SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #291 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Mild is to extreme as __________.

Possible Answers:

horses are to pasture

median is to mean

average is to large

rose is to red

temperature is to thermometer

Correct answer:

average is to large

Explanation:

This analogy compares degrees of magnitude, with the first term being "mild," meaning low in intensity or gentle. The second term is "extreme," which can mean intense. The only answer choice that follows this pattern is "average is to large."

Example Question #292 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pink is to red as __________.

Possible Answers:

meal is to dessert

warm is to hot

origin is to birth

hard is to soft

reptile is to mammal

Correct answer:

warm is to hot

Explanation:

This analogy compares two terms where one is the more extreme form of the other. Red is higher than pink on a "gradient of redness," although the color pink exhibits characteristics of "redness." Likewise, hot is higher than warm on a "gradient of temperature," although the concept of warmth entails characteristics of heat.

Example Question #293 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Sad is to miserable as angry is to __________

Possible Answers:

pious

calm

furious

inactive

irritated

Correct answer:

furious

Explanation:

To be "miserable" means to be very sad, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is a more intense form of being "angry." The correct answer is therefore "furious," which means very angry. To provide further help, "inactive" means not active or not moving; "pious" means very religious; and "irritated" means annoyed or mildly angry.

Example Question #294 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Blue is to navy as red is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pink

scarlet

purple

orange

burgundy

Correct answer:

burgundy

Explanation:

"Navy" is a darker version of the color blue, therefore the answer must be a darker version of the color red. That immediately eliminates "purple" and "orange." "Pink" is a lighter shade of red, so it is eliminated. "Scarlet" is a bright red, but it is not dark. The best choice is "burgundy," which is a dark shade of red.

Example Question #295 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to drenched as __________.

Possible Answers:

dry is to desert

tornado is to wind

upset is to angry

step is to stair 

page is to book

Correct answer:

upset is to angry

Explanation:

"Drenched" is a more intense version of "wet," just as "angry" is a more intense version of "upset." A "page" is a part of a "book" and a "step" is a part of a "stair," so those can be eliminated since they don't fit the type of analogy. While a "desert" is very "dry," it is not a more intense version of the same word. If "tornado" and "wind" were reversed and read "wind is to tornado," this analogy would work. As it is written, however, it is the opposite of the first pair.

Example Question #296 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Cry is to sob as walk is to __________.

Possible Answers:

joke

work

run

sit

pause

Correct answer:

run

Explanation:

To "sob" is to cry intensely, to cry for a long time. "Sob" is therefore a more intense version of the word "cry." To solve this analogy you need to consider which one of these words represents a more intense version of "walk," and the correct answer is obviously "run." 

Example Question #297 : Analogies

Pretty is to exquisite as ugly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

similar

attractive 

safe 

plain

grotesque 

Correct answer:

grotesque 

Explanation:

"Pretty" and "exquisite" are synonyms, but the relationship is one of a heightened degree. Something that is exquisite is very pretty. Likewise, "grotesque" refers to something that is very ugly.  

Example Question #298 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Cottage is to house as sapling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

person

store

train

mountain

tree

Correct answer:

tree

Explanation:

A "cottage" is a small, usually rural, house. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what a "sapling" is a smaller version of. The correct answer is that a "sapling" is a small "tree."

Example Question #299 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Clean is to spotless as ______________.

Possible Answers:

trashcan is to trash

mop is to floor

pen is to writing

laundry is to washer

dirty is to filthy

Correct answer:

dirty is to filthy

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you must determine the relationship between the first two words. "Clean" and "spotless" are synonyms of increasing intensity, so the answer must be two synonyms of increasing intensity. "Filthy" is a more intense version of dirty, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #300 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to soaked as _______________.

Possible Answers:

desert is to barren

dry is to arid

yellow is to green

ocean is to beach

car is to carwash

Correct answer:

dry is to arid

Explanation:

What is the relationship between the given words? "Wet" and "soaked" are synonyms of increasing intensity, so the answer must be two synonyms of increasing intensity. "Arid" is a more intense version of dry, so that must be the correct answer.

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