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 #231 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Destroy is to eradicate as __________.

Possible Answers:

male is to man

incontinent is to unrestrained

leap is to train

silverware is to table

regard is to glasses

Correct answer:

incontinent is to unrestrained

Explanation:

"Destroy" is a synonym of "eradicate," and "incontinent" is a synonym of "unrestrained," so "incontinent is to unrestrained" is the correct answer.

Example Question #232 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Poignant is to affecting as timely is to _________.

Possible Answers:

studious

thought-provoking 

apt 

thoughtful

lonely 

Correct answer:

apt 

Explanation:

"Poignant" and "affecting" are synonyms that both mean emotionally moving. To solve this analogy, you must find the best available synonym for "timely." "Apt" is thus the correct answer, as both "timely" and "apt" mean appropriate and suitable for a given context.

Example Question #161 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Bewildered is to flummoxed as munificent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

morose 

severe 

magnanimous

benign 

terrific

Correct answer:

magnanimous

Explanation:

"Bewildered" and "flummoxed" are synonyms that both means confused. "Munificent" means generous, so you must identify the answer choice that is the best synonym of generous. The correct answer is “magnanimous,” which describes someone who is generous and kind. For clarification, "benign" means not harmful; "severe" means intense; and "morose" means very sad.

Example Question #162 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Waffle is to drivel as licentious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

moral 

susceptible

immune

prone

immoral 

Correct answer:

immoral 

Explanation:

"Waffle" and "drivel" are synonyms that both refer to pointless or useless speech. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for "licentious," which means immoral, particularly with regard to sexual behavior. For clarification, "immune" means safe from something, usually disease; "prone" and "susceptible" are synonyms that both mean likely to be affected by something.

Example Question #241 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Blue is to azure as __________.

Possible Answers:

green is to crimson

yellow is to cerulean

red is to ruddy

brown is to verdant

pink is to vermillion

Correct answer:

red is to ruddy

Explanation:

Since "azure," when used as an adjective, means having a bright blue color, and when used as a noun means a bright blue color, "blue" and "azure" are synonyms. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which both words are synonyms—in this case, in which both words to the same color. Since "cerulean" means deep blue, "yellow is to cerulean" cannot be the correct answer. Neither can "brown is to verdant" since "verdant" can mean green like lush vegetation. Similarly, "green is to crimson" is not correct either since "crimson" means a dark red color and neither is "pink is to vermillion," since "vermillion" refers to a bright shade of orange-red. "Red is to ruddy" is the correct answer because "ruddy" means having a reddish color.

Example Question #292 : Hspt Verbal Skills

Complete this analogy.

Deciduous is to arboreal as bodily is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vivacious

volume

corpulent

corporeal

vituperative

Correct answer:

corporeal

Explanation:

"Deciduous" plants are those which lose their leaves annually (as opposed to pine and other evergreen trees that retain their needles throughout the winter and into the spring). The word literally comes from Latin roots meaning to fall downward. The “de-” prefix means down from (as in “descend”) and the “-ciduous” is related to the same and similar forms found in “cadence” and “accident.” Etymology aside, the analogy is one of member-to-class. Something deciduous is a type of arboreal plant. ("Arboreal" meaning pertaining to trees). Thus, something “bodily” is best called something “corporeal.” None of the other options name the general class of bodily things. The word "corpulent," which is close (and clearly related in its roots) means fat—like having a lot of “body.”

Example Question #242 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Placid is to tranquil as noxious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

torpid 

toxic

lovely

safe

noisy

Correct answer:

toxic

Explanation:

"Placid" and "tranquil" are synonyms, as are "noxious" and "toxic."

Example Question #165 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Regard is to deem as __________.

Possible Answers:

mock is to praise

confound is to astonish

negate is to confirm

release is to capture

far is to near

Correct answer:

confound is to astonish

Explanation:

“Regard,” when used as a verb, means “consider or think of someone or something in a specified way,” while “deem” means “regard or consider in a specified way.” So, “regard” and “deem” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of synonyms. While “confound is to astonish,” “release is to capture,” and “negate is to confirm” might each look like a potentially correct answer choice, “release” and “confirm” are antonyms, as are “negate” and “confirm,” so neither of those answer choices can be the correct answer. “Confound,” however, is a verb that means “cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations,” while “astonish” means “surprise or impress (someone) greatly.” So, because “confound” is a synonym of “astonish” just as “regard” is a synonym of “deem,” “confound is to astonish” is the correct answer.

Example Question #243 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Outlandish is to eccentric as quintessential is to __________.

Possible Answers:

abnormal

menacing 

elusive

brilliant 

typical

Correct answer:

typical

Explanation:

Outlandish and eccentric are synonyms that both mean weird or abnormal so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for quintessential. Quintessential means typical or normal. For clarification, menacing means threatening; elusive means hard to detect or capture; abnormal means weird, not normal.

Example Question #244 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lethargic is to tired as gregarious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

iconic 

outgoing 

whimsical

introspective

devious 

Correct answer:

outgoing 

Explanation:

Lethargic is a synonym of tired so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for the word gregarious. Gregarious means sociable or outgoing. For clarification, devious means sneaky; introspective means thoughtful and inwardly focused; iconic means significant; whimsical means quirky or silly.

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