Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

An object that is "flammable" can catch on fire, and if something catches on fire, a result is that it becomes burnt afterwards. Since "frangible" means able to be broken, we need to select an answer choice that describes the state of an object after it breaks. We know we need an adjective, which eliminates "shards" and "vase" as possibilities, and of "shattered," "delicious," and "justified," "shattered" is the only option that has anything to do with breaking, so it is the correct answer, since breaking something can result in it being shattered.

"Erudite" is an adjective that means knowledgeable and learned. If one studies, one can become erudite, so we're looking for an answer in which the first word is a verb that describes what one can do to have the second word, an adjective, describe them. While "sleep is to tired" may look like a possible answer because you sleep when you are tired, one does not sleep to become tired, so it can't be the right answer. "Exercise is to fit," on the other hand, fits the pattern we're looking for, because if one exercises, one can become fit. Because of this, "exercise is to fit" is the correct answer.

"Obscene" is an adjective that means offensive and indecent. "Censor," when used as a verb, means officially suppress aspects of a text or work of art for being perceived as offensive. So, something that is obscene has a high likelihood of being censored, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is an adjective, and the first word is a verb describing what would likely be done to something that adjective describes. Only two answer choices include a verb followed by an adjective: "retract is to incorrect" and "type is to mendacious." While "type is to mendacious" might look like a potentially correct answer, "mendacious" means lying or not truthful. Since there is no clear connection between typing something and the thing typed being untrue, "type is to mendacious" cannot be not the correct answer. "Retract is to incorrect" is the correct answer because just as if something is obscene it is likely to be censored, if something is incorrect it is likely to be retracted, or withdrawn due to it being untrue.

Someone who is exhausted is enervated. Someone who is energized is invigorated.

"Accolade" is a noun that means an earned award of merit, so one is likely to be proud when one receives an accolade. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word describes an emotion one might feel when experiencing or receiving what the first word describes. "Dinner is to hungry" might look like a potentially correct answer because like "accolade to proud," it consists of a noun followed by an adjective describing an emotion. However, one would not expect to feel hungry after receiving a dinner, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Threat is to afraid" is the best answer choice because just as one might be expected to feel proud after receiving an accolade, one might expect to feel afraid when receiving a threat.

The relationship here is of cure to malady. Coffee is a cure for lethargy. Fasting is not a cure for hunger, so we can rule that one out. Exercise is not a cure for strength. If anything, it is probably a cure for weakness, so we can rule that one out, too. We can also rule out the answer choice, "Tea is to headaches," because tea is not necessarily a cure for headaches. That leaves us with two choices. The best one is "Deoderant is to body odor," because deoderant is always a cure for body odor. Medicine is only occasionally a cure for a cold.

A sedative is something you might use in order to make you feel "drowsy," or tired; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must find which answer choice would most likely be used to make someone feel energetic. The correct answer is "stimulant," which is something that provides energy. A "tranquilizer" would have the same affect as a sedative; "soporific "means causing sleepiness; and "lethargic" means lacking energy.

“Sleepwalk” is a verb that means walk around while sleeping, so someone who is asleep might sleepwalk. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a verb, and the second word an adjective describing a condition under which someone might perform the verb’s action. While “rest is to exhausted,” “give up is to optimistic,” and “eat is to thirsty” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “eat is to thirsty” cannot be the correct answer because “thirsty” means needing to drink something, so we would not necessarily expect someone who is thirsty to eat anything. Similarly, “give up is to optimistic” cannot be the correct answer either, because “optimistic” means hopeful, so we would not expect someone who is optimistic to give up. However, we could logically expect someone who is exhausted (drained of energy) to rest, just as we might expect someone who is asleep to sleepwalk, so “rest is to exhausted” is the correct answer.

“Inflame” is a verb that means provoke someone, often making them angry, so inflaming someone could logically make them angry. We need to pick out an answer that describes how someone might feel after being mortified. “Mortify” is a verb that means embarass someone greatly, so “embarrassed” is the correct answer.

A lament is an expression of grief and sadness which is an act usually undertaken at a funeral; therefore to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these acts is usually undertaken at a wedding. This should lead you to the correct answer, “celebrate.” For clarification, "mourn" means feel sorrow about a past event; "scold" and "admonish" are synonyms that mean tell-off; "laud" means praise.

A "beam" can be defined as to smile or a smile, with a smile being an expression of pleasure. To solve this analogy, you must therefore identify which answer choice is an expression of pain. This should lead you to the correct answer, “grimace,” which means a contorted facial expression expressing disgust or pain.

If you diminish something than you make it smaller so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices describes the action of making something bigger. The correct answer is “augment” which means to increase, add to, or supplement. For clarification the four other answer choices are all used, like diminish, to describe the action of making something smaller.

Gerrymandering is the process by which electoral areas are divided to manipulate the political process; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to determine what purpose a filibuster serves in the political process. A filibuster is an extended speech given to delay, or holdup, the passage of a bill.

A "monsoon" is a downpour of heavy rain that results, often, in a flood. In the analogy, both 'monsoon' and "flood" are nouns. "Dehydrated" could be a past-tense verb or an adjective, and requires a matching effect.

"Brittle" (adj) is the answer because it means crisp, fragile, or easily broken into small pieces. This is an effect of being dried out, and it is a matching adjective.

"Parch" (verb) means to dry or burn and is a synonym of "dehydrated," not an effect.

"Durable" (adj) (root "dura" = hard or lasting) means able to last a long time. It is not necessarily a result of being dehydrated.

"Hearty" (adj) (root "heart" = spirit, will (the metaphorical sense)) means healthy and strong, and could be a possible antonym of dehydrated.

"Arid" (adj) means very dry, which is a synonym, not an effect.

Receiving an "award" causes a feeling of pride, so the analogy demonstrates a cause and effect relationship. "Disappointment" should have a corresponding feeling, an adjective, as "proud" is an adjective.

The correct answer is "somber," which is a description of a serious, gloomy, or dark mood. Following a disappointment, a somber attitude would be a reasonable reaction.

"Defeat" (noun) means a beating or overthrow, which is certainly disappointing, but it is not conveying a mood or feeling. "Defeated" would be suitable.

"Funereal" (adj) is a very dark and depressed feeling or vibe. This is a viable option, but conveys too deep of a depression for a mere disappointment.

"Attainment" (noun) is a victory, or when something is gained, and does not describe a mood. A victory would also be the opposite of a disappointment.

"Forfeit" (noun) when one gives up their opportunity to be victorious. This may be disappointing, but does not describe a mood or feeling.

To "deify" means to make holy, to make like a God, to treat as a God. So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words means to treat like a villain, to portray someone as evil ("vilify"). The correct answer is "miscreant." A "miscreant" is a criminal, a wicked person. Additionally, a "councilor" is someone who gives advise; a "mentor" is someone with expertise who helps a beginner; an "acolyte" is an assistant; a "preacher" is a religious speaker.

A "shower" would likely make one very wet or "drench" one. To "drench" means to soak with water, to be completely wet. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these might be caused by a match. Well, a "singe" is a minor burn, so this is the correct answer. Additionally, "prune" means trim, cut into a more orderly arrangement; "grouse" means carp, complain; "encumber" means burden, weigh down with; "flammable" means able to be lit on fire, likely to catch fire.

To "err" is to make a "mistake," to do something in error. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that you make if you "prognosticate." Well, to "prognosticate" is to make a "prediction" about the future.

To "reify" is to make something "real" or more "real." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that you make happen by "spaying" something. Well, to "spay" means to "neuter," to make "sterile," to make no longer able to have babies. Additionally, "poised" means calm and under control in a stressful situation, dignified; "desiccated" means dry, made dry by excessive heat; "soluble" means able to be dissolved in water.

"Hypothermia" is an extremely dangerous medical condition resulting from prolonged exposure to the "cold." So, if "hypothermia" is caused by the "cold," what does "oxidation" cause? Well, "oxidation" is the process by which something is made "rusty," how "rust" is formed. Additionally, "erosion" is the process of reducing or moving something through prolonged exposure to wind or waves; "precipitation" is rainfall.