SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #581 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Broker is to stocks as realtor is to __________.

Possible Answers:

medicine

furniture

food

cars

houses

Correct answer:

houses

Explanation:

A "broker" is someone who helps others to buy and sell stocks. So, which of these is bought and sold by a "realtor?" The correct answer is "houses."

Example Question #582 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Carpenter is to __________ as blacksmith is to sword.

Possible Answers:

wood

metal

table

shoe

hat

Correct answer:

table

Explanation:

A "blacksmith" is someone who shapes iron and other metals for a job. A "sword" is something that is produced by a "blacksmith," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something that is produced by a "carpenter." Well, a "carpenter" is someone who shapes wood into furniture for a job. So, the correct answer is "table."

Example Question #583 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Furnace is to heat as generator is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cold

water

guidance

narratives

electricity

Correct answer:

electricity

Explanation:

The purpose of a "furnace" is to provide "heat." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what the purpose of a "generator" is. Well, a "generator" generates "electricity," so this is the correct answer.

Example Question #584 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Cobbler is to __________ as legislator is to laws.

Possible Answers:

furniture

clocks

shoes

paintings

weapons

Correct answer:

shoes

Explanation:

A "legislator" is someone who works in government and makes "laws." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an item made by a "cobbler." The correct answer is that "cobblers" make "shoes."

Example Question #585 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Crater is to collision as __________ is to erosion.

Possible Answers:

cloud

house

cliff

forest

iceberg

Correct answer:

cliff

Explanation:

A "crater" is a hole in the ground formed by the impact of a meteor with the surface of a planet. A "crater" is therefore formed by a "collision." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is formed by "erosion." Well, "erosion" is the process of wearing something down through constant exposure to wind and water. "Cliffs" are formed by "erosion."

Example Question #586 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Small is to microscope as big is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

telescope

macroscope 

garrulous 

astronomy 

huge 

Correct answer:

telescope

Explanation:

A "microscope" is a piece of machinery used to look at the small world, so to solve this analogy you have to identify the name of the machine used to look at the much larger world. The correct answer is “telescope.” The prefix, micro­-, means small, and the prefix, macro­-, means big; however in this instance you use the prefix, tele-, which means at a distance or far away. For clarification, "garrulous" means talkative.

Example Question #581 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bed is to rest as car is to __________.

Possible Answers:

automobile

travel 

supplant

rescue 

machine 

Correct answer:

travel 

Explanation:

A bed is an object which is used to fulfill the action of resting. So, to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these answer choices is an action intended to be undertaken in a car. The correct answer is “travel.” For clarification, "automobile" means car, and "supplant" means to replace.

Example Question #582 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Shovel is to dug as paintbrush is to __________.

Possible Answers:

painter

painted

handle

painting

paint

Correct answer:

painted

Explanation:

One might use a shovel to dig something, and "dug" is the past tense of "dig," so we need to pick out a word that both a.) is a verb describing what someone might do with a paintbrush and b.) is in the past tense. While "paint," "painter," "painted" and "painting" may all seem like potentially correct answers, "paint" is either a noun or a present-tense verb, "painter" a noun meaning a person who paints, and "painting" a present progressive verb, so the only answer choice that fulfills both our requirements is "painted."

Example Question #583 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Table is to tablecloth as person is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ice

box

air

quilt

sail

Correct answer:

quilt

Explanation:

A tablecloth covers a table, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes something that covers and protects a person. While “quilt” and “sail” might each look like a potentially correct answer, because each refers to a piece of cloth, a “sail” is specifically the piece of cloth that catches the wind on a sailboat and propels it and does not necessarily cover and protect a person. A “quilt,” however, is defined as a large sewn covering used on beds made up of many small pieces of cloth joined together over a layer of padding and a back layer of cloth. Just as a tablecloth covers a table, a quilt is made to cover a person, so “quilt” is the correct answer.

Example Question #584 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Phone is to communicate as car is to __________.

Possible Answers:

machine 

automobile 

maintain 

technology 

travel 

Correct answer:

travel 

Explanation:

A phone allows one to communicate, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine what it is that a car allows one to do. The correct answer is "travel." 

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