SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Part and Whole

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Splinter is to wood as shard is to __________.

Possible Answers:

leather

glass

snow

wool

fire

Correct answer:

glass

Explanation:

“Splinter” is a word that when used as a noun means a tiny, sharp piece of wood or glass. So, a splinter is a small piece of wood, and we need to pick out an answer choice that conveys the material that a shard can be made of. While “glass,” “wool,” and “leather” may each look like a potentially correct answer choice, because each refers to a tangible material, “shard” is defined as a small piece of broken glass or ceramic with sharp edges, and because “glass” is the only material mentioned in the definition of “shard,” “glass” is the correct answer.

Example Question #12 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Apple is to core as peach is to __________.

Possible Answers:

rind

juice

pit

fruit

fuzzy

Correct answer:

pit

Explanation:

“Core” can be used as a noun that means the tough part of a fruit found at its center, and apples have cores at their centers which people do not typically eat. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a part of a peach which people do not eat, particularly one found in the center of a peach. While “pit” and “rind” may each look like a potentially correct answer, “rind” is a noun that means a fruit's tough exterior skin, but because peaches don’t have rinds, “rind” cannot be the correct answer. “Pit,” however, when used as a noun, can mean a fruit's stone, and because peaches contain pits just as apples contain cores, “pit” is the correct answer.

Example Question #13 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Thesis is to essay as engine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

car

piston 

book 

bike 

oil 

Correct answer:

car

Explanation:

A "thesis" is part of an "essay," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices includes an "engine" as one of its parts. The correct answer is a "car."

Example Question #14 : Part And Whole

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bishop is to church as baron is to __________.

Possible Answers:

oligarchy 

tenure

media 

democracy

aristocracy

Correct answer:

aristocracy

Explanation:

A bishop is a ranking member of the church, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is an organization that includes barons amongst its members. The correct answer is “aristocracy,” which is the name given to an entrenched upper class system, like the royalty or nobility in England. For clarification, "oligarchy" is the name of the government ruled by a few, and "tenure" is the status of guaranteed employment achieved by faculty members, usually after a number of years.

Example Question #15 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Symptom is to disease as clue is to __________.

Possible Answers:

distraction

mystery

hint

suspense

detective

Correct answer:

mystery

Explanation:

“Symptom” is a noun that means an effect characteristic of a disease, so a doctor might consider a patient’s symptoms in order to figure out what disease the patient has. We need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a clue might help a person figure out. While “mystery” and “hint” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “hint” is a synonym of “clue,” not something a clue might help one figure out, so “hint” cannot be the correct answer. A clue might help someone figure out a mystery, however, just as a symptom might help a doctor figure out what disease a patient has, so “mystery” is the correct answer.

Example Question #16 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy.

Puzzle is to piece as couch is to _________.

Possible Answers:

comfy

cushion

brown

seat

drawer

Correct answer:

cushion

Explanation:

The relationship in "puzzle is to piece" is whole to part. The best choice is "cushion," as a cushion is a part of a couch. Both "brown" and "comfy" are possible characteristics of couches. The choice "seat" would make the relationship categorical because a couch is a type of seat. The choice "drawer" is unrelated to the word "couch."

Example Question #17 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy:

Wolf is to pack as __________.

Possible Answers:

farm is to pig

geese is to gaggle

wolf is to dog

herd is to reptiles

child is to school

Correct answer:

geese is to gaggle

Explanation:

A group of wolves is called a pack. Similarly, a group of geese is called a gaggle. 

None of the other analogies have this specific relationship.

Groups of children are not called a school, although groups of children do go to school.

Wolf and dog are related, but the analogy does not fit the relationship of single animal to group of that animal.

Groups of pigs do live on farms, but the order of the words is incorrect: a group of farms is not called a pig.

A group of reptiles is not called a herd; a herd typically refers to a group of hoofed animals.

Example Question #18 : Part And Whole

Complete this analogy:

Triangle is to pyramid as circle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

round

sphere

oval

globe

cube

Correct answer:

sphere

Explanation:

A pyramid is a three-dimensional version of the triangle. Similarly, a sphere is the three-dimensional version of the circle. 

None of the other analogies have this relationship.

Globes are spherical, but refer specifically to spheres upon which three-dimensional maps of the Earth are depicted. 

An oval is simply an elongated circle, also known as an ellipse.

Round is the quality of being non-linear, for either three-dimensional or two dimensional.

Cube is the three-dimensional version of the square.

Example Question #143 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Singer is to choir as player is to ____________.

Possible Answers:

shoe

bar

uniform

bat

team

Correct answer:

team

Explanation:

This analogy shows a part to whole relationship. 

A singer is part of a larger unit (the choir). 

The correct answer is "player is to team." A player is part of a team (the team being the whole). 

Example Question #144 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Museum is to __________ as orchard is to trees.

Possible Answers:

weapons

artifacts

pestilence

sailors

vocations

Correct answer:

artifacts

Explanation:

An "orchard" is a group of "trees," particularly fruit "trees." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is found in a "museum." The correct answer is "artifacts." A collection of "artifacts" is known as a "museum." An "artifact" is a man-made object of historical of cultural interest. Additionally, "pestilence" is disease; a "vocation" is an occupation, a job.

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