SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Part to Whole or Whole to Part

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #63 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Sailboat is to sail as __________.

Possible Answers:

mop is to handle

antique is to old

conversation is to interruption

bristles are to toothbrush

insistence is to stubbornness

Correct answer:

mop is to handle

Explanation:

A sail is part of a sailboat, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is a part of the first word. While "mop is to handle" and "bristles are to toothbrush" might each look like a potentially correct answer, a toothbrush is not a part of bristles, so "bristles are to toothbrush" cannot be the correct answer. A handle is part of a mop, however, just like a sail is part of a sailboat, so "handle is to mop" is the correct answer.

Example Question #64 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Hands are to fingers as feet are to __________.

Possible Answers:

fingernails

ears

toenails

elbows

toes

Correct answer:

toes

Explanation:

Hands have fingers attached to them, so to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which describes the appendages attached to feet. So, "toes" is the correct answer.

Example Question #65 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Knee is to leg as elbow is to __________

Possible Answers:

hand

arm

catch

hold

feet

Correct answer:

arm

Explanation:

The knee is a part of the leg that allows the leg to bend. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what whole thing the elbow is a part of. The correct answer is therefore "arm," because the elbow is a part of the arm that allows it to bend, just as the knee allowed the leg to bend.

Example Question #66 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Letter is to word as word is to __________.

Possible Answers:

write

painting

paper

sentence

typewriter

Correct answer:

sentence

Explanation:

Letters make up words, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice that describes something that words make up. Words make up sentences just as letters make up words, so "sentence" is the correct answer.

Example Question #67 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Sentences are to letters as songs are to __________.

Possible Answers:

sound

instruments 

notes

musicians 

pages 

Correct answer:

notes

Explanation:

Individual letters must be combined to create words, which are gathered together into meaningful sentences. In the same manner, individual notes must be combined to create lines of music in a song. 

Example Question #68 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Magazine is to article as ___________.

Possible Answers:

essay is to computer

book is to chapter

pen is to paper

homework is to student

journalist is to interview

Correct answer:

book is to chapter

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. An "article" is a part of a "magazine." Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'whole' is to 'part.'" A "chapter" is a part of a book, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #69 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Wheel is to car as __________.

Possible Answers:

garage is to house

house is to laundry

towel is to razor

driveway is to highway

seatbelt is to glove compartment

Correct answer:

garage is to house

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "wheel" is a part of a car. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'part' is to 'whole.'" A "garage" is a part of a house, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #81 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Sailboat is to mast as __________.

Possible Answers:

bike is to road

skateboard is to roller blades

passenger is to car

train is to track

airplane is to wing

Correct answer:

airplane is to wing

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "mast" is a part of a sailboat. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'whole' is to 'part.'" A "wing" is a part of a "plane," so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #88 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Light bulb is to lamp as __________.

Possible Answers:

page is to book

lamp is to outlet

light is to dark

chair is to book

room is to door

Correct answer:

page is to book

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "light bulb" is a part of a lamp. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'part' is to 'whole.'" A "page" is a part of a book, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #89 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Centaur is to horse as mermaid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

woman

magic

fish

sailor

ocean

Correct answer:

fish

Explanation:

A "centaur" is a mythological creature that is half-human and half-horse. So, to solve this analogy you need to figure out what a "mermaid" is made up of. The correct answer is that a "mermaid" is half-human and half-"fish."

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