SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Changes in Intensity

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Pink is to red as __________.

Possible Answers:

reptile is to mammal

meal is to dessert

hard is to soft

warm is to hot

origin is to birth

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 #12 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Sad is to miserable as angry is to __________

Possible Answers:

irritated

calm

furious

inactive

pious

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 #13 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Blue is to navy as red is to __________.

Possible Answers:

scarlet

purple

burgundy

orange

pink

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 #14 : Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to drenched as __________.

Possible Answers:

dry is to desert

tornado is to wind

step is to stair 

upset is to angry

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 #15 : Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Cry is to sob as walk is to __________.

Possible Answers:

work

run

pause

joke

sit

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 #16 : Changes In Intensity

Pretty is to exquisite as ugly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

attractive 

grotesque 

plain

similar

safe 

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 #17 : Changes In Intensity

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 #18 : Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Clean is to spotless as ______________.

Possible Answers:

dirty is to filthy

pen is to writing

trashcan is to trash

laundry is to washer

mop is to floor

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 #19 : Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Wet is to soaked as _______________.

Possible Answers:

yellow is to green

desert is to barren

ocean is to beach

car is to carwash

dry is to arid

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.

Example Question #20 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Strong is to strongest as ___________________.

Possible Answers:

weak is to weaker

quiet is to whisper

loud is to loudest

bright is to light 

tough is to inflexible

Correct answer:

loud is to loudest

Explanation:

Since strongest is the greatest intensity of the word "strong," we are looking for an answer choice that has one word (e.g., strong) and the other word functions as the greatest intensity of that first word (e.g., strongest). The only answer choice that fits this criterion is "Loud is to loudest."

"Weak is to weaker" is not the best answer choice because weaker is not the greatest intensity of the word "weak," weakest would make this answer choice correct.

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