Question 1Aim for about 35 seconds
Which word is most opposite in meaning to “guilty”?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, innocent
How to work it out
“innocent” is the opposite of “guilty”.
Antonyms: 11 Plus verbal reasoning practice
Words with opposite meanings.
CoreIn almost every paper that tests this subjectAbout 35 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
Antonym questions ask for the opposite. Many prefixes create opposites: un-, in-, im-, dis-, ir-.
Tips that save marks
- Check the option isn’t a synonym in disguise.
- Say “the opposite of X is…” out loud in your head.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds
Which word is most opposite in meaning to “smooth”?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, rough
How to work it out
“rough” is the opposite of “smooth”.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
( helmet, increase, pebble ) ( teapot, decrease, saucer )
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, increase and decrease
How to work it out
- “increase” and “decrease” are antonyms: they mean the opposite.
- Try each word from the first group with each word from the second.
Why the other options are wrong
- A (pebble and saucer): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- C (helmet and teapot): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- D (increase and teapot): “increase” is right, but “teapot” is not linked to it.
- E (helmet and decrease): “decrease” is right, but “helmet” is not linked to it.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
( ladder, guilty, pencil ) ( innocent, teapot, carpet )
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, guilty and innocent
How to work it out
- “guilty” and “innocent” are antonyms: they mean the opposite.
- Try each word from the first group with each word from the second.
Why the other options are wrong
- A (ladder and teapot): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- B (guilty and carpet): “guilty” is right, but “carpet” is not linked to it.
- D (pencil and carpet): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- E (pencil and innocent): “innocent” is right, but “pencil” is not linked to it.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
( teapot, basket, ascend ) ( marble, pebble, descend )
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, ascend and descend
How to work it out
- “ascend” and “descend” are antonyms: they mean the opposite.
- Try each word from the first group with each word from the second.
Why the other options are wrong
- A (basket and marble): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- C (teapot and pebble): These two words are not linked in meaning.
- D (ascend and pebble): “ascend” is right, but “pebble” is not linked to it.
- E (teapot and descend): “descend” is right, but “teapot” is not linked to it.
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