SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Roots

The words in these verbal analogies are based on the understanding and use of common Latin and Greek word roots.

Super is to sub as hyper is to __________.

Possible Answers:

active

under

hypo

over

marine

Correct answer:

hypo

Explanation:

"Super-" and "sub-" are Latin roots meaning "high/above" or "low/below," respectively. The Greek roots with the same meanings are "hyper-" and "hypo-."

Example Question #6 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Patriarchal is to matriarchal as feminine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

feminist 

misogynist

woman 

effervescent 

masculine 

Correct answer:

masculine 

Explanation:

Patriarchal describes a society or group of people ruled by men. Matriarchal describes a society or group of people ruled by women. To solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the male form of feminine. This should lead you to the correct answer, "masculine." For clarification, misogynist describes hateful behavior exhibited towards women; effervescent means vivacious or lively.

Example Question #2 : Analogies: Roots

Complete this analogy.

Entomology is to insects as oncology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cancer 

populations 

minerals 

agriculture 

hormones 

Correct answer:

cancer 

Explanation:

Entomology is the study of insects, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is studied in oncology. "Oncology" is the study of cancer, so the correct answer is “cancer.”

Example Question #8 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Misanthropy is to people as misandry is to __________.

Possible Answers:

birds 

sports 

men

animals

exercise 

Correct answer:

men

Explanation:

Misanthropy describes the dislike of people or the human race, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice is disliked by someone who experiences misandry. The correct answer is “men,” people who experience misandry hate men and boys.

Example Question #9 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Anthropology is to humans as pathology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

disease

emotions

poetry

maps

quests

Correct answer:

disease

Explanation:

Anthropology is the study of humans or humanity. Pathology is the study of disease.

Example Question #9 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Terrarium is to dirt as solarium is to __________.

Possible Answers:

earth

sunlight

hydrogen

moon

solo

Correct answer:

sunlight

Explanation:

"Terra" means earth and "sol" means sun. A terrarium is a container that holds earth (dirt), and a solarium is a room that is filled with sunlight.

Example Question #71 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Firmament is to sky as terra is to _________.

Possible Answers:

ocean 

earth 

moon 

sun

river 

Correct answer:

earth 

Explanation:

Firmament is a synonym for sky; so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best synonym for terra. Terra means of or related to the Earth so the correct answer is “earth.” Using the same system the word for sun would be solar and for moon would be lunar.

Example Question #111 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Suicide is to self as fratricide is to __________

Possible Answers:

brother

teacher

mother

friend

child

Correct answer:

brother

Explanation:

To solve this analogy you need to rely on your knowledge of Latin roots. The prefix sui- means self and the suffix -cide means kill, so "suicide" is to kill oneself. Additionally, the prefix frat- means brother, as in "fraternity." So, "fratricide" is killing one's brother.

Example Question #112 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Confidante is to trust as orator is to __________

Possible Answers:

argue 

listen 

speak 

arrest 

accept 

Correct answer:

listen 

Explanation:

To solve this analogy, you need to rely on your knowledge of Latin roots. The root "-fid-" that appears in words like "fidelity," "confide," and "faith" means trust or believe. So, a "confidante" is someone one trusts with one's secrets. If one "trusts" a "confidante," what does one do to an "orator"? Well, an "orator" is a public speaker, so one would "listen" to an orator. 

Example Question #72 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Submarine is to water as __________ is to land.

Possible Answers:

subterranean

supplicate

subatomic

supersede

submersible 

Correct answer:

subterranean

Explanation:

In solving this analogy you likely figured out that "submarine" means under water. The prefix sub- means under and the suffix -marine means related to the ocean. You would have likely therefore determined that the correct answer means under ground, underneath the land. To figure out which of these words matches this definition you need to consider roots of words. As mentioned earlier sub- means beneath, below, under, but more usefully the root -terra- means related to the Earth, related to land. So, the correct answer is that "subterranean" means underground, under the land. Additionally, a "submersible" is a vehicle that goes underwater, like a submarine; "supplicate" means entreat, beg for, humbly implore; "supersede" means replace; "subatomic" means smaller than an atom, (of particles) within an atom.

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