SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #179 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Unclear is to ambiguous as counsel is to _________.

Possible Answers:

advice 

lies 

litigation 

comprehension 

fiction 

Correct answer:

advice 

Explanation:

"Ambiguous" is a synonym of "unclear," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for "counsel." To "counsel" someone means to advise someone, so the correct answer is “advise.” For clarification, "comprehension" means understanding, and "litigation" means to engage in legal action.

Example Question #301 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Meager is to scant as salvage is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lose 

edify 

demolish 

rescue 

construct 

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 #302 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Launder is to wash as affix is to __________

Possible Answers:

surmise 

attach 

affect

laud 

immaculate 

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 #303 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Qualm is to misgiving as exhilarate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

suspend 

deepen 

worsen 

invigorate

propagate

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 #304 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Abdicate is to renounce as irate is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

Nonplussed

Prosperous 

Cute 

Furious 

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 #305 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Toady is to sycophant as acrid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Pleasant 

Choking 

Mediocre 

Astute

Dense 

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 #306 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Fissure is to crack as implore is to _________.

Possible Answers:

beg 

run 

command 

jest 

deplore 

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 #307 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Healthy is to well as skinny is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pompous 

unhealthy 

scrawny 

strong 

powerful

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 #308 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Sound is to reasonable as dearth is to ­­__________

Possible Answers:

Lack 

Enter 

Excess

Dominate 

Egress 

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 #309 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Inside is to internal as outside is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Eternal 

Ephemeral

Introspective 

Ebullient

External 

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.

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