All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Deaf is to hear as illiterate is to __________.
sing
books
draw
eyes
read
read
Since someone who is "deaf" is unable to hear, we need to pick out a word that describes what someone who is "illiterate" is unable to do. Since "illiterate" means unable to read or write due to not knowing how, "read" is the correct answer.
Example Question #710 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to short as elongate is to long.
Imbibe
Burgeon
Abbreviate
Galvanize
Consume
Abbreviate
The verb "elongate" means to make longer, so which of these answer choices means to make smaller? The correct answer is "abbreviate." Additionally, "consume" means use completely, eat; "imbibe" means drink; "galvanize" means motivate, inspire to action; "burgeon" means blossom, grow, flourish.
Example Question #6 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Bittersweet is to oxymoron as ______________ is to palindrome.
clock
radar
stairway
engine
suitcase
radar
An "oxymoron" is a phrase or word which contains apparently contradictory language. So, "bittersweet" is an "oxymoron" because it contains "bitter" and "sweet" which are two words that mean roughly the opposite of one another. Another example of an "oxymoron" is "open secret" or "sweet sorrow." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "palindrome." Well, a "palindrome" is a word that reads the same backwards as forwards. So, an example of a "palindrome" is "noon" or "eye." The correct answer is therefore "radar."
Example Question #7 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Polymath is to knowledge as yahoo is to _______________.
temerity
ignorance
compassion
cruelty
majesty
ignorance
A "polymath" is someone who understands many things and has a wide-ranging "knowledge." So, if a "polymath" has lots of "knowledge," what does a "yahoo" have a lot of? Well, a "yahoo" is a poorly-educated person, who is rude and "ignorant." Additionally, "compassion" is kindness and generosity, particularly when directed at those who have less than you; "temerity" is audacity, nerve, arrogance and 'cheek'; "majesty" is splendor, dignity, stateliness.
Example Question #8 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Purveyor is to vend as bacchanalian is to __________.
admonish
retrogress
solicit
carouse
stymie
carouse
A "purveyor" is someone who sells luxury products. Another word for "sell" is "vend." So, if a "purveyor" "vends," what does a "bacchanalian" do? Well, a "bacchanalian" is a merrymaker, someone who is given over to drinking too much and partying. So, the correct answer is "carouse," which means to greatly enjoy getting drunk, imbibe. Additionally, "retrogress" means move backwards; "admonish" means scold, yell at, punish; "stymie" means obstruct, hinder, prevent the progress of; "solicit" means ask for, request, seek help or finance.
Example Question #9 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Morphine is to addictive as _____________ is to coastal.
summit
chapel
hubris
hospice
riviera
riviera
"Morphine" is a type of drug used to alleviate pain. One property of "morphine" is that it is highly "addictive." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these could be described as "coastal" (next to the ocean). The correct answer is "riviera." A "riviera" is a coastal part of a tropical or warm country. Additionally, a "hospice" is a home where sick or elderly people are cared for; a "summit" is a peak, the top of something like a mountain; "hubris" is excessive pride and arrogance; a "chapel" is a small church.
Example Question #1 : Other Analogies
Fire is to arm as rife is to __________.
rifle
ram
leg
mare
army
ram
This is a word game analogy. The second word is an anagram of the first. Fire anagrams to rife and arm anagrams to ram.
Example Question #81 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy
Undulation is to wave as meander is to __________.
Current
River
Ocean
Circuit
Lake
River
Undulation describes the movement of a wave so to solve this analogy you have to identify what the word meander is typically used to describe the movement of. Meander means to follow an indirect route with a series of twists and turns. This most accurately describes the movement of a river.
Example Question #82 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Infuriating is to angry as nauseating is to __________.
sickly
passionate
healthy
amorous
profound
sickly
Something you find "infuriating" (to make furious) is also likely to make you "angry." To solve this answer you have to determine which answer choice is similar in meaning to "nauseating," which means to have been made nauseous, so the correct answer is “sickly.” For clarification, "amorous" means expressing or feeling deep love; "profound" means deep and meaningful; "passionate" means possessing great desire.
Example Question #81 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Ventriloquism is to sound as __________.
mirage is to sight
boring is to asleep
tactile is to touch
painting is to color
sweet is to taste
mirage is to sight
“Ventriloquism” is a noun that means “the art of projecting your voice so that it seems to come from another source.” So, ventriloquism is a kind of illusion that has to do with sound, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a kind of illusion or trick and the second word is the sense that that illusion is associated with. While “sweet is to taste,” “tactile is to touch,” and “mirage is to sight” might each look like a potentially correct answer, neither “tactile” nor “sweet” are nouns that refer to illusions, so neither “tactile is to touch” nor “sweet is to taste” can be the correct answer. A “mirage,” however, is “an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions.” So, because mirages are a type of illusion associated with sight just as ventriloquism is a type of illusion associated with sound, “mirage is to sight” is the correct answer.
Certified Tutor
All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
![Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors](https://vt-vtwa-app-assets.varsitytutors.com/assets/problems/og_image_practice_problems-9cd7cd1b01009043c4576617bc620d0d5f9d58294f59b6d6556fd8365f7440cf.jpg)