SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Abilities

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Thief is to steal as __________.

Possible Answers:

charity is to donate

hawk is to talon

musician is to instrument

chef is to cook

room is to house

Correct answer:

chef is to cook

Explanation:

A thief is someone who steals, so to solve this analogy, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is a verb that the first word, a noun, does. While "donate is to charity" and "chef is to cook" may both look like correct answer choices, a "charity" does not "donate"—people donate to charities. While "chef" and "cook" can be seen as synonyms, "cook" can also be used as a verb meaning to prepare food. So, because chefs cook just as thieves steal, "chef is to cook" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Play is to game as eat is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lose 

drink 

hungry 

nap 

meal 

Correct answer:

meal 

Explanation:

A “game” is something that you “play,” so to solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices is something that you “eat.” The correct answer is a “meal.”

Example Question #616 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Boxer is to fighting as vocalist is to __________

Possible Answers:

singing 

speaking 

defending 

laughing 

dancing 

Correct answer:

singing 

Explanation:

“Fighting” is an action associated with “boxers,” so to solve this analogy, you need to determine which answer choice is associated with a “vocalist.” Well, a “vocalist” is someone who sings, so the correct answer is “singing.”

Example Question #617 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Butterfly is to flutter as spider is to __________.

Possible Answers:

scary

fly

spin

crawl

swim

Correct answer:

crawl

Explanation:

"Flutter" means flap your wings and hover in the air or fly around. Fluttering is something that butterflies do to move around, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these words is something that spiders do to move around. The correct answer is therefore "crawl." While spiders do "spin" webs, they do not "spin" to move around—"crawl" better describes how they move around.

Example Question #618 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Kangaroo is to jump as __________.

Possible Answers:

ride is to bike

baby is to child

lawnmower is to cut

lemonade is to drink

drive is to car

Correct answer:

lawnmower is to cut

Explanation:

One ability of kangaroos is to jump. Since "kangaroo" is first and the ability is second, the answer needs to follow the same format. "Lemonade" is a type of "drink" and "baby" is a type of "child," so these answers can be eliminated. While a car can be driven and a biken can be riden, the order is incorrect. The only answer that fits is that a "lawnmower" can "cut."

Example Question #619 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Bark is to dog as __________ is to wolf.

Possible Answers:

cat

puppy

hunt

howl

pack

Correct answer:

howl

Explanation:

"Bark" is the sound made by a "dog," so to solve this analogy you simply need to determine what sound a "wolf" makes. The correct answer is "howl." When solving analogies your first step is always to figure out the relationship between the words in the question - in this case the relationship was the sound a "dog" makes is a "bark," what is the sound a wolf makes?

Example Question #620 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Feather is to fly as fin is to __________.

Possible Answers:

swim

breathe

bird

fish

walk

Correct answer:

swim

Explanation:

A "feather" is used by birds to help them to "fly." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which action is helped by the use of a "fin." Well, a "fin" is part of the body of a fish that is used to help fish to "swim."

Example Question #3 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Sleep is to indoors as __________ is to outdoors.

Possible Answers:

bed

sail

moon

sun

night

Correct answer:

sail

Explanation:

"Sleep" is an action that one generally undertakes "indoors." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action usually done "outdoors." The correct answer is to "sail." Although the "sun" and "moon" are both "outdoors," they are objects not actions.

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