SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #421 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Terse is to lengthy as frigid is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

Divisive 

Lukewarm 

Stifling 

Unreasonable 

Tepid 

Correct answer:

Stifling 

Explanation:

"Terse" means brief and is an antonym of "lengthy." Therefore, to solve this analogy, you have to identify the best antonym of "frigid." Frigid means very cold, so the answer choice that is its best antonym is “stifling,” which means very hot or restrictive. For clarification, "divisive" means troublesome or disruptive, and "lukewarm" and "tepid" are synonyms that mean of a moderate temperature that is not very hot or cold.

Example Question #422 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Egress is to enter as zany is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Crazy 

Dalliance

Substandard

Wacky 

Normal 

Correct answer:

Normal 

Explanation:

"Egress" means to exit or an exit and is an antonym of "enter." To solve this analogy, you need to identify the best antonym of "zany." "Zany" means wacky, crazy, or abnormal, so the best antonym is “normal," and "normal" is the correct answer. For clarification, a dalliance is a fling or a brief affair.

Example Question #423 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Infinite is to finite as brazen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Impudent

Brash 

Inherent 

Bold 

Timid 

Correct answer:

Timid 

Explanation:

"Infinite" means eternal and is an antonym of "finite," which means limited, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "brazen." "Brazen" means bold or brash, so the correct answer is “timid,” a word which means shy or fearful. For clarification, "inherent" means naturaluntaught, or innate, "impudent" means impertinent, and "brash" is a synonym of "brazen."

Example Question #424 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Outlaw is to upstanding citizen as banished is to __________.

Possible Answers:

nostalgic

deluded

excluded

welcomed

ostracized

Correct answer:

welcomed

Explanation:

An "outlaw" is a fugitive criminal, and an "upstanding citizen" is someone who never breaks the law and does the right thing. The two are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "banished." "Banished" means sent away, excluded, or ostracized, so the best antonym for "banished" is “welcomed,” which means included or appreciated. For clarification, "deluded" means believing something that is false to be true, and "nostalgic" means thinking about fond memories of the past.

Example Question #425 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Thriving is to moribund as liberate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

enslave 

emancipate 

dictate 

permit 

free

Correct answer:

enslave 

Explanation:

Something that is "thriving" is doing well or growing, and something that is "moribund" is obsolete or dying, which you might be able to infer from the root "mori," which means death. "Thriving" and "moribund" are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy, you have to identify the best available antonym of "liberate." "Liberate" means set free, so the correct antonym is “enslave.” For clarification, "dictate" means say or read something that is written down as you speak or command, "permit" means allow, and "emancipate" means set free, making it a synonym of "liberate."

Example Question #426 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Dominant is to recessive as protagonist is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tome 

damsel 

narrator 

supreme 

antagonist

Correct answer:

antagonist

Explanation:

"Dominant" means supreme, in control and is an antonym of recessive, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for protagonist. A "protagonist" is a hero of a novel or film, so the answer choice must mean villain. The correct answer is “antagonist,” which means villain, or opposing force to the protagonist. For clarification, "tome" means long and dense book.

Example Question #427 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

 

Lowbrow is to highbrow as esteemed is to __________.

Possible Answers:

deniable 

comforting 

detested 

plausible

lauded 

Correct answer:

detested 

Explanation:

"Lowbrow" is an adjective that means not very intellectual or popular, whereas "highbrow" means intellectual or cultured. So, "lowbrow" and "highbrow" are antonyms, and to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the opposite of "esteemed." "Esteemed" means held in high regard, so the answer choice that is the best antonym of "esteemed" is "detested," which means hated. "Lauded" cannot be the correct answer because "lauded" means praised, making it a synonym, not an antonym, of "esteemed." For clarification, "irksome" means annoying, "plausible" means believable, and "deniable" means capable of being denied.

Example Question #428 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Forbidden is to permitted as easy-going is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Hospitable

Posthumous 

Deafening 

Incredible 

Strict 

Correct answer:

Strict 

Explanation:

"Forbidden" means not allowed, and "permitted" means allowed. So, "forbidden" and "permitted" are antonyms, and to solve this analogy, you have to find the best antonym of "easy-going." "Easy-going" means tolerant and patient, and is an antonym of strict. "Strict," an adjective that means adhering exactly to rules and regulations, is the best antonym of "easy-going," so "strict" is the correct answer. For clarification, "hospitable" means welcoming, "deafening" means very loud, "posthumous" refers to something awarded or said after someone’s death, and "incredible" means unbelievable, as you might infer from the word being a combinatino of the negative prefix "in-," which means not, and "credible," which means believable.

Example Question #429 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Ancestor is to descendent as venerable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Youthful 

Aged 

Wizened 

Worldly 

Ancient 

Correct answer:

Youthful 

Explanation:

Our "ancestors" are the generations that come before us, and our "descendents" are the generations that will come after us. A person's grandmother is one of his or her ancestors; a person's child is one of his or her descendents. So, "ancestors" and "descendents" are antonyms. To solve this analogy, you have to identify the best available antonym of "venerable." "Venerable" means old and respected, so the best antonym is “youthful,” an adjective that means young. For clarification, "ancient," "aged," and "wizened" are all synonyms that mean old, and "worldly" means knowledgeable or having to do with earthly things as opposed to spiritual things.

Example Question #430 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Slothful is to energetic as isolated is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Accessible

Jocular 

Fortunate 

Saintly 

Temerity 

Correct answer:

Accessible

Explanation:

"Slothful" means lazy and is an antonym of "energetic," which means full of energy. To solve this analogy, you need to identify the best available antonym of "isolated." "Isolated" means inaccessible, remote, or cut-off, and the best antonym is therefore “accessible," an adjective that means able to be reached. For clarification, "jocular" means funny, "temerity" means boldness, "saintly" means pious or religious, and "fortunate" means lucky.

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