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Wonderlic SLE practice questions

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First 50 of 200 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 reasoning

CAT is to KITTEN as DOG is to ___

  1. canine
  2. litter
  3. puppy Correct answer.
  4. bark

Explanation

The first pair links an adult animal to the word for its young. Applying that same relationship to DOG produces the term for a young dog, which is 'puppy'.

Question 2Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to ANCIENT?

  1. historic
  2. fragile
  3. old
  4. modern Correct answer.

Explanation

'Ancient' describes something extremely old, so its opposite must describe something new or current. 'Modern' means belonging to the present time.

Question 3Verbal reasoning

Which word means most nearly the same as RAPID?

  1. wide
  2. calm
  3. swift Correct answer.
  4. rigid

Explanation

'Rapid' means moving or happening quickly, so the synonym must carry the idea of speed. 'Swift' means fast.

Question 4Verbal reasoning

Because the bridge was closed, the drivers had to take a ___ route.

  1. direct
  2. shorter
  3. scenic
  4. longer Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'because' signals a consequence: a closed bridge forces a detour. A detour covers more ground, so a word meaning extended fits the logic of the sentence.

Question 5Verbal reasoning

Three of these words name trees. Which one does not fit?

  1. maple
  2. tulip Correct answer.
  3. oak
  4. pine

Explanation

The category shared by the other three words is 'tree': oak, pine, and maple are all trees. A tulip is a flowering plant, so it is the one that does not belong.

Question 6Verbal reasoning

The Grant Street library opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. It closes at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed all day Sunday. On which day is the library closed all day?

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

Explanation

The passage lists opening and closing times for each weekday and for Saturday, but states that one day has no hours at all. That day is Sunday.

Question 7Verbal reasoning

In the sentence 'The clerk was asked to verify the address,' the word verify most nearly means ___.

  1. confirm Correct answer.
  2. copy
  3. change
  4. delete

Explanation

To verify something is to check that it is accurate or true. In this context the clerk is checking the address, which means confirming it.

Question 8Verbal reasoning

Although the instructions were detailed, the assembly process was still ___.

  1. hard Correct answer.
  2. cheap
  3. simple
  4. quick

Explanation

The word 'although' sets up a contrast, since detailed instructions would normally make a task easier. The blank therefore needs a word meaning difficult.

Question 9Verbal reasoning

AUTHOR is to NOVEL as COMPOSER is to ___

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

Explanation

An author creates a novel, so the second pair must name something a composer creates. A symphony is a musical work written by a composer.

Question 10Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to FRUGAL?

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

Explanation

Frugal means careful with money and avoiding unnecessary spending. Its opposite must describe careless or excessive spending.

Question 11Verbal reasoning

Marta planned to hike all the way to the summit. At the ridge, however, she saw dark clouds gathering and heard the first rumble of thunder. She turned around and headed back to the trailhead. Why did Marta turn back?

  1. She had reached the summit
  2. She had lost her map
  3. Bad weather threatened Correct answer.
  4. She had run out of water

Explanation

The passage reports dark clouds and thunder immediately before Marta's decision. Those details point to an approaching storm, which explains her retreat.

Question 12Verbal reasoning

The committee's report was so ___ that even experts needed a summary to understand it.

  1. dense Correct answer.
  2. lucid
  3. neutral
  4. concise

Explanation

The result clause says the report required a summary even for experts, so the report must be difficult to follow. The missing word must describe writing that is hard to penetrate.

Question 13Verbal reasoning

All employees in Building A have parking permits. Rita works in Building A. Therefore ___.

  1. Rita works elsewhere
  2. Rita has a permit Correct answer.
  3. Rita carpools daily
  4. Rita has no permit

Explanation

The first sentence applies to every employee in Building A, and the second places Rita in that group. Because Rita satisfies both conditions, the permit follows necessarily.

Question 14Verbal reasoning

LEAF is to TREE as PAGE is to ___

  1. printer
  2. book Correct answer.
  3. paper
  4. word

Explanation

A leaf is one part of a tree, so the pair relates a component to the whole it belongs to. A page is one part of a book.

Question 15Verbal reasoning

Few cities have room for everyone who wants to drive. Adding lanes often attracts more cars, and the new capacity fills within a few years. Some planners now argue that widening roads cannot solve congestion; only different travel options can. What is the main point of the passage?

  1. Drivers prefer wider roads
  2. Road work costs too much
  3. Wider roads fail to fix traffic Correct answer.
  4. Cities should ban all cars

Explanation

The passage's central claim comes in the planners' conclusion: adding capacity does not cure congestion. The detail about new lanes filling up supports that claim.

Question 16Verbal reasoning

In the phrase 'a sound argument,' the word sound most nearly means ___.

  1. valid Correct answer.
  2. noisy
  3. lengthy
  4. watery

Explanation

Many words carry several senses, and context selects the right one. Applied to an argument, 'sound' means well-founded or logically valid.

Question 17Verbal reasoning

WARM is to HOT as COOL is to ___

  1. breezy
  2. mild
  3. damp
  4. cold Correct answer.

Explanation

The first pair moves along a temperature scale toward a more intense degree. COOL followed by 'cold' makes the same step toward greater intensity.

Question 18Verbal reasoning

___ the storm, the flight was delayed for hours.

  1. In spite of
  2. Despite
  3. Because of Correct answer.
  4. Rather than

Explanation

The second half of the sentence reports a delay caused by the storm, so the blank must introduce a cause. Only a causal connector fits that logic.

Question 19Verbal reasoning

The sign taped to the shop door read 'Back in fifteen minutes.' The customer glanced at her watch, sighed, and sat down on the bench outside. What can be inferred about the customer?

  1. She planned to leave at once
  2. She had forgotten her key
  3. She was angry at the staff
  4. She decided to wait Correct answer.

Explanation

Sitting on the bench beside a closed shop indicates that the customer chose to stay until it reopened. The inference rests on her action rather than on any stated motive.

Question 20Verbal reasoning

Which pair of words are opposites?

  1. quick / swift
  2. tired / weary
  3. scarce / plentiful Correct answer.
  4. brave / bold

Explanation

The answer must be a pair whose members have contrary meanings. 'Scarce' means in short supply, while 'plentiful' means in abundance.

Question 21Verbal reasoning

At the oldest level of the settlement, archaeologists found fish bones and harpoon tips but no nets and no boat remains. Later levels contained nets, boat fragments, and the same fish bones. The team concluded that the earliest residents fished, but perhaps only from shore. Which detail best supports the team's caution?

  1. Later layers contained both nets and boats
  2. Fish bones appeared in the oldest layer
  3. Harpoon tips are difficult to manufacture
  4. No boat remains were found there Correct answer.

Explanation

The hedge 'perhaps only from shore' rests on the absence of watercraft in the earliest layer, which limits how far those residents could have fished. The other choices either describe later periods or merely restate that fishing took place.

Question 22Verbal reasoning

RIDDLE is to ANSWER as MYSTERY is to ___

  1. suspect
  2. detective
  3. clue
  4. solution Correct answer.

Explanation

A riddle is resolved by an answer, so the second pair needs the thing that resolves a mystery. A mystery is resolved by its solution.

Question 23Verbal reasoning

No one who attended the meeting left before noon. Priya departed from the meeting room at 11 a.m. What follows?

  1. Priya must have attended the meeting
  2. The meeting ended promptly at noon
  3. Priya was not at the meeting Correct answer.
  4. Priya arrived shortly after noon

Explanation

The rule excludes anyone who left before noon from having attended. Because Priya left at 11 a.m., she cannot be counted among those who attended.

Question 24Verbal reasoning

The proposal to ban plastic bags assumes shoppers will switch to reusable bags. But a study of one city found that reusable bag sales rose only slightly after the ban, while paper bag use tripled. The passage suggests that the ban ___.

  1. sharply reduced total bag waste
  2. eliminated the need for paper bags
  3. was rejected by most shoppers
  4. may have shifted bag use Correct answer.

Explanation

The data show little growth in reusable bags alongside a large rise in paper bags, which implies shoppers changed the type of bag rather than using fewer. That supports a shift rather than a reduction.

Question 25Verbal reasoning

Which word means most nearly the same as OBDURATE?

  1. talkative
  2. generous
  3. careless
  4. stubborn Correct answer.

Explanation

Obdurate describes someone who will not change their mind or be moved by persuasion. 'Stubborn' carries that same refusal to yield.

Question 26Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to EXPAND?

  1. Stretch
  2. Enlarge
  3. Contract Correct answer.
  4. Extend

Explanation

Expanding means making something larger or taking up more space. The clearest opposite is a word meaning to grow smaller or draw together, which is what 'contract' means. The other three words all describe increasing size or reach, so they move in the same direction as expand.

Question 27Verbal reasoning

PUPPY is to DOG as KITTEN is to ___

  1. Bird
  2. Horse
  3. Fish
  4. Cat Correct answer.

Explanation

The first pair links a young animal to its adult form: a puppy grows into a dog. The matching pair must link a kitten to the adult animal it becomes, which is a cat. The other options are unrelated animals and break the young-to-adult pattern.

Question 28Verbal reasoning

The soup was so ___ that I asked the server for a glass of water.

  1. Mild
  2. Warm
  3. Fresh
  4. Salty Correct answer.

Explanation

The second half of the sentence explains why water was needed, so the missing word must describe a quality that makes a person thirsty. Overly salty food creates thirst, so 'salty' fits the cause-and-effect logic. Mild, fresh and warm do not naturally explain a request for water.

Question 29Verbal reasoning

In the sentence 'She gave a frank answer,' the word frank most nearly means ___.

  1. Brief
  2. Rude
  3. Unsure
  4. Honest Correct answer.

Explanation

In this context 'frank' describes a person speaking openly and directly rather than holding back. The closest match is 'honest,' which captures that directness. The other choices describe length, manners or uncertainty rather than openness.

Question 30Verbal reasoning

Every window in the school was closed. The window in Room 4 is a window in the school. Which statement must be true?

  1. Some windows in the school were open.
  2. The Room 4 window was the only one closed.
  3. The Room 4 window was closed. Correct answer.
  4. The Room 4 window was opened later.

Explanation

If a rule applies to every window in the school, it applies to any particular window in the school. Since the Room 4 window belongs to that group, it must share the stated property. Anything about which windows were the only ones closed, or about later changes, goes beyond the given information.

Question 31Verbal reasoning

HUNGRY is to FOOD as THIRSTY is to ___

  1. Water Correct answer.
  2. Exercise
  3. Sleep
  4. Bread

Explanation

The first pair links a bodily need to what satisfies it: hunger is relieved by food. The matching pair must name what relieves thirst, which is water. Bread, sleep and exercise answer other needs or none at all.

Question 32Verbal reasoning

Because the road was icy, the driver proceeded ___.

  1. Rapidly
  2. Carelessly
  3. Cautiously Correct answer.
  4. Reluctantly

Explanation

The word 'because' signals that the icy road caused the driver's manner of driving. Ice makes stopping and steering harder, so the logical behavior is to drive carefully. The other adverbs describe speed, neglect or hesitation rather than the caution that ice demands.

Question 33Verbal reasoning

CARTOGRAPHER is to MAP as CHOREOGRAPHER is to ___

  1. Costume
  2. Music
  3. Dance Correct answer.
  4. Stage

Explanation

A cartographer is the person who creates a map, so the pair links a maker to the thing made. A choreographer creates dances, so 'dance' completes the same maker-to-product relationship. A stage, music and costumes are materials a choreographer uses, not the work produced.

Question 34Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to SCARCE?

  1. Abundant Correct answer.
  2. Hidden
  3. Costly
  4. Rare

Explanation

Scarce means in short supply or hard to come by. The opposite describes something available in large quantity, which is 'abundant.' Rare and hidden both suggest limited availability, and costly refers to price rather than quantity.

Question 35Verbal reasoning

The mayor's speech was ___ ; it praised the plan in general terms without committing to any specific step.

  1. Sincere
  2. Vague Correct answer.
  3. Lengthy
  4. Hostile

Explanation

The clause after the semicolon defines the missing word: general praise with no specifics. A word meaning unclear or imprecise in detail is needed, and 'vague' supplies exactly that. Length, sincerity and hostility are not supported by the description given.

Question 36Verbal reasoning

Every member of the book club reads at least one novel each month. Dev is a member of the book club. Which statement must be true?

  1. Dev reads at least one novel each month. Correct answer.
  2. Dev reads more than any other member.
  3. Dev has read every novel in the club's list.
  4. Dev reads nothing but novels.

Explanation

A rule covering every member applies to any individual member. Since Dev belongs to the club, the minimum-reading requirement applies to Dev. Claims about reading only novels, reading more than others, or finishing a whole list go beyond the premise.

Question 37Verbal reasoning

In the sentence 'The report included one telling detail,' the word telling most nearly means ___.

  1. Spoken
  2. Counting
  3. Lengthy
  4. Revealing Correct answer.

Explanation

Here 'telling' is used as an adjective meaning that something discloses or reveals an important point. The closest match is 'revealing.' The other options use senses of the word related to speech, counting or size, none of which fits the phrase.

Question 38Verbal reasoning

The museum's new wing was paid for entirely by private donations. Ticket sales, the director notes, cover only the museum's day-to-day operating costs. Which statement is best supported?

  1. Ticket sales funded the new wing.
  2. Private donors paid for the new wing. Correct answer.
  3. The museum is operating at a loss.
  4. The new wing cost more than expected.

Explanation

The passage states that the new wing's cost was met entirely by private donations, so donors are the ones who paid for it. Ticket sales are tied only to routine operating costs. Nothing in the passage addresses profit or loss, or the original budget estimate.

Question 39Verbal reasoning

A bakery sells out of croissants before 9 a.m. every day this week. A customer arrives at 10 a.m. on Saturday. What is most likely to be true?

  1. The croissants are fresh from the oven.
  2. The customer will buy a loaf of bread.
  3. The bakery is closed on Saturday.
  4. The croissants are sold out. Correct answer.

Explanation

The pattern shows croissants gone before 9 a.m. each day, and the customer arrives an hour later, so the most reasonable expectation is that none remain. The other options require information the passage does not provide, such as Saturday hours, baking times or the customer's preferences.

Question 40Verbal reasoning

SCALPEL is to SURGEON as SAW is to ___

  1. Wood
  2. Nail
  3. Hammer
  4. Carpenter Correct answer.

Explanation

The first pair links a cutting tool to the professional who uses it. The matching pair must name the worker who uses a saw, which is a carpenter. Wood and nails are materials or objects the saw works with, and a hammer is a different tool.

Question 41Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to RELUCTANT?

  1. Hesitant
  2. Eager Correct answer.
  3. Unwilling
  4. Careful

Explanation

Reluctant describes someone who is unwilling or hesitant about doing something. Its opposite should show willingness or enthusiasm, which is 'eager.' Hesitant and unwilling are close synonyms of reluctant, and careful describes caution instead.

Question 42Verbal reasoning

The two witnesses gave accounts that were so ___ that investigators could not decide which one was accurate.

  1. Similar
  2. Contradictory Correct answer.
  3. Detailed
  4. Brief

Explanation

The inability to choose between the accounts follows from the accounts disagreeing with each other. A word meaning conflicting is required, and 'contradictory' supplies that meaning. Detailed, similar and brief do not explain the investigators' difficulty, and similar accounts would make the choice easier.

Question 43Verbal reasoning

Whenever the temperature drops below freezing, the fountain in the plaza is shut off. This morning the fountain was running. What follows?

  1. It was not below freezing this morning. Correct answer.
  2. The temperature will drop below freezing tonight.
  3. The fountain was shut off yesterday.
  4. The fountain is broken.

Explanation

The rule is a conditional: if the temperature falls below freezing, the fountain is shut off. Since the fountain was running, the condition cannot have been met, so it was not below freezing that morning. This is valid reasoning by ruling out the trigger of the stated rule.

Question 44Verbal reasoning

THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as BAROMETER is to ___

  1. Rainfall
  2. Pressure Correct answer.
  3. Wind
  4. Humidity

Explanation

A thermometer is an instrument that measures temperature, so the pair links a measuring device to the quantity it measures. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, which completes the pattern. Humidity, wind and rainfall are measured by other instruments.

Question 45Verbal reasoning

Which word means most nearly the same as INSCRUTABLE?

  1. Careless
  2. Hostile
  3. Obvious
  4. Mysterious Correct answer.

Explanation

Inscrutable describes something that cannot be easily understood or read, such as an unreadable expression. The closest match is 'mysterious,' which carries that sense of being hard to fathom. Obvious is nearly its opposite, while hostile and careless describe attitude or attentiveness.

Question 46Verbal reasoning

The critic's praise was ___ : she admired the novel's ambition while faulting nearly every sentence.

  1. Qualified Correct answer.
  2. Unqualified
  3. Effusive
  4. Terse

Explanation

The colon introduces an explanation: the critic mixed admiration with serious criticism. Praise that is limited by reservations is described as 'qualified,' a word whose specialized sense here means restricted rather than credentialed. Unqualified and effusive suggest wholehearted praise, which the second half contradicts.

Question 47Verbal reasoning

Some of the paintings in the gallery are for sale, and every painting that is for sale is listed in the catalog. Which statement must be true?

  1. Some gallery paintings are listed in the catalog. Correct answer.
  2. Only paintings in the catalog are for sale elsewhere.
  3. Every painting in the gallery is listed in the catalog.
  4. Most of the paintings in the gallery are for sale.

Explanation

At least some gallery paintings are for sale, and all for-sale paintings appear in the catalog, so at least some gallery paintings must appear there. The premises say 'some,' not 'all' or 'most,' so broader claims about the whole collection are not guaranteed. Claims about other locations are outside the passage.

Question 48Verbal reasoning

In the phrase 'a profligate use of resources,' the word profligate most nearly means ___.

  1. Illegal
  2. Wasteful Correct answer.
  3. Careful
  4. Rapid

Explanation

Profligate describes spending or using something recklessly and extravagantly. In this phrase the sense is wasteful, squandering resources rather than conserving them. Careful is the opposite idea, while rapid and illegal describe speed or legality rather than extravagance.

Question 49Verbal reasoning

A study found that students who ate breakfast scored higher on average than students who skipped it. The researchers cautioned that the difference might reflect other traits of the two groups. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The study proved that eating breakfast improves scores.
  2. Breakfast has no effect on test scores.
  3. Students who skip breakfast always score lower.
  4. The study does not prove breakfast raises scores. Correct answer.

Explanation

The researchers themselves note that group differences other than breakfast could explain the score gap. That caution means the study shows an association, not a proven cause. Concluding either that breakfast has no effect or that it definitely improves scores goes beyond what the data support.

Question 50Verbal reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to CANDID?

  1. careful
  2. evasive Correct answer.
  3. cheerful
  4. honest

Explanation

Candid means open and direct, so its opposite is evasive, meaning indirect or avoiding a clear answer. The other choices describe honesty, mood, or caution rather than the opposite of directness.