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 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Molt is to hair as hemorrhage is to __________.

Possible Answers:

air

skin

tissue

nerves

blood

Correct answer:

blood

Explanation:

The verb for to lose hair, to shed hair is "molt." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices would be lost if one was "hemorrhaging." The correct answer is "blood." To "hemorrhage" is to lose blood, to bleed.

Example Question #2 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Rivulet is to river as __________ is to island.

Possible Answers:

islet

peninsula

isthmus

stream

estuary

Correct answer:

islet

Explanation:

A "rivulet" is a small river, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a word for a small island. The correct answer is "islet." This is a reasonably easy problem because of the identical suffixes in "rivulet" and "islet." Additionally, an "isthmus" is a narrow section of land surrounded on both sides by water; a "peninsula" is a piece of land that is surrounded by water on every side; an "estuary" is the tidal mouth of a river, where the river runs into the ocean.

Example Question #381 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Emphysema is to __________ as cardiomyopathy is to heart.

Possible Answers:

kidneys

brain

lungs

bladder

spleen

Correct answer:

lungs

Explanation:

Whenever you see the word "cardio" it means related to heart or exercise of the heart. So, "cardiomyopathy" is a disease that affects the heart, specifically the muscle. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these parts of the body is primarily affected by the disease "emphysema." "Emphysema" is a disease that affects the "lungs." It is often caused by smoking!

Example Question #4 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Egest is to __________ as depose is to ruler.

Possible Answers:

food

assistant

labor

employee

partner

Correct answer:

food

Explanation:

To begin with "depose" means remove from position of power. A "ruler" is someone who might be "deposed." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these might be "egested." The correct answer is "food," because "egest" means to defecate, to get rid of unused food and energy.

Example Question #382 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Subsequent is to after as __________ is to before.

Possible Answers:

concocted

manifest

retrogressed

antecedent

undue

Correct answer:

antecedent

Explanation:

To begin with "subsequent" means occurring after, coming after something else. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words means occurring before, coming before something else. The correct answer is therefore "antecedent." Additionally, "undue" means inappropriate, excessive; "concocted" means prepared, made-up, assembled, put-together; "manifest" means diverse and varied; "retrogressed" means gone back to an earlier, usually inferior, condition.

Example Question #6 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Anatomy is to body as _____________.

Possible Answers:

poetry is to rhyme

medic is to hospital

meteorology is to weather

kidney is to organ

captain is to crew

Correct answer:

meteorology is to weather

Explanation:

"Anatomy" is the branch of science focused on the human body. The correct answer will exhibit a similar relationship branch and field of study. "Meteorology" is the branch of science focused on weather and atmospheric conditions.

Example Question #7 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Kinetic is to __________ as penal is to punishment.

Possible Answers:

anger 

distance 

motion 

age 

time 

Correct answer:

motion 

Explanation:

"Penal" means of or related to jail or punishment, so to solve this analogy, you need to determine what the word "kinetic" is used in relation to. The correct answer is that "kinetic" means related to motion or movement, so "motion" is the correct answer.

Example Question #8 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Pediatrician is to __________ as veterinarian is to animals.

Possible Answers:

women 

blindness 

elderly 

children 

men 

Correct answer:

children 

Explanation:

A veterinarian is a doctor who specializes in treating animals. So, to solve this analogy, you need to determine who or what it is that a "pediatrician" treats. Well, the prefix "ped-" refers to children or kids. So, the correct answer is that a "pediatrician" is a doctor who specializes in treating children, making "children" the correct answer.

Example Question #41 : Specific Terminology

Complete the analogy.

Horticulture is to __________ as culinary is to cooking.

Possible Answers:

defending 

gardening

judging 

protesting 

attacking 

Correct answer:

gardening

Explanation:

"Culinary" means related to cooking or associated with the art of cooking. To solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that "horticulture" relates to the art of. "Horticulture" means related to the art of gardening, so "gardening" is the correct answer.

Example Question #42 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Natal is to birth as nuptial is to __________________.

Possible Answers:

marriage

money

death

sport

illness

Correct answer:

marriage

Explanation:

The term "natal" means of or related to "birth" or giving "birth." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words described by the term "nuptial." Well, "nuptial" means of or related to "weddings" or "wedding" vows.

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