ACER Level 2 Verbal Reasoning Practice

Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.

1. 1.Author is to Book as Architect is to...

   • ABuilding
   • BDesign
   • CBlueprint
   • DDrawing
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   Answer: A (Building)

   The relationship is 'a creator and the finished thing they create': an author creates a book. An architect creates a building. A blueprint, design and drawing are plans made along the way, not the finished product, so they are tempting but break the relationship in the first pair.

2. 2.Which word is a synonym for 'Deter'?

   • AEncourage
   • BPrevent
   • CAssist
   • DAllow
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   Answer: B (Prevent)

   'Deter' means to discourage someone from doing something, or to stop it happening, as in 'Fences deter intruders.' The closest synonym is 'prevent'. 'Encourage', 'assist' and 'allow' all point the other way, because they make an action more likely rather than less.

3. 3.Which word is a synonym for 'Ambiguous'?

   • AClear
   • BUnclear
   • CBright
   • DCertain
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   Answer: B (Unclear)

   'Ambiguous' means open to more than one interpretation, so it is unclear. The synonym is 'unclear'. 'Clear' and 'certain' are opposites, and 'bright' refers to light rather than meaning. Remember that 'ambi-' means both, as in ambidextrous, which links to having two possible meanings.

4. 4.Which word is a synonym for 'Altruistic'?

   • ASelfish
   • BUnselfish
   • CMean
   • DGreedy
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   Answer: B (Unselfish)

   'Altruistic' describes someone who cares about others and acts unselfishly, such as by volunteering without reward. The synonym is 'unselfish'. 'Selfish', 'mean' and 'greedy' are all the opposite. Altruism is the noun form, meaning selfless concern for other people.

5. 5.Canvas is to Painter as Marble is to...

   • ASculptor
   • BWriter
   • CMusician
   • DActor
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   Answer: A (Sculptor)

   The relationship is 'the material an artist works on and the artist': a painter works on canvas. A sculptor carves marble. Writers, musicians and actors are artists too, but marble is not their material. Turning the pair into a sentence, 'A painter works on canvas', makes the link clear.

6. 6.If 'CAT' is coded as 'DBU', what is 'DOG' coded as?

   • AEPH
   • BFPH
   • CEPI
   • DFPI
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   Answer: A (EPH)

   Compare CAT with DBU letter by letter: C→D, A→B, T→U. Each letter moves forward one place in the alphabet. Apply the same rule to DOG: D→E, O→P, G→H, giving EPH. The other options shift a letter by two places, so check every letter rather than just the first.

7. 7.A librarian is to a library as a curator is to a...

   • AHospital
   • BMuseum
   • CSchool
   • DRestaurant
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   Answer: B (Museum)

   The relationship is 'a professional and the place whose collection they look after': a librarian manages a library's books. A curator manages a museum's collection of objects and exhibitions. Hospitals, schools and restaurants employ other professionals, not curators.

8. 8.If some zibbles are yobbles, and all yobbles are wobbles, are some zibbles wobbles?

   • AYes
   • BNo
   • CCannot be determined
   • DNone of the above
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   Answer: A (Yes)

   Some zibbles are yobbles, and every yobble is a wobble. So the zibbles that are yobbles must also be wobbles, which means some zibbles are wobbles. The answer is yes. Drawing circles shows the overlap between zibbles and yobbles sitting entirely inside the wobble circle.

9. 9.Which word is a synonym for 'Frivolous'?

   • ASerious
   • BImportant
   • CTrivial
   • DHeavy
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   Answer: C (Trivial)

   'Frivolous' means not serious or not important, often in a silly way, as in a frivolous complaint. The synonym is 'trivial', meaning of little importance. 'Serious', 'important' and 'heavy' are opposites. A frivolous lawsuit, for example, is one with no real basis.

10. 10.Which word is a synonym for 'Lucid'?

    • AClear
    • BConfusing
    • CDark
    • DMurky
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    Answer: A (Clear)

    'Lucid' means clear and easy to understand, as in a lucid explanation. The synonym is 'clear'. 'Confusing' and 'murky' are opposites, and 'dark' is unrelated. The word shares a root with 'light', which helps: a lucid explanation sheds light on a topic.