SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Carrot is to vegetable as __________.

Possible Answers:

human is to mammal

koala is to eucalyptus

kitten is to canine

lizard is to fish

whale is to amphibian

Correct answer:

human is to mammal

Explanation:

Since carrots are a popular type of vegetable, we should look for an answer choice in which the first word belongs in the second answer's group. The best answer choice is "human is to mammal," because humans are one example of mammals.

Example Question #21 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Crocodile is to reptile as penguin is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fish

bird

egg

bird of prey

arctic

Correct answer:

bird

Explanation:

A crocodile is a kind of reptile, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a category that a penguin would fall into. While “bird” and “bird of prey” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “bird of prey” specifically means “a predatory bird; a raptor,” and because a penguin does not fall into this specific category of birds, but is still a bird, “bird” is the correct answer.

Example Question #22 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Dinosaur is to brontosaurus as cat is to __________.

Possible Answers:

aquatic

tyrannosaurus

leopard

nocturnal

zoo

Correct answer:

leopard

Explanation:

Since a brontosaurus is a kind of dinosaur, we need to pick out an answer choice which is a kind of cat. Of the answer choices that are nouns ("leopard," "tyrannosaurus," and "zoo"), only two are animals ("leopard" and "tyrannosaurus") and only "leopard" is a kind of cat. Because a leopard is a type of cat, just like a brontosaurus is a type of dinosaur, "leopard" is the correct answer.

Example Question #44 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Daisy is to flower as __________.

Possible Answers:

headphones are to music

puppy is to bark

east is to west

computer is to website

lollipop is to candy

Correct answer:

lollipop is to candy

Explanation:

Since a daisy is a kind of flower, we are looking for an answer in which the first word is a type of the second word. Thus, the best answer choice is "lollipop is to candy" because lollipops are a type of candy!

Example Question #41 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Daisy is to flower as __________.

Possible Answers:

floor is to carpet

duster is to dust

pinecone is to tree

oak is to tree

sail is to sailboat

Correct answer:

oak is to tree

Explanation:

Since a daisy is a type of flower, we're looking for another pair of words in which the first word is a type or kind of the second word. While "oak is to tree" and "pinecone is to tree" may both look like correct answers, "pinecone is to tree" can't be the right answer because while a pinecone is a part of a tree, it is not a type or kind of tree. "Oak is to tree," on the other hand, is the correct answer because just like a daisy is a kind of flower, an oak is a kind of tree.

Example Question #24 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Tea is to beverage as __________.

Possible Answers:

library is to building

nail is to hammer

rain is to downpour

zebra is to stripes

tennis is to racket

Correct answer:

library is to building

Explanation:

In this analogy, tea is an example of a beverage, so we need to pick out the answer choice in which the first word is an example of the second. The only answer choice that fits this description is "library is to building," since a library is a type of building just like tea is a type of beverage.

Example Question #42 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Shark is to predator as mouse is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hunter 

tiny 

fields 

tails

prey 

Correct answer:

prey 

Explanation:

A “shark” is a “predator,” a “predator” is an animal that hunts other animals. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these groups a “mouse” fits into. The correct answer is “prey,” which means an animal that is hunted by other animals.

Example Question #43 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lunch is to meal as __________.

Possible Answers:

race is to run

baseball is to sport

drink is to thirsty

kitchen is to house

cook is to food

Correct answer:

baseball is to sport

Explanation:

"Lunch" is a specific kind of "meal," so this analogy relates a general term to a category into which that term falls. "Cook is to food," "drink is to thirsty," and "race is to run" do not meet this criteria. "Kitchen is to house" may look like it is similar to "lunch is to meal," but a "kitchen" is a part of a house, not a specific kind of house, so "kitchen is to house" cannot be the correct answer. Lunch is a specific kind of meal just as baseball is a specific kind of sport. Therefore, "baseball is to sport" is the correct answer.

Example Question #44 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Speed is to athlete as __________.

Possible Answers:

education is to machine

microscope is to farmer

strength is to dentist

corruption is to judge

wit is to comedian

Correct answer:

wit is to comedian

Explanation:

The first phrase in this analogy relates a skill set to an occupation to whom such a skill set would be useful. "Corruption is to judge" is incorrect because we would not want a judge to be corrupt. "Microscope is to farmer" and "strength is to dentist" do not relate useful traits to their given occupations, and '"education is to machine" does not make sense either. Generally, speed is useful to an athlete just as wit is useful to a comedian. Therefore, "wit is to comedian" is correct.

Example Question #45 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Zebra is to animal as __________.

Possible Answers:

rain is to sun

rose is to flower

face is to nose

sleep is to light

plant is to tree

Correct answer:

rose is to flower

Explanation:

Since a zebra is a type of animal, we are looking for an answer in which the first word is a type of the second word. The best answer is "rose is to flower" because a rose is a type of flower.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors