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OLSAT Level E study materials
OLSAT Level E study resources

OLSAT Level E practice questions

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First 50 of 198 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

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Question 1Verbal Comprehension

Which word means most nearly the same as "rapid"?

  1. slow
  2. loud
  3. rough
  4. quick Correct answer.

Explanation

A synonym is a word with nearly the same meaning. "Rapid" describes something that moves or happens very fast, so "quick" is the closest match.

Question 2Verbal Comprehension

Which word means the opposite of "expand"?

  1. stretch
  2. shrink Correct answer.
  3. explode
  4. measure

Explanation

To expand is to grow larger or spread out, so its antonym must mean to grow smaller. "Shrink" means to become smaller, which is the exact opposite.

Question 3Verbal Comprehension

Kitten is to cat as puppy is to ___

  1. dog Correct answer.
  2. wolf
  3. bone
  4. bark

Explanation

The first pair names a young animal and the adult it grows into. A puppy is the young of a dog, so "dog" completes the pair in the same way.

Question 4Verbal Comprehension

Which word names a vegetable rather than a fruit?

  1. peach
  2. carrot Correct answer.
  3. apple
  4. avocado

Explanation

Sort the words by category. An apple, an avocado, and a peach all develop from the flower of a plant and contain seeds, which makes them fruits, while a carrot is an edible root and belongs with vegetables.

Question 5Verbal Comprehension

Although the trail was steep and rocky, the hikers ___ to reach the summit before dark.

  1. forgot
  2. refused
  3. managed Correct answer.
  4. pretended

Explanation

The word "Although" signals a contrast: the trail was hard, so the ending should show success against difficulty. "Managed" fits because it means they succeeded in doing something difficult.

Question 6Verbal Comprehension

Read this sentence: "The arid desert had not seen rain in months." In this sentence, what does "arid" most nearly mean?

  1. crowded
  2. dry Correct answer.
  3. noisy
  4. green

Explanation

The sentence gives a clue when it says the desert "had not seen rain in months," which points to a lack of water. "Dry" matches that meaning.

Question 7Verbal Comprehension

Which word means most nearly the same as "glimpse"?

  1. peek Correct answer.
  2. grasp
  3. stare
  4. shout

Explanation

To glimpse something is to see it for only a moment, so the synonym must also describe a brief look. "Peek" means to look quickly or briefly.

Question 8Verbal Comprehension

Which word means the opposite of "generous"?

  1. wealthy
  2. kind
  3. stingy Correct answer.
  4. cheerful

Explanation

A generous person gives freely to others, so the antonym must describe someone who gives little. "Stingy" means unwilling to give or share.

Question 9Verbal Comprehension

Author is to book as composer is to ___

  1. piano
  2. symphony Correct answer.
  3. violinist
  4. orchestra

Explanation

An author creates a book, so the second pair must name something a composer creates. A composer writes a symphony, which is a piece of music.

Question 10Verbal Comprehension

Which word does not belong with the others?

  1. tiny Correct answer.
  2. huge
  3. enormous
  4. gigantic

Explanation

Group the words by meaning. "Gigantic," "enormous," and "huge" all mean very large, while "tiny" means very small, so it is the one that breaks the pattern.

Question 11Verbal Comprehension

Pen is to write as scissors are to ___

  1. sharp
  2. sew
  3. cut Correct answer.
  4. paper

Explanation

The first pair links an object to the action it is used for: a pen is used to write. Scissors are used to cut, so "cut" completes the pair.

Question 12Verbal Comprehension

A butterfly begins as an egg. The egg hatches into a caterpillar, and the caterpillar later becomes a chrysalis. Which of these happens first?

  1. An egg is laid on a leaf. Correct answer.
  2. A butterfly comes out of the chrysalis.
  3. A caterpillar forms a chrysalis.
  4. A caterpillar eats leaves.

Explanation

The stages must be placed in the order they occur. Before a caterpillar can hatch, eat, or form a chrysalis, an egg must first be laid.

Question 13Verbal Comprehension

All of the students in the chess club play at least one musical instrument. Priya is in the chess club. Which statement must be true?

  1. Priya plays an instrument. Correct answer.
  2. Priya takes music lessons after school.
  3. Priya bought a new trumpet.
  4. Priya sings in the school chorus.

Explanation

The first statement applies to every member of the chess club. Since Priya is a member, the rule applies to her, so she must play at least one instrument.

Question 14Verbal Comprehension

Hot is to cold as tall is to ___

  1. high
  2. wide
  3. short Correct answer.
  4. long

Explanation

The first pair are opposites, so the second pair must be opposites as well. The opposite of "tall" is "short."

Question 15Verbal Comprehension

If today is Wednesday, what day will it be three days after tomorrow?

  1. Saturday
  2. Sunday Correct answer.
  3. Monday
  4. Thursday

Explanation

Work through the time clues one step at a time. Tomorrow is Thursday, and three days after Thursday is Sunday.

Question 16Verbal Comprehension

The results of the experiment ___ the scientist's theory, so she had to revise it.

  1. disproved Correct answer.
  2. approved
  3. copied
  4. confirmed

Explanation

The words "so she had to revise it" show that the results went against the theory. "Disproved" means showed to be false, which explains why a revision was needed.

Question 17Verbal Comprehension

Read this sentence: "The laconic speaker used only a handful of words." In this sentence, what does "laconic" most nearly mean?

  1. tells jokes
  2. speaks loudly
  3. talks constantly
  4. uses few words Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "used only a handful of words" is the clue that defines the word. "Laconic" describes speech that is very brief.

Question 18Verbal Comprehension

Petal is to flower as branch is to ___

  1. tree Correct answer.
  2. leaf
  3. root
  4. bark

Explanation

A petal is one part of a flower, so the second pair must also name a part and the whole it belongs to. A branch is one part of a tree.

Question 19Verbal Comprehension

Maya pulled on her boots, grabbed an umbrella, and glanced at the dark clouds overhead. What is Maya most likely about to do?

  1. She is about to bake a cake in the kitchen.
  2. She is about to go outside in the rain. Correct answer.
  3. She is getting ready to go swimming in a pool.
  4. She is preparing to go to bed for the night.

Explanation

The details work together: boots and an umbrella are used outdoors in wet weather, and dark clouds signal rain. The most reasonable prediction is that she is going out into the rain.

Question 20Verbal Comprehension

The speech was so ___ that even the senator's opponents rose to applaud.

  1. lengthy
  2. confusing
  3. ordinary
  4. eloquent Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "even the senator's opponents rose to applaud" shows the speech was powerfully moving. "Eloquent" means expressed in a persuasive and moving way.

Question 21Verbal Comprehension

Which word means the opposite of "frugal"?

  1. wasteful Correct answer.
  2. thrifty
  3. wealthy
  4. careful

Explanation

"Frugal" describes someone who is careful not to spend money unnecessarily. Its antonym must describe careless spending, which is what "wasteful" means.

Question 22Verbal Comprehension

Whisper is to shout as stroll is to ___

  1. wander
  2. stand
  3. walk
  4. sprint Correct answer.

Explanation

A whisper is a very quiet version of a shout, so the pair differs in intensity. The matching pair must show the intense form of a stroll, which is a sprint.

Question 23Verbal Comprehension

Which word means most nearly the same as "reluctant"?

  1. unwilling Correct answer.
  2. eager
  3. careless
  4. angry

Explanation

"Reluctant" describes someone who hesitates because they do not want to do something. "Unwilling" carries the same meaning.

Question 24Verbal Comprehension

No reptile has fur. A gecko is a reptile. Which statement must be true?

  1. A gecko has no fur. Correct answer.
  2. A gecko is warm-blooded.
  3. A gecko lives in the desert.
  4. A gecko is a mammal.

Explanation

The rule states that fur never occurs on reptiles. Since a gecko is a reptile, the rule applies to it, so it must have no fur.

Question 25Verbal Comprehension

Ben is taller than Carlos. Carlos is taller than Dee. Who is the shortest?

  1. Carlos
  2. Each person is the same height
  3. Dee Correct answer.
  4. Ben

Explanation

Line up the comparisons in order: Ben is above Carlos, and Carlos is above Dee. Dee is below both of the others, so Dee must be the shortest.

Question 26Verbal Comprehension

Which word means most nearly the same as "weary"?

  1. angry
  2. cheerful
  3. curious
  4. tired Correct answer.

Explanation

"Weary" describes someone who is worn out and needs rest, so "tired" is the closest match. The other choices name feelings that have nothing to do with being worn out.

Question 27Verbal Comprehension

Which word means the opposite of "scarce"?

  1. ample Correct answer.
  2. costly
  3. hidden
  4. rare

Explanation

Something scarce exists only in small amounts, so its opposite is a word meaning plentiful, such as "ample." "Rare" actually repeats the idea of scarcity rather than opposing it.

Question 28Verbal Comprehension

Chef is to kitchen as pilot is to ___

  1. runway
  2. airplane
  3. ticket
  4. cockpit Correct answer.

Explanation

A chef works in a kitchen, so the matching word is the place where a pilot works, which is the cockpit. The relationship is worker to workspace, not worker to vehicle.

Question 29Verbal Comprehension

After the long hike, the campers were so ___ that they fell asleep before dinner.

  1. hungry
  2. drowsy Correct answer.
  3. polite
  4. curious

Explanation

The sentence says the campers fell asleep early, so the missing word must describe sleepiness. "Drowsy" fits because it means sleepy.

Question 30Verbal Comprehension

Read this sentence: "The advertisement promised the tonic would cure every illness, but doctors dismissed the claims as spurious, unsupported by any evidence." In this sentence, what does "spurious" most nearly mean?

  1. false Correct answer.
  2. popular
  3. expensive
  4. helpful

Explanation

The phrase after the comma defines the word: a spurious claim is one with no evidence behind it, so it is false. The doctors' dismissal confirms they judged the claims untrue.

Question 31Verbal Comprehension

Brick is to wall as word is to ___

  1. letter
  2. dictionary
  3. sentence Correct answer.
  4. page

Explanation

A brick is a single building unit that is combined with others to make a wall, so the matching whole for words is a sentence. The relationship is part to whole.

Question 32Verbal Comprehension

___ the heavy rain, the game continued without interruption.

  1. Despite Correct answer.
  2. In addition to
  3. Instead of
  4. Because of

Explanation

Rain would normally stop a game, so the sentence needs a word signaling contrast between the rain and the game continuing. "Despite" expresses that contrast.

Question 33Verbal Comprehension

All members of the choir can read music. Some students in Grade 6 are members of the choir. Which statement must be true?

  1. Only students in Grade 6 are allowed to sing in the choir.
  2. Some Grade 6 students can read music. Correct answer.
  3. All Grade 6 students can read music.
  4. Only Grade 6 students can read music.

Explanation

The Grade 6 students who belong to the choir inherit the choir's trait of reading music, so at least some Grade 6 students can read music. The word "some" in the second sentence keeps the conclusion limited to those students.

Question 34Verbal Comprehension

The scientist kept ___ records, noting every measurement down to the smallest detail.

  1. cheerful
  2. hurried
  3. precise Correct answer.
  4. sparse

Explanation

The second half of the sentence explains the kind of records: ones noting even the smallest detail, which means exact or precise. The blank must describe accuracy.

Question 35Verbal Comprehension

Liam is baking bread. First he kneads the dough, then he lets it rise, then he shapes the dough into a loaf, and finally he bakes it. Which step comes immediately after the dough rises?

  1. Kneading the dough
  2. Slicing the loaf
  3. Baking it
  4. Shaping it into a loaf Correct answer.

Explanation

The steps are given in order: knead, rise, shape, bake. The step right after the dough rises is therefore shaping it into a loaf.

Question 36Verbal Comprehension

An animal that is nocturnal is active at night and rests during the day. Which of these animals is nocturnal?

  1. A squirrel that gathers nuts at noon
  2. A bat that hunts after sunset Correct answer.
  3. A robin that sings at sunrise
  4. A honeybee that visits flowers by day

Explanation

Nocturnal means active at night, and a bat hunting after sunset is active in the dark. The other animals are described as active in daylight.

Question 37Verbal Comprehension

If you finish your homework, you may go to the park. Marco did not go to the park. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Marco will go to the park tomorrow.
  2. Marco did not finish his homework. Correct answer.
  3. Marco finished his homework.
  4. Marco's teacher forgot to assign any homework.

Explanation

Going to the park was allowed only after finishing the homework. Since Marco did not go, the condition was not met, so he did not finish his homework.

Question 38Verbal Comprehension

Read this passage: "The recipe called for fresh basil, but Tomas used dried oregano instead. His guests praised the dish and asked for the recipe." Which statement is best supported?

  1. Tomas's guests disliked the meal.
  2. Dried oregano is better than fresh basil.
  3. The substitution did not spoil the meal. Correct answer.
  4. Tomas forgot to shop for basil.

Explanation

The guests praised the dish and asked for the recipe, which shows the changed ingredient still produced a successful meal. Only that conclusion is directly supported by what the guests did.

Question 39Verbal Comprehension

Only students who have a signed permission slip may board the bus. Kim boarded the bus. Which statement must be true?

  1. Kim had a signed permission slip. Correct answer.
  2. Kim signed the slip herself.
  3. Every student boarded the bus.
  4. Students without slips may board later.

Explanation

A signed slip is required before boarding, so anyone who boarded, including Kim, must have had one. The rule gives a necessary condition, not extra details about who signed it.

Question 40Verbal Comprehension

Read this sentence: "We sat on the bank and watched the river flow past." In which sentence is the word "bank" used in the same way?

  1. The pilot began to bank the plane to the left.
  2. You can bank on her to keep a secret.
  3. We walked along the bank of the creek. Correct answer.
  4. She went to the bank to deposit her paycheck.

Explanation

In the original sentence, "bank" means the raised land beside a river. Only the sentence about walking along the creek uses that same meaning of land next to water.

Question 41Verbal Reasoning

Finger is to hand as toe is to ___

  1. shoe
  2. foot Correct answer.
  3. knee
  4. leg

Explanation

A finger is one of the digits that grows from a hand, so the relationship is a small part to the larger body part that holds it. A toe is a digit that grows from a foot, which completes the pair in the same way.

Question 42Verbal Reasoning

Which word is the opposite of 'scarce'?

  1. rare
  2. plentiful Correct answer.
  3. insignificant
  4. small

Explanation

Scarce describes something that exists only in small amounts. Its opposite must describe something available in large amounts, and 'plentiful' means exactly that.

Question 43Verbal Reasoning

Three of these belong to the same group. Which one does not belong?

  1. kale Correct answer.
  2. banana
  3. apple
  4. peach

Explanation

An apple, a peach, and a banana are all fruits that develop from the flower of a plant and contain seeds. Kale is a leafy vegetable, so it is the item that does not fit the group.

Question 44Verbal Reasoning

The trail was so ___ that the hikers reached the summit before noon.

  1. crowded
  2. winding
  3. gentle Correct answer.
  4. rocky

Explanation

The sentence explains a fast arrival at the summit, so the missing word must describe a trail that is easy to travel. A gentle trail offers little resistance and accounts for the hikers' speed.

Question 45Verbal Reasoning

In a certain code, CAT is written as DBU. How is DOG written in the same code?

  1. EPH Correct answer.
  2. FQI
  3. DPH
  4. EOG

Explanation

Comparing CAT with DBU shows that every letter is replaced by the letter that comes right after it in the alphabet. Applying that same one-step shift to D, O, and G gives E, P, and H.

Question 46Verbal Reasoning

Bird is to nest as bee is to ___

  1. sting
  2. honey
  3. hive Correct answer.
  4. flower

Explanation

A nest is the structure a bird builds and lives in, so the pair links a creature to its home. A hive is the structure that bees build and live in, matching that relationship.

Question 47Verbal Reasoning

All roses in the garden are red. The flower Mia picked is a rose from that garden. What must be true?

  1. Mia's flower is red. Correct answer.
  2. Mia picked a flower at a shop.
  3. Mia picked the only rose in the garden.
  4. Mia's flower is white.

Explanation

The first statement says every rose in the garden is red, and the second places Mia's flower inside that group. Anything that belongs to a group with a shared trait must have that trait, so her rose is red.

Question 48Verbal Reasoning

Author is to novel as composer is to ___

  1. piano
  2. audience
  3. symphony Correct answer.
  4. orchestra

Explanation

An author creates a novel, so the pair links a creator to a large finished work. A composer creates a symphony, which fits the same creator-to-work relationship.

Question 49Verbal Reasoning

Which word is the opposite of 'cautious'?

  1. brave
  2. quiet
  3. careful
  4. reckless Correct answer.

Explanation

Cautious describes someone who takes care to avoid danger. The opposite is acting with no regard for risk at all, which is what reckless means.

Question 50Verbal Reasoning

Three of these share a common purpose. Which one does not belong?

  1. scale
  2. ruler
  3. thermometer
  4. hammer Correct answer.

Explanation

A thermometer measures temperature, a ruler measures length, and a scale measures weight, so all three are measuring instruments. A hammer is used to drive nails and measures nothing.