SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Specific Terminology and Homonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Animal Related Terminology

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mare is to horse as ewe is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Duck 

Male 

Cow 

Sheep 

Female 

Correct answer:

Sheep 

Explanation:

A "mare" is a female horse, so to solve this analogy, you need to figure out which animal "ewe" is a name for the female of. A "ewe" is a female sheep, so the correct answer is a “sheep.”

Example Question #2 : Animal Related Terminology

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Buck is to male as doe is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Female 

Male

Baby 

Animal 

Dear 

Correct answer:

Female 

Explanation:

A "buck" is a male deer, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out the gender of a "doe." A "doe" is a female deer, so "female" is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Animal Related Terminology

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Cow is to milk as chicken is to __________.

Possible Answers:

eggs

feathers

farm 

mammal 

bird 

Correct answer:

eggs

Explanation:

Milk is a product produced by cows, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a product that chickens produce. Eggs are a product produced by chickens, so "eggs" are the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Animal Related Terminology

Complete this analogy. 

Sheep is to herd as fish is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pack 

tribe 

family

pride 

school

Correct answer:

school

Explanation:

A group of sheep is called a “herd;” a group of fish is called a “school.” 

Example Question #1 : Animal Related Terminology

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Lion is to mammal as alligator is to __________.

Possible Answers:

shell

bird

reptile

gazelle

crocodile

Correct answer:

reptile

Explanation:

“Mammal” and "reptile" are both classes of animals.” “Lions” belong to the class “mammals” because they have hair, are warm-blooded, and give birth to live young. “Alligaotrs” belong to the class “reptiles” beacuse they have scaly skin, are cold blooded, and lay eggs.

Example Question #301 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Flock is to flamingos as __________.

Possible Answers:

bears are to hibernate

goats are to milk

reptiles are to snakes

fish are to pack

lions are to pride

Correct answer:

lions are to pride

Explanation:

A group of flamingos is called a flock. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice in which the first word is a name for a group of the second word. A group of lions is called a "pride," so "pride is to lions" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology And Homonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bear is to cub as __________.

Possible Answers:

hawk is to bird

deer is to doe

goose is to gosling

boy is to man

lion is to deer

Correct answer:

goose is to gosling

Explanation:

A baby bear is called a "cub," so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice in which the first word is an animal and the second word is a name for a baby animal of the first word's kind. A baby goose is called a "gosling," so "goose is to gosling" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Animal Related Terminology

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Feline is to cat as equine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Crow

Lion

Monkey

Horse

Dog

Correct answer:

Horse

Explanation:

"Feline" means having to do with cats or cat-like, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is the animal described by the word "equine." "Equine" means having to do with horses or horse-like, so "horse" is the correct answer. "Equine" doesn't have to do with any of the other animals listed.

Example Question #5 : Animal Related Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Beaver is to dam as spider is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fly

jungle

arachnid

web

spin

Correct answer:

web

Explanation:

Beavers build dams, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes something that spiders build. “Web,” “fly,” and “spin” might each look like a potentially correct answer; however, while spiders spin webs, spiders don’t build “spins,” so “spin” cannot be the correct answer. Similarly, while spiders use webs to catch flies, spiders don’t make flies, so “fly” cannot be the correct answer. Spiders do spin webs, however, just as beavers make dams, so “web” is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology And Homonyms

Complete this analogy.

Foal is to horse as __________.

Possible Answers:

dog is to puppy

mouse is to cheese

wings are to bee

kitten is to cat

ant is to anthill

Correct answer:

kitten is to cat

Explanation:

Since a "foal" is a young horse, we need to find another pair of words where the first word is the name for the young version of the animal that the second word represents. While "dog is to puppy" might seem like a good answer, the words are not in the same order as they are in "foal is to horse"; "foal is to horse" begins with the younger animal, whereas "dog is to puppy" ends with the younger animal, so it can't be the correct answer. "Kitten is to cat," however, has its words in the correct order, with the word for the younger animal coming first, and since a "kitten" is a young cat, "kitten is to cat" is the correct answer.

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