All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Look-alike is to sight as homophone is to __________.
meaning
spelling
taste
sound
smell
sound
A “look-alike” is defined as someone or something that or who closely resembles another person or thing, so a look-alike resembles someone visually, or through sight. We need to pick out an answer choice that describes what sense or concept a “homophone” is associated with. While “sound,” “spelling,” and “meaning” may each look like a potentially correct answer choice because a “homophone” is a word, “homophone” specifically means one of a pair or group of words that are pronounced in the same way but have different meanings. Homophones sound the same, just as look-alikes are similar in visual appearance, so “sound” is the correct answer.
Example Question #22 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Water is to ice as magma is to __________.
circulating
crust
stone
subterranean
molten
stone
When water cools, it becomes ice; therefore, this analogy requires that which magma becomes when it cools. Magma is the liquid stone that flows under the earth’s crust. When this cools, it becomes stone again. This is the only option that fits among those provided.
Example Question #23 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Justice is to scales as __________.
peace is to dove
sunglasses are to sun
crown is to royalty
war is to gunfire
power is to socks
peace is to dove
Since scales are a symbol of the abstract concept of justice, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is a concrete symbol of the abstract concept that the first word represents. While "crown is to royalty" may look like an appealing answer, its words are in the incorrect order (royalty doesn't symbolize a crown—a crown symbolizes royalty), so it can't be the correct answer. A dove is a symbol of peace, however, so "peace is to dove" is the correct answer.
Example Question #24 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Mourn is to deceased as __________.
congratulate is to winner
dust is to duster
concrete is to sidewalk
dance is to ballerina
leaf is to tree
congratulate is to winner
Since one mourns someone who is deceased, we need to pick out a pair of words in which the first word represents something you do to/for the second word. While "dance is to ballerina" and "congratulate is to winner" may both look like potentially correct answers, "dance is to ballerina" cannot be correct because you do not "dance ballerinas," but just as you mourn someone who is deceased, you congratulate someone who is a winner. So, "congratulate is to winner" is the correct answer.
Example Question #21 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Generous is to donation as ancillary is to __________.
amiable
aid
audacious
servile
amenable
aid
A person who is generous is likely to give a donation to some cause. Thus, the analogy could be read as, “As a generous person is likely to give a donation, so something that is ancillary is likely to provide or give X.” The word “ancillary” comes from the Latin “ancilla,” meaning female servant. In English, something "ancillary" is something that provides secondary support or aid to an operation or undertaking. Thus, among the options provided, “aid” is the best.
Example Question #25 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Tactile is to touch as olfactory is to __________.
idea
taste
sound
sight
smell
smell
“Tactile” is an adjective that means “dealing with the sense of touch” or “perceptible by touch.” So, something that is perceptible via the sense of touch is tactile, and we need to pick out an answer choice that describes with what sense something “olfactory” is perceptible. While all of the potential answer choices except for “idea” are connected with specific senses, “olfactory” is an adjective that means “relating to the sense of smell,” so “smell” is the correct answer.
Example Question #26 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Lottery is to ticket as __________.
travel is to voucher
money is to gamble
vote is to ballot
scratch is to card
poker is to ante
vote is to ballot
You need a ticket to engage in the lottery, and a ballot to make a vote. The second item is the piece of paper that lets you take part in the activity.
Example Question #27 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Telephone is to voice as __________.
stroller is to walking
flashlight is to bright
television is to movie
letter is to writing
walk signal is to button
letter is to writing
When we use a telephone, we communicate using our voice. Similarly, when we write a letter, we communicate using our writing.
Example Question #27 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Yellow is to caution as red is to __________.
deer
tops
read
stop
green
stop
Yellow is the color of signs that mean caution, and red is the color of signs that mean stop.
Example Question #28 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Spa is to asp as stink is to __________.
skink
kinks
smell
snake
knits
knits
This is a word game analogy. The second word in each pair is an anagram of the first. Spa anagrams to asp and stink anagrams to knits.