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 #461 : Analogies

Physical is to intangible as __________.

Possible Answers:

None of these options accurately reflects the relationship.

real is to fake

concrete is to abstract

substantial is to unimportant

simple is to complex

Correct answer:

concrete is to abstract

Explanation:

“Intangible” is an adjective that means not able to be touched or sensed. Since “physical” is an adjective that means perceived through the senses, the words are antonyms. We’re looking for a pair of words that are antonyms, and that have the closest meaning to “physical” and “intangible.”

“Real” is an adjective that means actually existing, not imagined or supposed. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine. Neither word relates specifically to the senses. We can rule out this choice.

 “Simple” and “complex” aren't specifically related to the senses either, so we can rule out this choice.

“Substantial” is an adjective that can mean either real and tangible or of considerable importance, size, or worth. Since the second word in this pair is “unimportant,” we can rule out this choice.

 “Concrete” is an adjective that means existing in material or physical form. “Abstract” is an adjective that means not having a physical existence.

 Of the answer choices, “CONCRETE is to ABSTRACT” is the best choice.

Example Question #341 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy:

Emaciated is to obese as __________.

Possible Answers:

water is to dry

messy is to dirty

clever is to absent-minded

towering is to dwarf

tall is to short

Correct answer:

tall is to short

Explanation:

"Emaciated" and "obese" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites. "Emaciated" means unhealthily thin, while "obese" means unhealthily fat. "Tall" and "short" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites.

None of the other analogies have a similar relationship:

Clever and absent-minded are both personality descriptions, but they are not directly opposed in meaning. Dirty and messy are both states of cleanliness, and they are not opposites. Water is not a physical description, although dry is; water and dry are not opposites, wet and dry are opposites. Towering is a physical description, but dwarf is a noun that means a mythical creature who is short.  

Example Question #342 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy:

Agitated is to calm as __________.

Possible Answers:

lake is to ocean

joyful is to miserable

empty is to full

joyful is to scared

anger is to passion

Correct answer:

joyful is to miserable

Explanation:

"Agitated" and "calm" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites. "Joyful" and "miserable" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites as well.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Anger and Passion are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.

Similarly, joyful and scared are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.

Lake and ocean are not mental states of being.

Empty and full are opposites, but are not mental states of being.

Example Question #343 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy:

Scrupulous is to careless as _____________.

Possible Answers:

devious is to deceitful

untenable is to flimsy

naive is to wise

old is to wizened

destitute is to impoverished

Correct answer:

naive is to wise

Explanation:

"Scrupulous" and "careless" are antonyms. "Scrupulous" means careful, diligent and attentive to details. "Careless" means not giving sufficient attention to a task. Similarly, naive and wise are antonyms. "Naive" means lacking experience or wisdom, while "wise" means having experience, knowledge and good judgment. 

None of the other responses are antonyms of each other:

"Untenable" means a position that is unable to be defended or supported. "Flimsy" means something light, insubstantial and easily damaged.

"Devious" and "deceitful" are synonyms, and both mean untrustworthy.

"Destitute" and "impoverished" are both synonyms. "Impoverished" means exhausted of strength, vitality or wealth, and "destitute" means lacking a basic, minimal amount of money.

"Wizened" and "old" are synonyms. "Wizened" means wrinkled with age or shriveled, while "old" means advanced in age or no longer young.

Example Question #344 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy:

Borrow is to lend as __________.

Possible Answers:

donate is to manipulate

steal is to make

brighten is to fade

beg is to steal

clumsy is to crippled

Correct answer:

brighten is to fade

Explanation:

When you lend an object, you give it to someone temporarily, when you borrow an object, you take it temporarily. Thus, borrow and lend are antonyms. Similarly, brighten means to make brighter, while fade means to make less bright.

None of the other analogies have this relationship.

Steal means to illegally take an object, while make means to create something.

Donate means to provide something desirable free of charge, while manipulate means to either physically use one's hands on an object, or to influence a person or situation.

Beg means to ask for money or food, while steal means to illegally take something.

Clumsy means ungainly, or moving in an awkward uncontrolled manner, while crippled means unable to walk or unable to move, due to an ailment.

Example Question #345 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy:

Opulent is to impoverished as __________.

Possible Answers:

tidy is to broken

naive is to gullible

black is to blue.

healthy is to sick

bent is to curved.

Correct answer:

healthy is to sick

Explanation:

Opulent and impoverished are antonyms. Opulent means excessively wealthy and luxurious or flashy, while impoverished means very poor. Similarly, sick is the opposite of healthy.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Black and blue are both colors, and they are not opposites.

Tidy means neat, but tidy is not the opposite of broken. Broken means not whole, or damaged.

Bent and curved are synonyms, and mean not perfectly linear, such as the shape of a circle or an oval.

Naive means not wise, or not worldly, and gullible means easily tricked. People who are naive are often gullible. The two words are not opposites.

Example Question #64 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy:

Clean is to dirty as pure is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cure

avian

contaminated

messy

complex

Correct answer:

contaminated

Explanation:

Dirty and clean are considered to be opposites, so we must find the opposite of pure. Pure means devoid of contaminations, so the opposite of pure is "contaminated."

None of the other words are the opposite of pure.

Avian means related to birds. 

Complex means not simple.

Messy means not neat, which is related to the concept of impurity, but not exactly the opposite of pure.

Cure is a word that means to resolve a sickness. While it rhymes with pure, it is not the opposite.

Example Question #346 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Grievous is to trivial as __________ is to dull.

Possible Answers:

enterprising

vibrant

whimsical

pious

porous

Correct answer:

vibrant

Explanation:

"Grievous" means of great importance, serious and significant. As such it is an antonym of "trivial," which means not important, of lesser significance, irrelevant. So, to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these words is opposite in meaning to "dull." "Dull" means lacking color, energy, or excitement, boring and uninteresting. The best available antonym is therefore "vibrant" which means colorful, energetic. Additionally, "pious" means devout, deeply religious; "enterprising" means hardworking and innovative, working hard to come up with new solutions; "porous" means filled with holes; "whimsical" means quirky, silly.

Example Question #347 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Benign is to dangerous as culpable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

insane

impulsive

innocent

intrepid

invalid

Correct answer:

innocent

Explanation:

"Benign" means not dangerous, harmless, not likely to cause harm. It is therefore an antonym of "dangerous." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "culpable." Well, "culpable" means guilty, responsible for an offense, not innocent. So, the best possible antonym is "innocent." Additionally, "intrepid" means bold and adventurous; "insane" means crazy, not sane; "invalid" means not valid, not legitimate, not correct; "impulsive" means prone to making decisions without thinking about it.

Example Question #348 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Figurative is to __________ as empirical is to theoretical.

Possible Answers:

literal

vital

rickety

ambidextrous

ailing

Correct answer:

literal

Explanation:

"Empirical" means based on evidence, supported by observations, whereas "theoretical" means based on theory, not empirical. These two words have opposite meanings, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is the best antonym for "figurative." Well, "figurative" means metaphorical, not meant to be taken literally but meant to be understood as an analogy or representation. This is opposite in meaning to "literal" which means not metaphorical, meant to be understood as it is directly stated. Additionally, "rickety" means shaky, unsteady; "vital" means essential, needed; "ailing" means sick, suffering; "ambidextrous" means equally capable with both hands.

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