SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Other Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Burning is to aflame as drifting is to __________.

Possible Answers:

aloft

afloat

soaked

allowed

ashore

Correct answer:

afloat

Explanation:

If something, like a building, is "burning" than it can also said to be "aflame." The prefix a- in this sense means something like on, as in "aside" - on the side; "ashore" - on the shore. So, "aflame" means on fire. So, something that is "drifting" could also be said to be "adrift," "floating," or "afloat." Just to be clear, "drifting" means to be carried slowly by a current of water. Additionally, "soaked" means drenched, made very wet; "allowed" means permitted, not forbidden; "aloft" means in the air.

Example Question #341 : Analogies

Blue is to blew as . . .

Possible Answers:

river is to water

whiskers are to cat

electricity is to refrigerator

green is to grass

buy is to bye

Correct answer:

buy is to bye

Explanation:

Since "blue" is pronounced in exactly the same way as "blew," the two words are called homonyms. We need to find another answer choice in which the two words are also homonyms. Because "buy" is pronounced in exactly the same way as "bye," they are homonyms and the correct answer is "buy is to bye." 

Example Question #1 : Homonyms

Red is to read as hare is to

Possible Answers:

heir

hair

oxygen

none of the other answers

here

Correct answer:

hair

Explanation:

Red and read are homonyms just as hare and hair are homonyms. 

Example Question #1 : Homonyms

Bat is to batt as week is to

Possible Answers:

work

none of the other answers

wake

woke

weak

Correct answer:

weak

Explanation:

Both sets of words are homonyms.  

Example Question #342 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Aid is to aide as site is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cite 

assist 

love 

anage

help

Correct answer:

cite 

Explanation:

"Aid" and "aide" are two words that sound the same, but mean different things. "Aid" means help, and an "aide" is an assistant. When two words sound the same but have different meanings, we call them homonyms. Which of these answer choices sounds most like "site"? The correct answer is “cite.” "Site," which means location, is a homonym of "cite," which means quote.

Example Question #343 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Sale is to sail as weigh is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Vend

Sell

Way

Measure 

Demand

Correct answer:

Way

Explanation:

"Sale" and "sail" are homonyms, so to solve this analogy, you have to find the word that sounds most like "weigh." The correct answer is “way.”

Example Question #344 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Some is to sum as plain is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bare 

plane 

many 

add

fly 

Correct answer:

plane 

Explanation:

"Some" and "sum" are two words that sound the same, but mean different things. So, they are homonyms. To solve this analogy, you have to find the answer choice that sounds like "plain." "Plain" and "plane" are homonyms, so "plane" is the correct answer.

Example Question #345 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Weak is to week as meat is to __________.

Possible Answers:

strong 

shy 

introduce 

pork 

meet 

Correct answer:

meet 

Explanation:

"Weak" and "week" are two words that sound the same, but mean something different. So, they are homonyms. Which answer choice sounds the same as meat? The correct answer is “meet.” Meet and meat are also homonyms.

Example Question #346 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Pour is to poor as weight is to __________.

Possible Answers:

heavy 

rich 

dense 

wait 

scale

Correct answer:

wait 

Explanation:

"Pour" is a homonym of "poor"; homonyms are words that sound the same, but have different meanings. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that sounds the same as "weight." The only word that sounds like weight is “wait," so "wait" is the correct answer.

Example Question #347 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Eight is to ate as ___________.

Possible Answers:

door is to handle

song is to lyric

sew is to so

queen is to king

dinner is to seven

Correct answer:

sew is to so

Explanation:

"Eight" and "ate" are homophones, or words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings. So, we are looking for an answer that has a pair of homophones. Thus, the best answer is "sew is to so"!

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