All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #402 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Coliseum is to stadium as __________ is to tyrant.
pauper
despot
brigand
philistine
fissure
despot
A "coliseum" is another word for a "stadium." These words are synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "tyrant." Well, a "tyrant" is an autocratic and cruel ruler who has absolute power over their country. This is identical in meaning to "despot." Additionally, a "pauper" is a very poor person who has to beg for money; a "brigand" is a pirate; a "philistine" is an uncultured person; a "fissure" is a crack, a split.
Example Question #403 : Analogies
Complete the analogy.
Alarmed is to frightened as _________________.
gloom is to depression
gritty is to to smooth
bleach is to clothes
logical is to nonsense
clear is to foggy
gloom is to depression
The correct answer is "gloom is to depression."
This is an analogy that expresses a synonym relationship. "Alarmed and frightened" have a similar meaning, making them synonyms. "Gloom and depression" also have similar definitions, which correctly completes the analogy.
Example Question #404 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Monologue is to soliloquy as underling is to __________.
repository
subaltern
lassitude
philistine
syndicate
subaltern
"Monologue" and "soliloquy" are synonyms, both words refer to a speech given by one single actor during a play. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "underling" (a person of lower-rank, a subordinate). The correct answer is "subaltern." Additionally, "lassitude" is exhaustion, weariness; a "philistine" is an uncultured person; a "syndicate" is a collection of people who have a similar interest and are working together to further that interest; a "repository" is a place for storing things.
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
Novelty is to outdatedness as dull is to __________.
tedious
sharp
warp
ennui
gull
sharp
Since "novelty" means "the quality or state of being new, different, and interesting," and "outdatedness" means "the quality of no longer being useful, acceptable, modern, or current," "novelty" and "outdatedness" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "dull." While "ennui" may look like a good answer choice, "ennui" means "a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest," so while one might feel ennui at the prospect of doing something dull, "ennui" does not mean the opposite of "dull," so it can't be the correct answer. "Sharp," however, is an antonym of "dull" when "dull" is used to mean "having an edge or point that is not sharp," so "sharp" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Antonyms
Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .
verdant
incipient
correctable
legible
corrugated
correctable
Since someone who is generous is not miserly ("hating to spend money"), the two words are antonyms, so we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "incorrigible." "Incorrigible" is an adjective that refers to people or their tendencies, and means "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed." While "corrugated" sounds somewhat like "incorrigible," "corrugated" means "shaped into alternate ridges and grooves" and is used with materials, surfaces, and structures. Since "corrugated" is not an opposite of "incorrigible," it can't be the correct answer. "Correctable," however, means the opposite of "incorrigible," so "correctable" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Antonyms
Candor is to falsehood as __________.
dirty is to soiled
anger is to fury
happiness is to misery
genius is to brilliant
distance is to map
happiness is to misery
"Candor" is a noun that means "the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness," so it is an antonym of "falsehood." That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of antonyms. While "anger is to fury" might look like a potentially correct answer, "anger" and "fury" are synonyms, not antonyms, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Happiness is to misery," however, is the correct answer, because just as "candor" is an antonym of "falsehood," "happiness" is an antonym of "misery."
Example Question #206 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.
pleased
worried
sad
mad
confused
pleased
"Hazy" and "clear" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "livid." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry." So, "mad" cannot be the correct answer, because while "mad" and "livid" are synonyms, we are not looking for synonyms, but antonyms. "Pleased," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, esp. at an event or a situation," and because "pleased" is the answer choice that is most nearly an antonym of "livid," "pleased" is the correct answer.
Example Question #4 : Antonyms
Doubt is to trust as __________.
hop is to jump
heal is to wound
dig is to ditch
hurry is to hustle
howl is to yowl
heal is to wound
“Doubt” is a word that when used as a verb can mean “ feel uncertain about,” “question the truth or fact of (something),” or “disbelieve (a person or their word).” “Trust,” on the other hand, when used as a verb, means “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.” So, “doubt” and “trust” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which consists of a pair of antonyms. While “hurry is to hustle” might look like a potentially correct answer choice, “hurry” means “move or act with haste; rush” when used as a verb, and “hustle” can be used as a verb that means “hurry; bustle,” so the two words are synonyms, not antonyms, and “hurry is to hustle” cannot be the correct answer. “Heal is to wound,” however, consists of a pair of antonyms, because “wound” can mean “inflict an injury on (someone)” whereas heal can mean “cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again” when used of a person or treatment. So, because “heal” and “wound” are opposites just as “doubt” and “trust” are opposites, “heal is to wound” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy
Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.
tall
small
fat
cute
ugly
ugly
"Corpulent" means fat, so it is an antonym of skinny. In order to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for comely. "Comely" means cute, so the best antonym is “ugly.”
Example Question #2 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Penurious is to generous as feral is to __________.
untamed
uncertain
wild
natural
domesticated
domesticated
"Penurious" means stingy or not very generous and is an antonym of "generous." To solve this analogy you have to identify the most accurate antonym for feral. "Feral" means wild, untamed, so the correct antonym is “domesticated,” which means house-trained; a dog is an example of a domesticated animal.
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All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
