SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Study is to honor roll as _____________

Possible Answers:

barista is to coffee shop

coat is to winter

branch is to tree

car is to drive

rain is to flooding

Correct answer:

rain is to flooding

Explanation:

The correct answer is "rain is to flooding."

This analogy shows a cause/effect relationship. Studying is the cause of being on the honor roll (effect). Rain is the cause of flooding (effect).

Example Question #11 : Cause And Effect

Complete this analogy.

Delighted is to revel as sullen is to __________________.

Possible Answers:

cajole

boast

brood

gesticulate

obey

Correct answer:

brood

Explanation:

When one is delighted, he/she often revels, or acts in a merry way. The correct answer will demonstrate a similar relationship between mood and action. When one is "sullen," meaning sad and gloomy, he/she might often "broods," or agonizes.

Example Question #201 : Analogies

Docile is to tractable as obdurate is to . . .

Possible Answers:

portentous

fragrant

stubborn

omnipotent

durable

Correct answer:

stubborn

Explanation:

"Docile," means "ready to accept control or instruction; submissive," and "tractable" means "easy to control or influence" when used of people or animals and "easy to deal with" when referring to a situation or problem. Since "docile" and "tractable" are synonyms, we need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "obdurate," a word that means "stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action." While "durable" might look like a good answer choice because both "obdurate" and "durable" involve the syllable "dur," "durable" means "able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing." Since "durable" doesn't mean the same thing as "obdurate," it can't be the right answer. "Stubborn," however, is synonymous with "obdurate," so "stubborn" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Vindictive is to vengeful as __________.

Possible Answers:

predictable is to surprising

unfriendly is to hostile

free is to captive

beautiful is to art

limited is to abundant

Correct answer:

unfriendly is to hostile

Explanation:

"Vindictive" is an adjective that means "having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge," and "vengeful" is an adjective that means "seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury." So, "vindictive" and "vengeful" are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. Of the possible answer choices, "free is to captive," "limited is to abundant," and "predictable is to surprising" cannot be the correct answer because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of antonyms. "Unfriendly is to hostile," however, is the correct answer choice, because just as "vindictive" is a synonym of "vengeful," "unfriendly" is a synonym of "hostile," which means "unfriendly; antagonistic."

Example Question #202 : Analogies

Edifice is to dwelling as __________.

Possible Answers:

last is to first

garbage is to trash can

welcome is to farewell

column is to pillar

station is to train

Correct answer:

column is to pillar

Explanation:

“Edifice” is a noun that can mean “a building, especially a large, imposing one” or “a complex system of beliefs,” while “dwelling,” when used as a noun, means “a house, apartment, or other place of residence.” So, “edifice” and “dwelling” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “garbage is to dump” and “column is to pillar” might each seem like a potentially correct answer, “trash can” is a place where one puts garbage, but is not a synonym of “garbage,” so “garbage is to trash can” cannot be the correct answer. “Column,” however, is a noun that means “an upright pillar," while “pillar” means “a tall vertical structure used as a support.” So, because “column” is a synonym of “pillar” just as “edifice” is a synonym of “dwelling,” “column is to pillar” is the correct answer.

Example Question #203 : Analogies

Encounter is to meet as __________.

Possible Answers:

tactics are to battle

bump is to apologize

sprint is to creep

demolish is to raze

polish is to furniture

Correct answer:

demolish is to raze

Explanation:

“Encounter,” when used as a verb, means either “unexpectedly experience or be faced with (something difficult or hostile)” or “meet (someone) unexpectedly,” while “meet,” when used as a verb, can mean “come into the presence or company of someone.” So, “encounter” and “meet” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “sprint is to creep” and “demolish is to raze” may each look like a potentially correct answer, “sprint,” when used as a verb, means “run at full speed over a short distance,” while “creep,” when used as a verb, means “move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being heard or noticed.” So, “sprint” and “creep” are antonyms, not synonyms, and “sprint is to creep” cannot be the correct answer. “Demolish,” however, is a verb that means “pull or knock down (a building),” while “raze” means “completely destroy (a building, town, etc.).” So, because “demolish” is a synonym of “raze” just like “encounter” is a synonym of “meet,” “demolish is to raze” is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Vessel is to ship as __________.

Possible Answers:

jump is to run

carefree is to serious

wail is to laugh

fascination is to ennui

report is to account

Correct answer:

report is to account

Explanation:

“Vessel” is a noun that can mean “a ship or large boat” or “a hollow container,” or chiefly in or alluding to biblical use, “a person having a particular quality.” So, “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “report is to account” and “fascination is to ennui” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “ennui” means “a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from a lack of excitement,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “fascination.” So, “fascination is to ennui” cannot be the correct answer. “Report,” however, when used as a noun, can mean “an account given of a particular matter, especially in the form of an official document, after thorough investigation or consideration by an appointed person or body.” So, because “report” and “account” are synonyms, just as “vessel” and “ship” are synonyms, “report is to account” is the correct answer.

Example Question #204 : Analogies

Botch is to bungle as __________.

Possible Answers:

restaurant is to food

boil is to freeze

bell is to ring

decide is to waver

attempt is to try

Correct answer:

attempt is to try

Explanation:

“Botch” is a verb that means “to do something badly or carelessly,” while “bungle,” when used as a verb, means “to do something clumsily or incompetently.” So, “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of synonyms. While both “attempt is to try” and “decide is to waver” might look like potentially correct answer choices, “decide” is a verb that means “come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration,” while “waver” is a verb that means “undecided; irresolute.” So, because “decide” is an antonym of “waver,” “decide is to waver” cannot be the correct answer. “Attempt,” however, when used as a verb, means “make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action,” while “try,” when used as a verb, means “to make an attempt.” So, because “attempt” and “try” are synonyms just as “botch” and “bungle” are synonyms, “attempt is to try” is the correct answer.

Example Question #205 : Analogies

Belittle is to disparage as retrieve is to __________.

Possible Answers:

refrain

reward

missing

describe

recover

Correct answer:

recover

Explanation:

"Belittle" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as little or unimportant," and "disparage" is a verb that means "to describe someone or something as unimportant, weak, or bad," so the two words are synonyms, and we need to pick out a word that means the same thing as "retrieve." While "refrain" and "reward" also each begin with "re-," neither are synonymous with "retrieve," so neither are the correct answer. One meaning of "recover," however, is "find or regain possession of something stolen or lost," so "recover" is the correct answer because it is a synonym of "retrieve."

Example Question #206 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Sharp is to astute as extol is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Praise 

Demand 

Outline 

Suggest

Argue 

Correct answer:

Praise 

Explanation:

"Sharp" and "astute" are synonyms that each mean shrewd; quick-witted. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for "extol." To "extol" someone means to praise him or her, so "praise" is the correct answer.

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