SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #465 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Crayon is to coloring as ____________________.

Possible Answers:

hand is to foot

rain is to rainbow

pillow is to eating

knife is to cutting

marker is to galloping

Correct answer:

knife is to cutting

Explanation:

Since we "color" with "crayons," we are looking for an answer choice that includes a tool (e.g., crayon) and how it is used (e.g., coloring). The only answer choice that fits this criteria is "knife is to cutting" because we use knives to cut up food!

Example Question #1 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete this analogy.

Mechanic is to wrench as farmer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

drought

plow 

hammer 

crops 

agriculture 

Correct answer:

plow 

Explanation:

A “wrench” is a tool used by a “mechanic,” so to solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices is a tool often used by a farmer. The correct answer is a “plow”; a “farmer” uses a “plow” to break up soil and allow seeds to be planted. It might be reasonable to assume that a farmer uses a “hammer” as well, but it is not anywhere near as closely associated with the profession of farming as a “plow” is. Other professions, like carpenters, might use hammers, but only farmers are associated with plows. To provide further help, another name for the profession of farming is “agriculture.” 

Example Question #2 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete this analogy.

Airplane is to pilot as ship is to __________.

Possible Answers:

captain

helm

principal

ocean

teacher

Correct answer:

captain

Explanation:

Just as a pilot flies a plane, a captain steers a ship, so "captain" is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete this analogy.

Hose is to firefighter as __________.

Possible Answers:

blueprint is to curator

frying pan is to doctor

plunger is to electrician

stethoscope is to meteorologist

easel is to artist

Correct answer:

easel is to artist

Explanation:

Since firefighters often use hoses while doing their job, we are looking for an answer in which the first word is an item that the occupation in the second word uses while working. The best answer choice is "easel is to artist," because artists often paint or sketch their creations on easels.

Example Question #4 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete this analogy.

Artist is to brush as __________.

Possible Answers:

soldier is to comb

surgeon is to scalpel

lawyer is to ball

chef is to drum

dancer is to phone

Correct answer:

surgeon is to scalpel

Explanation:

The analogy in question relates a profession to a tool associated with that profession. "Lawyer is to ball," "soldier is to comb," "dancer is to phone," and "chef is to drum" do not represent the given relationship. Artists often uses paintbrushes just as surgeons use scalpels, so "surgeon is to scalpel" is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete the analogy.

Wood is to carpenter as _____________.

Possible Answers:

shoe is to businessman

book is to magazine

stone is to mason

swimmer is to diver

banker is to teacher

Correct answer:

stone is to mason

Explanation:

A "carpenter" works with "wood," by definition, so the answer be a tool followed by its user. A mason similarly works with stone.

Example Question #6 : User To Tool Or Tool To User

Complete the analogy.

Electrician is to light bulb as _____________.

Possible Answers:

book is to author

cup is to water

taxi is to limousine

doctor is to nurse

plumber is to toilet

Correct answer:

plumber is to toilet

Explanation:

The key here is determining how the kind of person given relates to the given object. An "electrician" works with "light bulbs," or user to tool, so the answer must be a user and his tool. A "plumber" works with "toilets," so that must be the correct answer. None of the other answers describe a user-tool relationship. A "book" is a product made by an "author." A "cup" is a vessel for "water." "Nurses" are people, and thus cannot be a part of a user tool relationship.

Example Question #481 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Teachers are to students as doctors are to __________

Possible Answers:

sick

medicines

patients

workers

helpers

Correct answer:

patients

Explanation:

Doctors work with patients just as teachers work with students, so "patients" is the correct answer.

Example Question #482 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Fan is to air as hose is to __________.

Possible Answers:

power

handle

ice

electricity

water

Correct answer:

water

Explanation:

A fan moves air by blowing it around, so you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a hose moves. A hose moves water, so "water" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are things that are moved by hose, so none of them can be the correct answer.

Example Question #483 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Animal is to veterinarian as person is to __________.

Possible Answers:

businessperson

hotel

banker

doctor

hospital

Correct answer:

doctor

Explanation:

Since veterinarians help animals when they are sick or hurt, we need to pick out a word that represents an occupation whose practitioners help out people when they are sick or hurt. While both "doctor" and "hospital" may look like correct answers, "hospital" can't be the correct answer because it is the name of the place where people go when they are sick or hurt, and not the job title of the people who help them. "Doctor" is the correct answer because just like veterinarians help animals when they are injured, doctors help people when they are injured.

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