SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Changes in Intensity

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Hound is to pursue as _______________.

Possible Answers:

rat is to edge

efface is to approach

faze is to mollify

badger is to harass

bug is to defeat

Correct answer:

badger is to harass

Explanation:

To "hound" means to pursue relentlessly. ("The criminal was hounded across the country by law enforcement and finally captured.")

Is to "badger" to harass relentlessly? Yes, by definition, that’s exactly what it means. ("James badgered me every day for a week until I paid him the five dollars I owed him.") So, "badger is to harass" is the correct answer.

Does "efface" mean to approach relentlessly? No. To "efface" means to erase or to make seem insignificant. It has nothing to do with approaching someone or something.

Does “to bug” mean to defeat relentlessly? Nope. To "bug" is to annoy.

Is “to faze” to mollify relentlessly? No. To "faze" means “to disturb or unsettle” someone, whereas "mollify" means to reduce the anger of someone. They are basically antonyms, so they have a connection, but it isn’t the  connection that the stem words have.

Lastly, "rat" does not mean to edge relentlessly.

 

Example Question #341 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Gale is to wind as _____________.

Possible Answers:

downpour is to rain

pane is to window

sleet is to winter

humidity is to atmosphere

roof is to house

Correct answer:

downpour is to rain

Explanation:

A "gale" is a very strong wind. A "downpour" is a very heavy rainfall. This question asks you to identify a change, in this case an increase, in intensity.

Example Question #342 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Breeze is to gale as trickle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gust

weather

torrent

wind

drizzle

Correct answer:

torrent

Explanation:

A "breeze" is a light wind and a "gale" is a very strong and powerful wind. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a more intense version of a "trickle." Well, a "trickle" is a slow-moving stream of water. So, the correct answer is "torrent," which means a very powerful and fast-moving stream of water. Additionally, "gust" refers to a sudden and powerful flow of wind; "drizzle" means (of rain) to fall slowly and weakly.

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