All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #401 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Bedridden is to __________ as curt is to brief.
stationary
infirm
ponderous
intractable
gleaming
infirm
"Curt" means "brief" in a rude manner. "Curt" and "brief" are loosely synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is closest in meaning to "bedridden." "Bedridden" means so sick as to be forced to remain in bed. So, the correct answer is "infirm," which means very sick. Additionally, "ponderous" means slow-moving; "intractable" means stubborn, refusing to change ones mind; "gleaming" means shiny, sparkling; "stationary" means not moving, remaining in one place, fixed in place.
Example Question #402 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Coliseum is to stadium as __________ is to tyrant.
philistine
brigand
pauper
despot
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 _________________.
gritty is to to smooth
gloom is to depression
logical is to nonsense
bleach is to clothes
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 __________.
philistine
subaltern
repository
syndicate
lassitude
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
warp
gull
sharp
ennui
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 #1 : Antonyms
Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .
legible
corrugated
correctable
verdant
incipient
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 __________.
distance is to map
dirty is to soiled
happiness is to misery
anger is to fury
genius is to brilliant
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 #405 : Analogies
Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.
mad
worried
sad
confused
pleased
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 #5 : Antonyms
Doubt is to trust as __________.
hop is to jump
dig is to ditch
heal is to wound
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 #6 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy
Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.
ugly
cute
fat
tall
small
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.”
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