) Contamination d) Experimentation e) Infiltration 2. ISSUE a) Dilute b) Revolve c) Depend d) Substitute e) Retract 3. ABOLISH a) Stretch b) Soothe c) Refurbish d) Establish e) Straighten 4. RUPTURE a) Prove b) Regret c) Delay d) Scale down e) Join together 5. DESOLATE a) Typical b) Populous c) Enormous d) Full of water e) Likely to change 6. ENTHRALLING a) Incipient b) Boring c) Incomplete d) Minute e) Rejuvenating 7. DESPONDENCY a) Blithe hopefulness b) Careful attention c) Quick reaction d) Proud dignity e) Bitter jealousy 8. RABID a) Poignant b) Circular c) Skillful d) Dense e) Calm 9. EXPEDITIOUS a) Protracted b) Pretentious c) Transcendent d) Sensitive and shy e) Slim and graceful 10. AIR a) Conceal b) Conform c) Detain d) Mislead e) Satisfy 11. PROPRIETY a) Gentility b) Generosity c) Indecorum d) Servility e) Inability 12. PARSIMONY a) Formality b) Inhumanity c) Obesity d) Arrogance e) Extravagance 13. RANCOR a) Carelessness b) Restlessness c) Inexperience d) Kindness e) Self - consciousness 14. RECALCITRANT a) Repetitious b) Meandering c) Determined d) Indecisive e) Compliant 15. GARNER a) Disfigure b) Hedge c) Connect d) Forget e) Disperse 16. WELTER a) Orderly arrangement b) Convincing remark c) Inconclusive meeting d) Luxuriant growth e) Eccentric character 17. REDOUBTABLE a) Unsurprising b) Unambiguous c) Unimpressive d) Inevitable e) Immovable 18. BELIE a) Flaunt b) Distend c) Attune d) Obviate e) Aver 19. On the assumption that planets and meteors were ---- as a result of the same cosmic c atastrophe, their ---- should be roughly similar. a) Formed. .compositions b) Discovered. .dates c) Evolved. .histories d) Released. .shapes e) Destroyed. .configurations 20. Advertising alone, no matter how ---- , cannot convince people to ---- an item that answers no real or vital need. a) Stringent. .ignore b) Innocuous. .modify c) Outrageous. .disregard d) Extensive. .purchase e) Enigmatic. .want 21. The ability to estimate distance comes only with ---- ; a baby reaches with equal confidence for its bottle or the moon. a) Tranquility b) T alent c) Experience d) Assurance e) Distress 22. Musicians’ salaries have risen so much faster than concert admission prices and donations that some famous ---- are threatened with ---- a) Composers. .silence b) Orchestras. .bankruptcy c) Works. .oblivion d) Conductors. .strikes e) Soloists. .taxation 23. Perhaps part of the ---- of adolescent behavior is traceable to the violent swing between being dependent and wanting to be independent a) Capriciousness b) Predictability c) Reticence d) Irony e) Maturity 24. Edward was rather ---- about what paintings were hung in his study, but, in contrast, was quite -- -- about what furniture was in the room. a) Fastidious. .indifferent b) Inflexible. .obstinate c) Undecided. .tentative d) Demanding. .definite e) Submissive. .timid 25. Self - consciously and ---- , but insistentl y, philosophers keep asking these traditional questions. a) Confidently b) Diffidently c) Frequently d) Pugnaciously e) Progressively 26. One of the paradoxes of life is the friction between our hunger for ---- and our grudging ---- that there is indeed nothing new under the sun. a) Variety. Denial b) Infamy. .acceptance c) Novelty. .awareness d) Security. .insistence e) Conformity. .admission 27. The artistic success of ancient vase painting did not depend entirely on the artist’s skill in ---- imitation of observed appearances. a) Slavish b) Forceful c) Incompetent d) Potential e) Creative 28. A curious self - interest, and not the concern for others which might have been expected, motivated his ---- a) Ambition b) Malevolence c) Apathy d) Eccentricity e) Philanthropy 29. That his intransigence in making decisions ---- no ope n disagreement from any quarter was well known; thus, clever subordinates learned the art of ---- their opinions in casual remarks. a) Elicited. .quashing b) Engendered. .recasting c) Brooked. .intimating d) Embodied. .instigating e) Forbore. .emending 30. Their air of cheer ful self - sacrifice and endless complaisance won them undeserved praise, for their seeming gallantry was wholly motivated by a ---- wish to avoid conflict of any sort. a) Poignant b) Sincere c) Plaintive d) Laudable e) Craven 31. PRACTICE : IMPROVEMENT :: a) Memory : event b) Chaos : arrangement c) Assignment : praise d) Thought : regret e) Polish : sparkle 32. BREATHE : PANT :: a) Borrow : pay b) Drop : bounce c) Stride : gallop d) Spend : save e) Scare : leap 33. NOTES : SCALE :: a) Solos : harmony b) Sentences : punctuation c) Attitudes : fact d) Fractions : numera tor e) Letters : alphabet 34. LEMON : FRUIT :: a) Author : symposium b) Branch : tree c) Poetry : prose d) Hammer : tool e) Partner : syndicate 35. SCRAMBLE : WALK :: a) Race : compete b) Scrawl : write c) Speak : state d) Rebel : disagree e) Attack : engage 36. GENE : HEREDITY :: a) Germ : disease b) Blood : vein c) Cell : nourishment d) Pain : nerve e) Strength : muscle 37. APPAREL : PERSON :: a) Plumage : bird b) Prey : animal c) Water : fish d) Insignia : officer e) Scenery : theater 38. MERGER : CORPORATIONS :: a) Budget : finances b) Indenture : services c) Marriage : persons d) Tra nsaction : dealers e) Annihilation : countries 39. DEBATE : ARGUMENT :: a) Debut : debutante b) Illness : convalescence c) Campaign : expedition d) Duel : fight e) Audition : performance 40. INCANTATION : MAGICAL :: a) Idiom : persuasive b) Lisp : ungrammatical c) Phrase : definitional d) Endearment : affectionate e) Nomenclature : random 41. INSOLVENCY : FUNDS :: a) Economy : inflation b) Coinage : money c) Exhaustion : energy d) Addiction : cure e) Liquidity : cash 42. BURNISH : LUSTER :: a) Resist : aggression b) Preserve : area c) Accelerate : rapidity d) Pivo t : reflex e) Plunge : distance 43. MELODEON : ORGANIST :: a) Reveille : bugler b) Solo : accompanist c) Crescendo : pianist d) Anthem : choirmaster e) Kettledrum : timpanist 44. LECHER : LUSTFUL :: a) Glutton : surly b) Fanatic : ungodly c) Skinflint : miserly d) Disciplinarian : unruly e) Spendthrift : homely 45. LINGUISTICS : LANGUAGE :: a) Statistics : sociology b) Ceramics : clay c) Gymnastics : health d) Dynamics : motion e) Economics : warfare 46. SENSITIZATION : ALLERGIC :: a) Immunity : vulnerable b) Habituation : inured c) Invigoration : stimulating d) Sleep : anesthetic e) Disinfection : preventive 47. PHILSOPHER : COGITATE :: a) Linguist : prevaricate b) Politician : capitulate c) Scholar : extemporize d) Misanthrope : repeat e) Iconoclast : attack 48. STRUT : WING :: a) Beam : door b) Axle : wheel c) Guy : py lon d) Root : plant e) Twig : branch 49. VERTICAL A) Even B) Horizontal C) Straight D) Open E) Parallel 50. SCURRY a) Dawdle b) Calm c) Align d) Recline e) Capture 51. INNUMERABLE a) Worthless b) Yielding c) Harsh d) Very few e) Moderately easy 52. IRRATIONAL a) Curious b) Honest c) Pleasant d) Attentive to detail e) Guided by reason 53. STAGNANT a) Deep b) Overt c) Crooked d) Flowing e) Tasteless 54. ANTIQUATED a) Fake b) Flat c) Modern d) Secret e) Applied 55. CIRCUMSCRIBED a) Unbounded b) Imperfect c) Injurious d) Readily evaded e) Barely legible 56. PERIPHERAL a) Colossal b) Central c) Condensed d) Subsequent e) Adjacent 57. MOTIVATE a) Deter b) Pester c) Misconstrue d) Alienate e) Minimize 58. DOUR a) Unable to respond b) Cheerful in appearance c) Youthful d) Crafty e) Clean 59. HARDINESS a) Vulnerability b) Superficiality c) Skillfulness d) Good fortune e) Poor judgment 60. ENHANCE a) Vacate b) Insist c) Depreciate d) Volunteer e) Resist 61. AMASS a) Shut down b) Give away c) Dress up d) Shine forth e) Show off 62. SQUALOR a) Silence b) Elegance c) Rapidity d) Regularity e) Truthfulness 63. HACKNEYED a) Liberated b) Fresh c) Afoot d) Logical e) Understood 64. DISPARITY a) Fearfulness b) Punctuality c) Prejudice d) Similarity e) Notoriety 65. EPHEMERAL a) Lasting b) Inhumane c) Contemporary d) Destructive e) Appropriate 66. RESCIND a) Advise b) Falter c) Implement d) Demand e) Predict 67. PAUCITY a) Ambition b) Eminence c) Intensity d) Hugeness e) Plenty 68. INCORPOREAL a) Active b) Unusual c) Isolated d) Accurate e) Material 69. UNALLOYED a) Destabilized b) Unregulated c) Assimilated d) Adulterated e) Condensed 70. BENT a) Symmetry b) Rigidity c) Ineptitude d) Nonchalance e) Trustworthiness 71. DESULTORY a) Highly inimical b) Cheerfully accepted c) Strongly highlighted d) Lightly considered e) Strictly methodical 72. Common sense tells us that a person’s ---- to use certain kinds of words ---- past experiences. a) Desire. .recovers b) Refusal. .decides c) Wish. .determines d) Tendency. .reflects e) Inability. Inhibits 73. Only a ---- in the field will comprehend this highly ---- material. a) Veteran. .general b) Critic. .complimentary c) Novice. .intricate d) Master. .conventional e) Specialist. .sophisticated 74. The harshness of political struggle ---- Ralph but at the same time fascinated him, so that he could neither ---- the battle nor fully commit himself to it. a) Frightened. .dread b) Inspired. .comprehend c) Repelled. .abandon d) Intrigued. .forsake e) Annoyed. .influence 75. By attempting to ---- all the writer’s inconsistencies in form, the translator distracts the attention of the general reader, who is not concerned with such close accuracy. a) Improve b) Repr oduce c) Equalize d) Interpret e) Omit 76. If the world’s present known reserves of fossil fuels could be ---- , construction of nuclear power plants would doubtless be less ---- a) Augmented. .precipitate b) Depleted. .expedient c) Husbanded. .regulated d) Recycled. .reliable e) Dis covered. .hazardous 77. From a high - flying jet, the earth appears virtually ---- ; that is, rolling land is ironed out and the land’s general ---- are almost eliminated. a) Flat. .contours b) Uninteresting. .colors c) Round. .markings d) Unrecognizable. .features e) Motionles s. .guidelines 78. To submit such ---- testimony is to ---- the defendant while pretending to prove his innocence. a) Arbitrary. .acquit b) Implausible. .incriminate c) Airtight. .exonerate d) Favorable. .sentence e) Conflicting. .confuse 79. Well - intentioned ---- all too often defeats its basic purpose by destroying the recipient’s self - reliance. a) Benevolence b) Modesty c) Negligence d) Arrogance e) Gratitude 80. A man of great sensibility, the writer ---- the laying bare of his first work; he had put into t he book everything he had that was good, true, and beautiful, and it was regarded as ---- a) Thrilled to. .nonsense b) Shrank from. .artistry c) Suffered at. .drivel d) Glossed over. .caricature e) Agonized over. .abstraction 81. The union leader made the ---- statement tha t no union member, not even the maintenance crew, would be allowed to cross the picket line. a) Discreet b) Ambiguous c) Fallacious d) Obsequious e) Categorical 82. Part of seventeenth - century Chinese pleasure gardens were not necessarily intended to look ---- ; they were designed expressly to evoke the agreeable melancholy resulting from a sense of the ---- of natural beauty and human glory. a) Beautiful. .immutability b) Cheerful. .transitoriness c) Colorful. .abstractness d) Luxuriant. .simplicity e) Conventional. .wilderness 83. When theories formerly considered to be ---- in their scientific objectivity are found instead to reflect a consistent observational and evaluative bias, then the presumed neutrality of science gives way to the recognition that categories of knowledge are huma n ---- a) Disinterested. .constructions b) Callous. .errors c) Verifiable. .prejudices d) Convincing. .imperatives e) Unassailable. .fantasies 84. SUBMARINE : SHARK :: a) Sled : dog b) Plow : horse c) Caravan : camel d) Airplane : hawk e) Subway : tiger 85. MAGNIFY : SIZE :: a) Pacify : blandnes s b) Rectify : generosity c) Dignify : wisdom d) Fortify : strength e) Verify : fear 86. FORUM : DISCUSSION :: a) Casino : gambling b) Palette : painting c) Library : printing d) Itinerary : traveling e) Armory : fighting 87. RAMSHACKLE : COLLAPSE :: a) Intact : explode b) Threadbare : hem c) Waterlogged : sink d) Dilapidated : repair e) Flammable : quench 88. CRUNCH : SNOW :: a) Wade : beach b) Ripple : sand c) Whistle : wind d) Slosh : water e) Drizzle : rain 89. CALIPERS : MEASURING :: a) Nails : hammering b) Crops : harvesting c) Glasses : polishing d) Decisions : weighing e) Scisso rs : cutting 90. PROTEST : DISCONTENT :: a) Anger : indecision b) Inaction : apathy c) Mockery : contrition d) Sympathy : misery e) Supremacy : anarchy 91. TRICK : ROGUE :: a) Stratagem : friend b) Sentence : criminal c) Accident : witness d) Conspiracy : traitor e) Novel : reader 92. BRAWN : WEIGHT LIFTER :: a) Fame : painter b) Wound : doctor c) Uniform : soldier d) Obedience : pioneer e) Tact : diplomat 93. WHEEDLE : FLATTERY :: a) Inspire : creations b) Intimidate : threats c) Scrutinize : clues d) Accuse : denials e) Appreciate : offers 94. BRINK : PRECIPICE :: a) Bank : river b) Tree : forest c) Lake : ocean d) Tunnel : mountain e) Whirlpool : waterfall 95. DAREDEVIL : RECKLESS :: a) Virtuoso : careless b) Hostage : lawless c) Brute : helpless d) Prodigal : thriftless e) Wizard : relentless 96. RACONTEUR : ANECDOTE :: a) Orator : speech b) Lecturer : applause c) A ctor : monologue d) Operator : message e) Comedian : dialogue 97. SCOFF : DERISION :: a) Soothe : mollification b) Slander : repression c) Swear : precision d) Stimulate : appearance e) Startle : speediness 98. APOCRYPHAL : AUTHENTICITY :: a) Absurd : novelty b) Protean : variety c) Unseemly : reality d) Illicit : legality e) Ordained : sanction 99. DROLL : LAUGH :: a) Grisly : flinch b) Bland : tire c) Shrill : shriek d) Coy : falter e) Wily : smirk 100. MITIGATE : SEVERE :: a) Compile : available b) Restore : new c) Contribute : charitable d) Venerate : reverent e) Qualify : general 101. TROUBLED : DISTRAUGHT :: a) Annoyed : disillusioned b) Disturbed : interrupted c) Covetous : rapacious d) Outmoded : ostentatious e) Tranquil : placid 102. EMBROIDER : CLOTH :: a) Chase : metal b) Patch : quilt c) Gild : gold d) Carve : knife e) Stain : glass END TEST For scoring, DM your answers to u/EqusG on reddit and your score will be retuned as soon as possible. For statistics on this test, see the technical report: https://pdfhost.io/v/Xx6PYGsaH_Stratosphere_Verbal_Ability_Index_Reportconvertedpdf.pdf