All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #631 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Apostate is to religion as __________ is to army.
romantic
turncoat
aegis
admiral
crucible
turncoat
An "apostate" is someone who renounces one's "religion," someone who abandons their faith. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is used to refer to someone who abandons the "army." The correct answer is "turncoat," which means traitor. Additionally, "aegis" is protection, support; an "admiral" is a high-ranking member of the navy; a "crucible" is a setting of great trial.
Example Question #632 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Kilt is to Scotland as sari is to __________.
China
Canada
India
France
America
India
A "kilt" is an item of clothing from "Scotland." It is a type of formal skirt usually worn by men of a clan. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine where a "sari" is from. The correct answer is "India." A "sari" is a garment of silk clothing usually worn by women in "India."
Example Question #29 : Location, Time, Or Context
Complete this analogy.
Flotsam is to _____________ as pollen is to flower.
elevator
forest
time
sky
ocean
ocean
"Pollen" is small, fine dust-like material excreted by male plants for the purposes of fertilizing a female plant. "Pollen" is found on "flowers," so to solve this analogy you need to determine where "flotsam" is found. Well, "flotsam" is trash or waste floating in the "ocean."
Example Question #633 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Quartermaster is to _____________ as registrar is to records.
affluence
power
performances
treaties
supplies
supplies
A "registrar" is someone who's job it is to keep track of official "records," like demographic statistics. So, a "registrar" is concerned with "records," what is a "quartermaster" concerned with? Well, a "quartermaster" is a military official responsible for providing "supplies" and shelter. So, the correct answer is "supplies." Additionally, "affluence" is wealth and prosperity.
Example Question #31 : Location, Time, Or Context
Complete this analogy.
Ovary is to reproduction as __________ is to categorization.
asylum
sinecure
doleful
phylum
embezzle
phylum
An "ovary" is a female reproductive organ. So, an "ovary" is involved with "reproduction." What is a "phylum" involved with? Well, a "phylum" is a classification group for organizing species of animals. So, it is involved in "categorization." Additionally, an "asylum" is a sanctuary, a safe house; a "sinecure" is an easy job; "embezzle" means steal money from somewhere one works or is trusted; "doleful" means miserable and disconsolate, feeling hopeless.
Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features
Sweet is to sugar as spicy is to __________.
jalapeño
raspberry
corn
apple
potato
jalapeño
“Sugar” is a noun that means “a sweet crystalline substance.” So, because sugar tastes sweet, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun representing a food that tastes spicy. While all of the potential answer choices are foods, only “jalapeño” (“a very hot green chili pepper”) is a food that tastes spicy. So, because jalapeños are spicy just as sugar is sweet, “jalapeño” is the correct answer.
Example Question #634 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Philanthropist is to charitable as priest is to __________.
spiritual
miserly
eloquent
temerity
honorable
spiritual
A philanthropist is someone who is charitable so the relationship can be established as the following: Charitable behavior is something that would be expected of a philanthropist so what kind of behavior is likely to be expected of a priest? This should lead to the correct answer which is “spiritual.” For clarification, "spiritual" means focused on religious or divine matters; "miserly" means not generous and is an antonym of charitable; "temerity" is a type of boldness or audacity; "eloquent" refers to a type of speech that is stylish and easily understood.
Example Question #635 : Analogies
Shield is to defensive as sword is to __________.
quick
protective
unimportant
expedient
offensive
offensive
A shield could be used by someone to defend themselves, so it could be described as “defensive,” or “used or intended to defend or protect.” So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective that describes a sword. While “protective” and “offensive” might each look like a potentially correct answer choice, “protective” means “capable of or intended to protect,” and does not describe a sword, so “protective” cannot be the correct answer. “Offensive,” however, is an adjective that can mean “meant for use in attack” when being used of a weapon, and because “offensive” aptly describes a sword just as “defensive” aptly describes a shield, “offensive” is the correct answer.
Example Question #4 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Pleasing is to euphony as displeasing is to __________.
Celebration
Exalt
Mellifluous
Adulation
Vociferous
Vociferous
Euphony is a pleasing sound, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is an unpleasant sound. The correct answer is “vociferous,” which means loud and unpleasant noise. For clarification, mellifluous is a synonym of euphony; adulation is praise; exalt means to praise or celebrate.
Example Question #5 : Qualities And Features
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Cat is to fast as sloth is to __________.
pensive
dull
sedentary
uninteresting
round
sedentary
One might describe a cat as fast. Therefore, the correct answer will be a trait that a sloth has. Sloths do not move very much, and so they are "sedentary," which means lacking movement, stationary, or inactive.
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