Scholastic aptitude entrance exam, 2014 E.C. (2022)

'Derogatory' means insulting or showing a low opinion. The question asks for the opposite. A remark that praises is a complimentary remark, so A flips the meaning exactly. 'Cheerful' describes a person's mood, not a kind of remark, so it is not a true opposite.

Tip: Define the quoted word in your own simple words first, then hunt for the option that reverses that definition, not just any positive word.

An 'aversion' is a strong dislike. The sentence contrasts him with his brothers who like milk. The opposite of strong dislike is love, so D is correct. 'Hate' is a trap: it means almost the same as aversion, and the question wants the opposite.

Tip: Antonym lists often include a synonym of the quoted word to catch students who read too fast. Re-check whether the item asks for the same or the opposite meaning before you answer.

'Barbarians' here means people seen as uncivilized, and the sentence confirms it by saying they never lived in the modern world. The opposite is civilized, so C is correct. 'Cruel' leans toward the same negative meaning as barbarian, so it cannot be the opposite.

Tip: Use the rest of the sentence as a free dictionary: it often restates the quoted word, and the answer is whatever undoes that restatement.

This item asks for the word closest in meaning. 'Covert' means secret or hidden, and the sentence spells it out: the operation happened without being noticed by anyone. So A is correct. 'Illegal' is a trap: spy work may be secret without being against the law, and the sentence says nothing about law.

Tip: For synonym items, test each option by swapping it into the sentence. Only the true synonym keeps the sentence saying the same thing.

'Outmoded' means no longer in fashion, that is outdated. The clue is right in the sentence: the window treatments were installed 17 years ago and now need changing. So B is correct. 'Outlawed' only looks similar; it means banned by law, which has nothing to do with age or fashion.

Tip: When two options share a prefix with the quoted word, judge them by meaning, not by appearance. Lookalike words are a favourite trap.

'Blatant' means done openly, in a way anyone can see, so the closest word is obvious. A blatant disregard for the rules is a disregard she did not even try to hide. 'Rebellious' is a trap: it describes a rule-breaking person, but it does not mean open or unhidden, which is what blatant says. 'Hidden' is the opposite.

Tip: Match the quoted word's own meaning, not the general theme of the sentence. Options that fit the topic but not the word are the most common wrong answers.