SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #10 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Mild is to extreme as __________.

Possible Answers:

temperature is to thermometer

horses are to pasture

average is to large

median is to mean

rose is to red

Correct answer:

average is to large

Explanation:

This analogy compares degrees of magnitude, with the first term being "mild," meaning low in intensity or gentle. The second term is "extreme," which can mean intense. The only answer choice that follows this pattern is "average is to large."

Example Question #271 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Pink is to red as __________.

Possible Answers:

origin is to birth

hard is to soft

meal is to dessert

reptile is to mammal

warm is to hot

Correct answer:

warm is to hot

Explanation:

This analogy compares two terms where one is the more extreme form of the other. Red is higher than pink on a "gradient of redness," although the color pink exhibits characteristics of "redness." Likewise, hot is higher than warm on a "gradient of temperature," although the concept of warmth entails characteristics of heat.

Example Question #272 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Sad is to miserable as angry is to __________

Possible Answers:

calm

furious

pious

irritated

inactive

Correct answer:

furious

Explanation:

To be "miserable" means to be very sad, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is a more intense form of being "angry." The correct answer is therefore "furious," which means very angry. To provide further help, "inactive" means not active or not moving; "pious" means very religious; and "irritated" means annoyed or mildly angry.

Example Question #273 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Blue is to navy as red is to __________.

Possible Answers:

orange

burgundy

scarlet

purple

pink

Correct answer:

burgundy

Explanation:

"Navy" is a darker version of the color blue, therefore the answer must be a darker version of the color red. That immediately eliminates "purple" and "orange." "Pink" is a lighter shade of red, so it is eliminated. "Scarlet" is a bright red, but it is not dark. The best choice is "burgundy," which is a dark shade of red.

Example Question #274 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to drenched as __________.

Possible Answers:

tornado is to wind

upset is to angry

page is to book

dry is to desert

step is to stair 

Correct answer:

upset is to angry

Explanation:

"Drenched" is a more intense version of "wet," just as "angry" is a more intense version of "upset." A "page" is a part of a "book" and a "step" is a part of a "stair," so those can be eliminated since they don't fit the type of analogy. While a "desert" is very "dry," it is not a more intense version of the same word. If "tornado" and "wind" were reversed and read "wind is to tornado," this analogy would work. As it is written, however, it is the opposite of the first pair.

Example Question #275 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Cry is to sob as walk is to __________.

Possible Answers:

joke

pause

work

run

sit

Correct answer:

run

Explanation:

To "sob" is to cry intensely, to cry for a long time. "Sob" is therefore a more intense version of the word "cry." To solve this analogy you need to consider which one of these words represents a more intense version of "walk," and the correct answer is obviously "run." 

Example Question #191 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Pretty is to exquisite as ugly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

plain

similar

grotesque 

attractive 

safe 

Correct answer:

grotesque 

Explanation:

"Pretty" and "exquisite" are synonyms, but the relationship is one of a heightened degree. Something that is exquisite is very pretty. Likewise, "grotesque" refers to something that is very ugly.  

Example Question #192 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Cottage is to house as sapling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mountain

person

store

train

tree

Correct answer:

tree

Explanation:

A "cottage" is a small, usually rural, house. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what a "sapling" is a smaller version of. The correct answer is that a "sapling" is a small "tree."

Example Question #193 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Clean is to spotless as ______________.

Possible Answers:

trashcan is to trash

dirty is to filthy

pen is to writing

mop is to floor

laundry is to washer

Correct answer:

dirty is to filthy

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you must determine the relationship between the first two words. "Clean" and "spotless" are synonyms of increasing intensity, so the answer must be two synonyms of increasing intensity. "Filthy" is a more intense version of dirty, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #194 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to soaked as _______________.

Possible Answers:

yellow is to green

ocean is to beach

dry is to arid

car is to carwash

desert is to barren

Correct answer:

dry is to arid

Explanation:

What is the relationship between the given words? "Wet" and "soaked" are synonyms of increasing intensity, so the answer must be two synonyms of increasing intensity. "Arid" is a more intense version of dry, so that must be the correct answer.

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