SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Salubrious is to healthy as narcissistic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

self-deprecating

selfless

self-aware

self-assured 

self-obsessed

Correct answer:

self-obsessed

Explanation:

"Salubrious" and "healthy" are synonyms, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym of "narcissistic." Someone who is "narcissistic" is vain or self-obsessed, so "self-obsessed" is the correct answer.

Example Question #172 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Snicker is to laugh as chortle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

laugh

sneer

happy

cough

scowl

Correct answer:

laugh

Explanation:

The word "snicker" is a synonym of "laugh." Likewise, "chortle" also means to laugh. Both words have the same meaning. Therefore, "laugh" is the best choice. "Cough," "sneer," and "scowl" are all other facial expressions or things that can be done with one's face but are either antonyms or unrelated in meaning to "chortle". The choice "happy" is unrelated because it is not an action, even though it is likely that a person who is chortling is happy.

Example Question #173 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Timid is to shy as __________.

Possible Answers:

butterfly is to insect

enrage is to fight

jot is to write

pitcher is to pour

lawnmower is to landscaper

Correct answer:

jot is to write

Explanation:

"Timid" is a synonym of "shy," as the word "timid" means shy. The best choice is "jot is to write," as "jot" means to write down quickly. None of the other choices share this relationship. "Enrage is to fight" represents a cause and effect relationship, as if you enrage someone, you might start a fight with them. A "lawnmower" is a tool that is used by a "landscaper," you use a "pitcher" to "pour" a drink, and a butterfly is a type of insect.

Example Question #174 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Ecstatic is to joyful as sorrowful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

melancholy

enthralled

charmed

elated

rapturous

Correct answer:

melancholy

Explanation:

"Ecstatic" and "joyful" are synonyms, therefore you need to find a synonym of "sorrowful." "Melancholy," which means feeling sad and serious, fits the bill. "Elated" and "rapturous" both mean very happy, and "enthralled" and "charmed" both mean fascinated.

Example Question #296 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Mundane is to humdrum as __________.

Possible Answers:

basketball is to dribble

wizened is to young

frantic is to calm

dormant is to volcano

unfamiliar is to alien

Correct answer:

unfamiliar is to alien

Explanation:

“Mundane” is an adjective that means “lacking interest or excitement; dull” or “of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one,” while “humdrum” is a word that when used as an adjective means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous.” So, “mundane” and “humdrum” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “wizened is to young” and “unfamiliar is to alien” might both look like potentially correct answers, “wizened” is an adjective that means “shriveled or wrinkled with age,” so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of “young,” and “wizened is to young” cannot be the correct answer. “Unfamiliar” is an adjective that means “not known or recognized,” and “alien” is a word that when used as an adjective can mean “unfamiliar and disturbing or distasteful.” So, because “unfamiliar” is a synonym of “alien” just as “mundane” is a synonym of “humdrum,” “unfamiliar is to alien” is the correct answer.

Example Question #175 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Liege is to ruler as __________.

Possible Answers:

poke is to prod

process is to product

crab is to shell

destruction is to building

quiver is to arrow

Correct answer:

poke is to prod

Explanation:

“Liege” is a noun that means a sovereign in the feudal system or the person governed in a feudal system, so that means that “liege” is a synonym of “ruler,” and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns that are synonyms. “Crab is to shell” cannot be the correct answer because while crabs have shells, “crab” and “shell” do not mean the same thing, and “process” and “product” are two different terms as well. A building may be destroyed, but “building” does not mean “destruction,” and “quiver” is a place where arrows are stored, not a synonym of “arrow.” “Poke,” however, can be used as a noun that can mean the action of poking someone or something, while “prod” can be used as a noun that can mean a poke. So, “poke” and “prod” are synonyms, just like “liege” and “ruler” are synonyms, making “poke is to prod” the correct answer.

Example Question #176 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Conceited is to vain as amiable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

petulant

unusual

enemy

friendly

relative

Correct answer:

friendly

Explanation:

"Conceited" is an adjective that means full of oneself, so it is a synonym of "vain," an adjective that can mean holding an excessively high opinion of oneself in comparison to others. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a synonym of "amiable," an adjective that means friendly. "Friendly" is the answer choice that is closest in meaning to "amiable," so it is the correct answer, because just as "conceited" and "vain" are synonyms, so are "amiable" and "friendly."

Example Question #177 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Brevity is to concision as bravery is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cowardice

aptitude

quality

anger

valor

Correct answer:

valor

Explanation:

Since "brevity" means succinctness, it is synonymous with "concision," which means using few words to convey a lot of information. We need to pick out an answer choice that is synonymous with bravery. Since "valor" means courage, especially courage in battle, "valor" is a synonym of "bravery" and is thus the correct answer.

Example Question #178 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Futile is to pointless as insolvent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bankrupt 

miserly 

stifling 

frosty 

prosperous 

Correct answer:

bankrupt 

Explanation:

"Futile" is a synonym of "pointless," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available synonym of "insolvent." "Insolvent" means lacking money or bankrupt, so "bankrupt," which means out of money or unable to pay debts, is the correct answer. For clarification, "frosty" means very cold and is an antonym of "stifling," which means very hot. "Prosperous" means wealthy and successful, and "miserly" means not generous.

Example Question #179 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Unclear is to ambiguous as counsel is to _________.

Possible Answers:

comprehension 

advice 

fiction 

litigation 

lies 

Correct answer:

advice 

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" is a synonym of "unclear," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for "counsel." To "counsel" someone means to advise someone, so the correct answer is “advise.” For clarification, "comprehension" means understanding, and "litigation" means to engage in legal action.

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