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 #181 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Meager is to scant as salvage is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lose 

demolish 

construct 

edify 

rescue 

Correct answer:

rescue 

Explanation:

"Meager" is a synonym of "scant," and both words mean insufficiently small or lacking. To solve this analogy, you need to identify the best available synonym of "salvage." "Salvage" means rescue, so "rescue" is the correct answer. For clarification, "demolish" means destroy or tear down, "edify" means build or educate, "construct" means make or build, and "lose" means misplace or fail to win.

Example Question #182 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Launder is to wash as affix is to __________

Possible Answers:

surmise 

attach 

immaculate 

affect

laud 

Correct answer:

attach 

Explanation:

“Launder” is a synonym of “wash,” so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best possible synonym of “affix.” To “affix” something means to attach it or to stick it on to something else. So, "attach" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "affix": “surmise” means figure out something from smaller details; “deride” means mock; “laud” means praise; and “immaculate” means clean and perfect or spotlessly clean.

Example Question #183 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Qualm is to misgiving as exhilarate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

worsen 

invigorate

propagate

deepen 

suspend 

Correct answer:

invigorate

Explanation:

A "qualm" is a misgiving, a concern about something, so to solve this analogy you need to identify the best synonym for exhilarate. To "exhilarate" means to excite, enliven or invigorate. For clarification, "invigorate" means energize; "propagate" means spread.

Example Question #184 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Abdicate is to renounce as irate is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

Cute 

Furious 

Prosperous 

Nonplussed

Malevolent 

Correct answer:

Furious 

Explanation:

To abdicate means to renounce, or give up something, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which word is most similar in meaning to irate. Irate means very angry, so the correct synonym is “furious.” For clarification, nonplussed means confused; malevolent means evil or wicked; prosperous means wealthy or successful.

Example Question #185 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Toady is to sycophant as acrid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Dense 

Choking 

Mediocre 

Pleasant 

Astute

Correct answer:

Choking 

Explanation:

A toady is someone who uses flattery to accomplish goals, which has basically the same meaning as sycophant. To solve this analogy you have to determine the best synonym for acrid. Acrid is used to describe smoke that is thick and choking. For clarification, astute means smart and shrewd and is an antonym of dense, which means thick and stupid; mediocre means average in a negative way.

Example Question #186 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Fissure is to crack as implore is to _________.

Possible Answers:

command 

jest 

deplore 

run 

beg 

Correct answer:

beg 

Explanation:

A "fissure" is a crack, so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best synonym for implore. "Implore" means to beg and plead. For clarification, "command" means order; "deplore" means hate; "jest" means joke.

Example Question #187 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Healthy is to well as skinny is to __________.

Possible Answers:

strong 

powerful

scrawny 

pompous 

unhealthy 

Correct answer:

scrawny 

Explanation:

If you are feeling well, then you are feeling healthy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is the best synonym for "skinny." The correct answer is “scrawny.” For clarification, "pompous" means haughty, pretentious, and arrogant.

Example Question #188 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Sound is to reasonable as dearth is to ­­__________

Possible Answers:

Egress 

Excess

Enter 

Dominate 

Lack 

Correct answer:

Lack 

Explanation:

The primary meaning of the word "sound" is a noise, but a secondary meaning of the word "sound" is reasonable or logical. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of "dearth." A "dearth" is a lack of something. For clarification, "excess" means too much or a portion of something that is more than is needed and is an antonym of "dearth" and "lack," and "egress" means exit.

Example Question #189 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Inside is to internal as outside is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Ebullient

Introspective 

Ephemeral

External 

Eternal 

Correct answer:

External 

Explanation:

"Internal" means inside of something, so to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective describing where something that is outside is located. "External" means outside of something, so "external" is the correct answer. For clarification, "eternal" means lasting forever, "ephemeral" means short-lived, "introspective" means focused on inward thoughts and self-reflection, and "ebullient" means cheerful and enthusiastic.

Example Question #190 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Chary is to cautious as hardy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Tough 

Average 

Weak 

Little 

Luminous 

Correct answer:

Tough 

Explanation:

"Chary" and "cautious" both mean careful or wary, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of "hardy." "Hardy" means tough and resilient, so "robust," an adjective that means rugged or strong, is the correct answer. "Weak" is an antonym of "hardy"; it means feeble. None of the other answer choices have meanings that are related to that of "hardy": "luminous" means giving off light, which you might infer from the Latin root "lumen," which means light. "Little" means small, and "average" means standard.

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