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 #1 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Corrode is to metal as burn is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sun

ashes

paper

fire

water

Correct answer:

paper

Explanation:

"Corrode" is a verb that means destroy a metal via a chemical reaction, and metal is something that can be corroded. So, because the next verb is "burn," we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun indicating something flammable. "Ashes" might look like a potentially correct answer, because many things are reduced to ash when burnt, but ashes themselves are not flammable, so "ashes" cannot be the correct answer. While "fire" and "sun" also have to do with burning, "paper" is the only answer choice that is a noun that indicates a flammable object. So, "paper" is the correct answer, because just as metal can be corroded, paper can be burned.

Example Question #501 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Vaccination is to disease as helmet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

destitution

head

cut

concussion

bicycle

Correct answer:

concussion

Explanation:

A "vaccination" is an inoculation intended to prevent one from getting a specific disease, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is prevented by a helmet. The correct answer is “concussion,” or confusion or unconsciousness caused by one's head being hit. For clarification, "destitution" is another word for excessive poverty.

Example Question #5 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Doctor is to patient as teacher is to __________.

Possible Answers:

student 

politician

nurse 

officer 

parent 

Correct answer:

student 

Explanation:

A doctor helps patients, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is a group of people helped by teachers. The correct answer, of course, is “student.”

Example Question #6 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Vacuum is to carpet as washer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brick

tile

water

clean

clothing

Correct answer:

clothing

Explanation:

One uses a vacuum to clean carpet, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what type of material or objects a washer is used to clean. Of the five answer choices, three are tangible objects: “clothing,” “tile,” and “brick.” Because a washer is used to clean clothing just like a vacuum is used to clean carpet, “clothing” is the correct answer.

Example Question #7 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Past is to nostalgia as future is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wistful

regretful

ruse

retirement

excitement

Correct answer:

excitement

Explanation:

"Nostalgia" is a positive feeling related to the past or a fond memory of the past. To solve this analogy, you need to consider which of the answer choices relates to a positive feeling about the future. Feeling "regretful" means not being happy about choices made in the past, so that cannot be the correct answer. Likewise, "wistful" is a synonym of "nostalgia" and relates to a feeling about the past. A "ruse" is a deception, a trick. The correct answer is "excitement," which is a feeling of happiness about something that is going to happen in the future. You might consider that a "retirement" is something that might happen to you in the future; however, it does not match with the specific relationship established in this analogy.

Example Question #8 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Speakers are to ears as __________.

Possible Answers:

bracelets are to wrists

monitor is to eyes

socks are to feet

gloves are to hands

necklace is to neck

Correct answer:

monitor is to eyes

Explanation:

The best answer choice is "monitor is to eye," as information is being passed from a device to one's sensory organs, just like speakers pass information to ears. The other choices pair articles of clothing or accessories to body parts.

Example Question #4 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Refute is to false as concede is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wild

true

nebulous

gregarious

supportive

Correct answer:

true

Explanation:

"Refute" is a verb that means "prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove." One would likely refute something that is false, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes something that one might concede. "Concede" is a verb that means "admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it." "True" is a potential answer choice, so "true" is the correct answer because just as one might refute something that is false, one might concede something that is true.

Example Question #10 : Subject And Object

Complete this analogy.

Protractor is to angle as ruler is to __________.

Possible Answers:

volume

color

length

taste

texture

Correct answer:

length

Explanation:

A "protractor" is defined as "an instrument for measuring angles, typically in the form of a flat semicircle marked with degrees along the curved edge," so since protractors measure angles, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a ruler measures. While "volume" might look like a potentially correct answer, rules don't measure volume directly, but can help one collect data in order to calcite the volume of something. "Length" is the correct answer because just as protractors measure angles, rulers measure length.

Example Question #51 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Stenographer is to speech as accountant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

construction

education

finances

philosophy

architecture

Correct answer:

finances

Explanation:

A "stenographer" is someone who is charged with recording what other people have said. A "stenographer" is therefore primarily concerned with "speech." To solve this analogy you need to determine what an "accountant" is primarily concerned with for their job. The correct answer is "finances" or "the balance of money in a company."

Example Question #52 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Anatomy is to __________ as astronomy is to star.

Possible Answers:

chemistry

physics

history

bone

literature

Correct answer:

bone

Explanation:

"Astronomy" is the study of the universe and celestial bodies. Included in the list of things studied by an "astronomer" are "stars." So, to solve this analogy you first need to determine that "anatomy" refers to the study of the composition of the human body. And then you need to consider which of these answer choices fits under that description. The correct answer is "bone."

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