GMA Verbal Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the word most similar in meaning to 'LUCID'.
- Confusing
- Clear (Correct answer)
- Lengthy
- Ambiguous
Correct answer: Clear
'Lucid' means expressed clearly and easy to understand. 'Clear' is the closest synonym.
'Lucid' derives from the Latin 'lucidus' meaning bright, clear. In modern usage it means easy to understand (a lucid explanation) or fully conscious and clear-headed (lucid dreaming refers to aware, clear dreaming). Its synonyms include clear, transparent, comprehensible, and intelligible. 'Confusing' and 'ambiguous' are antonyms.
Question 2: What is the relationship between the words DOCTOR and PATIENT?
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Provider and recipient of a service (Correct answer)
- Cause and effect
Correct answer: Provider and recipient of a service
A doctor provides medical services and a patient receives them — this is a provider-recipient (professional-client) relationship.
Verbal analogy and relationship questions test the ability to categorise word relationships. Doctor and patient are not synonyms (same meaning) nor antonyms (opposite meaning). They represent a complementary professional relationship: one provides a service (doctor) and the other receives it (patient). This is similar to teacher-student, lawyer-client, or author-reader.
Question 3: Choose the word that does NOT belong: MAPLE, OAK, PINE, ROSE, BIRCH.
- Maple
- Oak
- Pine
- Rose (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Rose
Maple, Oak, Pine, and Birch are all trees. Rose is a flowering shrub/plant, not a tree.
Category identification requires finding the item that does not share the defining property of the rest. Maple, oak, pine, and birch are all trees (large woody plants with a single main trunk). A rose is a flowering shrub — it has woody stems but is not classified as a tree. Rose is the odd one out.
Question 4: Select the correct analogy: AUTHOR is to BOOK as COMPOSER is to _____.
- Conductor
- Symphony (Correct answer)
- Stage
- Audience
Correct answer: Symphony
An author creates a book; a composer creates a symphony (or musical composition). The relationship is creator to created work.
The analogy relationship is 'creator → their primary creative product'. Author creates books. Composer creates musical compositions — with symphony being the classic large-scale orchestral composition. A conductor performs/interprets music (not creates it). Stage and audience are related to performance but not to the creative output of a composer.
Question 5: What does the word 'INFER' mean?
- To state directly
- To deduce or conclude from evidence (Correct answer)
- To contradict
- To copy from a source
Correct answer: To deduce or conclude from evidence
'Infer' means to derive a conclusion from evidence or reasoning without it being explicitly stated.
'Infer' comes from Latin 'inferre' meaning to bring in/conclude. To infer is to reach a logical conclusion based on available evidence or premises without it being explicitly stated. It contrasts with 'imply' — a speaker implies (hints), while the listener infers (concludes). 'Infer' is not stating directly, contradicting, or copying.
Question 6: Choose the best antonym for 'VERBOSE'.
- Wordy
- Concise (Correct answer)
- Eloquent
- Persuasive
Correct answer: Concise
'Verbose' means using more words than necessary; its antonym is 'concise' (using few words but covering the essentials).
'Verbose' (also: wordy, prolix, long-winded) means using more words than needed to communicate. Its antonym is 'concise' (brief, succinct, to the point). 'Wordy' is a synonym of verbose. 'Eloquent' means well-spoken (a different dimension). 'Persuasive' refers to effectiveness, not word count.
GMA Verbal Reasoning 2
Choose the word most similar in meaning to 'LUCID'.