All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #461 : Analogies
False is to true as fake is to __________.
moral
honest
original
authentic
accurate
authentic
As we all know, “true” and “false” are direct antonyms. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine, so we’re looking for the word that has the closest meaning to “genuine.” “Authentic” is an adjective that means genuine and true, not fake.
Of the answer choices, “authentic” is the best choice.
Example Question #461 : Analogies
Physical is to intangible as __________.
None of these options accurately reflects the relationship.
real is to fake
concrete is to abstract
substantial is to unimportant
simple is to complex
concrete is to abstract
“Intangible” is an adjective that means not able to be touched or sensed. Since “physical” is an adjective that means perceived through the senses, the words are antonyms. We’re looking for a pair of words that are antonyms, and that have the closest meaning to “physical” and “intangible.”
“Real” is an adjective that means actually existing, not imagined or supposed. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine. Neither word relates specifically to the senses. We can rule out this choice.
“Simple” and “complex” aren't specifically related to the senses either, so we can rule out this choice.
“Substantial” is an adjective that can mean either real and tangible or of considerable importance, size, or worth. Since the second word in this pair is “unimportant,” we can rule out this choice.
“Concrete” is an adjective that means existing in material or physical form. “Abstract” is an adjective that means not having a physical existence.
Of the answer choices, “CONCRETE is to ABSTRACT” is the best choice.
Example Question #462 : Analogies
Complete the analogy:
Emaciated is to obese as __________.
towering is to dwarf
messy is to dirty
tall is to short
water is to dry
clever is to absent-minded
tall is to short
"Emaciated" and "obese" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites. "Emaciated" means unhealthily thin, while "obese" means unhealthily fat. "Tall" and "short" are both physical descriptions, and they are opposites.
None of the other analogies have a similar relationship:
Clever and absent-minded are both personality descriptions, but they are not directly opposed in meaning. Dirty and messy are both states of cleanliness, and they are not opposites. Water is not a physical description, although dry is; water and dry are not opposites, wet and dry are opposites. Towering is a physical description, but dwarf is a noun that means a mythical creature who is short.
Example Question #463 : Analogies
Complete the analogy:
Agitated is to calm as __________.
empty is to full
joyful is to scared
anger is to passion
lake is to ocean
joyful is to miserable
joyful is to miserable
"Agitated" and "calm" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites. "Joyful" and "miserable" are both mental states of being, and they are opposites as well.
None of the other analogies have this relationship:
Anger and Passion are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.
Similarly, joyful and scared are both mental states of being, but they are not opposites.
Lake and ocean are not mental states of being.
Empty and full are opposites, but are not mental states of being.
Example Question #464 : Analogies
Complete the analogy:
Scrupulous is to careless as _____________.
devious is to deceitful
old is to wizened
untenable is to flimsy
destitute is to impoverished
naive is to wise
naive is to wise
"Scrupulous" and "careless" are antonyms. "Scrupulous" means careful, diligent and attentive to details. "Careless" means not giving sufficient attention to a task. Similarly, naive and wise are antonyms. "Naive" means lacking experience or wisdom, while "wise" means having experience, knowledge and good judgment.
None of the other responses are antonyms of each other:
"Untenable" means a position that is unable to be defended or supported. "Flimsy" means something light, insubstantial and easily damaged.
"Devious" and "deceitful" are synonyms, and both mean untrustworthy.
"Destitute" and "impoverished" are both synonyms. "Impoverished" means exhausted of strength, vitality or wealth, and "destitute" means lacking a basic, minimal amount of money.
"Wizened" and "old" are synonyms. "Wizened" means wrinkled with age or shriveled, while "old" means advanced in age or no longer young.
Example Question #465 : Analogies
Complete this analogy:
Borrow is to lend as __________.
donate is to manipulate
steal is to make
clumsy is to crippled
brighten is to fade
beg is to steal
brighten is to fade
When you lend an object, you give it to someone temporarily, when you borrow an object, you take it temporarily. Thus, borrow and lend are antonyms. Similarly, brighten means to make brighter, while fade means to make less bright.
None of the other analogies have this relationship.
Steal means to illegally take an object, while make means to create something.
Donate means to provide something desirable free of charge, while manipulate means to either physically use one's hands on an object, or to influence a person or situation.
Beg means to ask for money or food, while steal means to illegally take something.
Clumsy means ungainly, or moving in an awkward uncontrolled manner, while crippled means unable to walk or unable to move, due to an ailment.
Example Question #466 : Analogies
Complete this analogy:
Opulent is to impoverished as __________.
healthy is to sick
tidy is to broken
bent is to curved.
naive is to gullible
black is to blue.
healthy is to sick
Opulent and impoverished are antonyms. Opulent means excessively wealthy and luxurious or flashy, while impoverished means very poor. Similarly, sick is the opposite of healthy.
None of the other analogies have this relationship:
Black and blue are both colors, and they are not opposites.
Tidy means neat, but tidy is not the opposite of broken. Broken means not whole, or damaged.
Bent and curved are synonyms, and mean not perfectly linear, such as the shape of a circle or an oval.
Naive means not wise, or not worldly, and gullible means easily tricked. People who are naive are often gullible. The two words are not opposites.
Example Question #467 : Analogies
Complete this analogy:
Clean is to dirty as pure is to __________.
complex
messy
contaminated
avian
cure
contaminated
Dirty and clean are considered to be opposites, so we must find the opposite of pure. Pure means devoid of contaminations, so the opposite of pure is "contaminated."
None of the other words are the opposite of pure.
Avian means related to birds.
Complex means not simple.
Messy means not neat, which is related to the concept of impurity, but not exactly the opposite of pure.
Cure is a word that means to resolve a sickness. While it rhymes with pure, it is not the opposite.
Example Question #468 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Grievous is to trivial as __________ is to dull.
whimsical
pious
porous
enterprising
vibrant
vibrant
"Grievous" means of great importance, serious and significant. As such it is an antonym of "trivial," which means not important, of lesser significance, irrelevant. So, to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these words is opposite in meaning to "dull." "Dull" means lacking color, energy, or excitement, boring and uninteresting. The best available antonym is therefore "vibrant" which means colorful, energetic. Additionally, "pious" means devout, deeply religious; "enterprising" means hardworking and innovative, working hard to come up with new solutions; "porous" means filled with holes; "whimsical" means quirky, silly.
Example Question #469 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Benign is to dangerous as culpable is to __________.
invalid
insane
impulsive
innocent
intrepid
innocent
"Benign" means not dangerous, harmless, not likely to cause harm. It is therefore an antonym of "dangerous." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "culpable." Well, "culpable" means guilty, responsible for an offense, not innocent. So, the best possible antonym is "innocent." Additionally, "intrepid" means bold and adventurous; "insane" means crazy, not sane; "invalid" means not valid, not legitimate, not correct; "impulsive" means prone to making decisions without thinking about it.
Certified Tutor
All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
![Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors](https://vt-vtwa-app-assets.varsitytutors.com/assets/problems/og_image_practice_problems-9cd7cd1b01009043c4576617bc620d0d5f9d58294f59b6d6556fd8365f7440cf.jpg)