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 #34 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Knob is to door as burner is to __________.

Possible Answers:

prepare

stove

cooking

blaze

heat

Correct answer:

stove

Explanation:

A knob is a part of a door; therefore, you could translate this analogy as, “Just as a knob is part of a door, so is a burner a part of a X.” A burner is the heating surface on a stove. This is the only option that functions as a whole of which the burner is a part.

Example Question #94 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Jogger is to marathon as _________________ is to religion.

Possible Answers:

immoral

pious

polytheistic

creed

cult

Correct answer:

creed

Explanation:

A "jogger" is one part of a marathon, indicating a part to whole relationship. Both words are also nouns. "Religion" is also a noun, meaning the missing word is a noun and part of religion as a whole.

"Creed" (noun) is the correct answer, root word "cred" = believe. It is a set of beliefs that are part of a religion.

"Polytheistic" (adj) prefix "poly" = many, root "theo" = religion, gods. This is a type of religion, not a part of religion itself.

"Cult" (noun), a group of people sharing (usually fringe) beliefs. This is related to the definition of religion, but not part of one.

"Pious" (adj) someone who is highly religious. People are parts of religion, but this word describes a particular individual, not an object or part.

"Immoral" (adj) prefix "im" = not, root "mor" life. This word also describes someone or something as being not right or ethical, and it is not an object or part.

Example Question #19 : Part And Whole

Complete the analogy.

Compass is to navigation as __________ is to gemstone.

Possible Answers:

entombed

bauble

facet

scarce

peridot

Correct answer:

facet

Explanation:

A "compass" is used to find direction in the act of navigation (the plotting or directing of a course for a ship or vessel). While this may seem like a tool-user relationship, it is not. The compass is part of the whole subject of navigation. Likewise, the answer will be part of a gemstone.  As all the words in the analogy set have been nouns, the answer should also be a noun.

The correct choice is "facet" (noun), which is one side of a multi-sided thing. Think of it as one of the flat sides of a jewel.  Its root "face" literally means face, appearance, or side. This is similar to how sides of 3D geometric shapes are often called "faces."

"Bauble" (noun) is a trinket or piece of jewelry, which makes it more a synonym of a gemstone.

"Peridot" (noun) is a type of gemstone, olive-green colored.

"Scarce" (adj) means uncommon, special, or rare. This describes the gemstone, rather than relating a part of one.

"Entombed" (adj) means buried, generally with a body, like in a grave or tomb. It was a common practice to bury wealth and treasures with someone of importance, but again, the word does not relate an example of a part of a gem.

Example Question #21 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Battalion is to army as __________ is to company.

Possible Answers:

branch

employee

committee

private

general

Correct answer:

branch

Explanation:

A "battalion" is a group of soldiers within a larger army, something like a "regiment" or a "corps." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a group of individuals who are collectively a part of a "company." The correct answer is a "branch" which means a regional department of a large company.

Example Question #22 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Epilogue is to book as _______________.

Possible Answers:

ritual is to dance

coda is to song

chapter is to division

typewriter is to novel

soap is to dishwasher

Correct answer:

coda is to song

Explanation:

An "epilogue" is a part of a book that appears at the end. The correct answer will demonstrate a relationship of part and whole. A "coda" is a musical segment that appears at the end of a song

Example Question #23 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Archipelago is to __________ as bouquet is to flowers.

Possible Answers:

animals 

rocks 

books 

humans 

islands

Correct answer:

islands

Explanation:

A "bouquet" is a group of flowers, particularly flowers that are held together in a bunch for the purpose of being given to someone. So, to solve this analogy, you need to determine what an "archipelago" is a group of. The correct answer is "islands."

Example Question #24 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Fuselage is to _________________ as hull is to ship.

Possible Answers:

flying

aircraft

car

captain

sailing

Correct answer:

aircraft

Explanation:

The "hull" is the name given to the main body of a "ship." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these a "fuselage" is the main body of. The correct answer is that a "fuselage" is the name given to the main body of an "aircraft." 

Example Question #25 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Borough is to city as __________ is to dossier.

Possible Answers:

document

money

utensil

vote

house

Correct answer:

document

Explanation:

A "city" is often comprised of "boroughs" (districts within a city). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that a "dossier" is comprised of. Well, a "dossier" is a collection of "documents" pertaining to a certain subject

Example Question #26 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Theft is to crime as __________.

Possible Answers:

procrastination is to laziness

sleep is to exhaustion

ship is to navigation

prisoner is to cell

disbelief is to obliviousness

Correct answer:

procrastination is to laziness

Explanation:

Theft is a form of crime; similarly, procrastination (putting things off) is a form of laziness.

Example Question #1 : Example And Category

Complete this analogy

Virtue is to kindness as vice is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Generosity 

Selfishness 

Verbosity

Serendipity 

Caring 

Correct answer:

Selfishness 

Explanation:

Kindness is an example of a virtue. A virtue is a morally positive attribute which is opposite in definition to a vice. To solve this analogy you must identify which of the answer choices is an example of a vice. The only morally negative attribute is “selfishness” so this is the correct answer. For clarification serendipity means the accidental discovery of something fortunate; verbosity describes long-winded speech or writing.

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