SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #431 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Read is to red as __________ is to sighs.

Possible Answers:

book

pain

color

moans

size

Correct answer:

size

Explanation:

"Read" and "red" are two words that have different meanings and yet sound exactly the same. We call these types of words "homonyms." So, to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these words sounds the same as, yet has a different meaning to, "sighs." The correct answer is "size."

Example Question #91 : Homonyms

Complete this analogy.

Fore is to __________ as jewel is to joule.

Possible Answers:

energy

behind

four

gem

after

Correct answer:

four

Explanation:

A "jewel" is a precious stone, a gem. And a "joule" is a unit of measurement used to measure energy. These words are "homonyms" because they sound the same but have different meanings. Which of these words sounds the same as, but has a different meaning to, "fore?" The correct answer is "four."

Example Question #92 : Homonyms

Complete this analogy.

Bear is to bare as ________________.

Possible Answers:

stare is to stairs

love is to like

meat is to meet

dog is to cat

cow is to cough

Correct answer:

meat is to meet

Explanation:

Since "bear" and "bare" are homophones, we are looking for an answer choice that includes words that sound the same when spoken aloud. The only answer choice that fits this criterion is "meat is to meet."

"Stare" and stairs are almost homophones, but the plural -s ending in "stairs" makes these two words not exactly alike when spoke aloud.

Example Question #93 : Homonyms

Complete this analogy.

Sea is to see as _________________.

Possible Answers:

read to is reed

led is to lead

ocean is to lagoon

deed is to dead

try is to tried

Correct answer:

read to is reed

Explanation:

Since "sea" and "see" are homophones, we are looking for an answer choice that includes words that sound the same when spoken aloud. The only answer choice that fits this criterion is "read is to reed."

Example Question #94 : Homonyms

Complete this analogy.

Hear is to here as _________________.

Possible Answers:

lie is to li

dear is to deer

look is to book

eat is to it

diminish is to decrease

Correct answer:

dear is to deer

Explanation:

Since "hear" and "here" are homophones, we are looking for an answer choice that includes words that sound the same when spoken aloud. The only answer choice that fits this criteria is "dear is to deer."

Example Question #1 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Author is to book as poet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

storyteller 

writer 

poem 

narrator 

tome 

Correct answer:

poem 

Explanation:

An author writes a book, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out what it is that a poet writes. The correct answer is a “poem.” To help you, a "tome" is a long book, and a "narrator" is the person telling a story.

Example Question #1 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Artist is to painting as musician is to __________.

Possible Answers:

song 

singer 

talented 

statue 

piano

Correct answer:

song 

Explanation:

An artist produces (makes) a painting, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice that describes what a musician produces. A musician produces music, and a song is a form of music, so "song" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Soil is to ground as wood is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tree

lumber

furniture

log

house

Correct answer:

tree

Explanation:

Soil comes from the ground just like wood comes from a tree.

Example Question #4 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Writer is to book as __________.

Possible Answers:

fool is to king

driver is to drive

table is to carpenter

food is to eating

baker is to bread

Correct answer:

baker is to bread

Explanation:

What do "writer" and "book" have in common? A writer can write a book, so look for an answer that demonstrates the relationship someone is to something they make. Here "baker is to bread" works, because a baker makes bread. A "driver" "drives," but he or she does not make "drives." "Table is to carpenter" would work, but it's backwards!

Example Question #2 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Storm is to lightning as blizzard is to __________.

Possible Answers:

heat

fire

rain

snow

fog

Correct answer:

snow

Explanation:

A storm produces lightning, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a blizzard produces. “Blizzard,” when used as a noun, means “a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility,” so blizzards produce snow like storms produce lightning, making “snow” the correct answer.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors