SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Qualities and Features

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #601 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Stripes are to zebra as __________.

Possible Answers:

hair is to cats

gills are to fish

chromes are to colors

spots are to dalmatian

stars are to moon

Correct answer:

spots are to dalmatian

Explanation:

Zebras have a striped coloring pattern, so we are looking for an answer in which the first word depicts a pattern that is often found on the second word. The best answer is "spots are to dalmatian" because dalmatians (a breed of dog) typically have numerous black spots on their bodies.

Example Question #11 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Boiling is to steam as frozen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

rain 

icicle

water

ice 

cold 

Correct answer:

ice 

Explanation:

When water undergoes the process of “boiling,” it turns into “steam.” “Boiling” means heated to the temperature at which something bubbles and turns from liquid to gas. To solve this analogy, you need to determine what water becomes when it has been “frozen"; the correct answer is “ice.” You might say “icicle,” but an “icicle” is a specific type of “ice” that can only occur in certain situations. “Ice” is a much better option.

Example Question #603 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Flammable is to burn as __________.

Possible Answers:

audible is to see

smelly is to stinky

legible is to read

tangible is to hear

descriptive is to detailed

Correct answer:

legible is to read

Explanation:

“Flammable” is an adjective that means “easily set on fire,” so things that are flammable are able to be burned. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is an adjective describing things to which one can easily do what the second word says. While “legible is to read,” “audible is to see,” and “tangible is to hear” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “audible” means “able to be heard,” so something that is audible is able to be heard, not seen, making “see” the incorrect verb and “audible is to see” an incorrect answer. Similarly, “tangible” means “perceptible by touch,” so “hear” is not the correct verb, making “tangible is to hear” another incorrect answer. “Legible,” however, is an adjective that is used of handwriting or print and means “clear enough to read,” so things that are legible can be read, just as things that are flammable can be burned, so “legible is to read” is the correct answer.

Example Question #12 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Hot is to lava as cold is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ice

warm

rock

tree

chilly

Correct answer:

ice

Explanation:

Since "hot" is a word that describes the temperature of lava, we need to pick out a word describing something that is cold. While "chilly" might look like a good answer, "chilly" actually means the same thing as "cold," so it can't be the correct answer, because "chilly" is not a thing which is cold. "Ice," on the other hand, is a thing which is cold, so "ice" is the correct answer.

Example Question #13 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Fragile is to vase as flammable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ice

kindling

music

freeze

weather

Correct answer:

kindling

Explanation:

“Fragile” is an adjective that means “easily broken” when referring to an object, “vulnerable” when referring to a person. A vase could be described as fragile, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun conveying something that is flammable. While “kindling” and “ice” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “ice” cannot be accurately described as flammable, so “ice” cannot be the correct answer. “Kindling,” however, is a noun that can mean “easily combustible small sticks or twigs used for starting a fire,” so because kindling is flammable just as a vase is fragile, “kindling” is the correct answer.

Example Question #606 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Wooden is to table as frozen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

rug

icicle

flame

gravel

shoes

Correct answer:

icicle

Explanation:

Since a table can be wooden, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes an object that can be frozen. While all the answer choices are nouns, only icicles are made of ice. Since icicles are the only things that are frozen among the listed answer choices, "icicle" is the correct answer.

Example Question #14 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Fire is to hot as __________.

Possible Answers:

height is to tall

free is to bound

red is to blue

crazy is to sane

liquid is to wet

Correct answer:

liquid is to wet

Explanation:

A characteristic of fire is that it is hot, just as a characteristic of a liquid is that it is wet. So, "liquid is to wet" is the correct answer.

Example Question #595 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Water is to wet as __________.

Possible Answers:

crumble is to sand

earth is ground

fire is to stone

ice is to cold

mountain is to trees

Correct answer:

ice is to cold

Explanation:

In the phrase, "water is to wet," the relationship between the words is that the second word describes the first word. "Wet" describes "water," as it is a characteristic of water

The only answer that follows this same relationship is "ice is to cold," as ice has the quality of being cold.

Example Question #596 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Swear is to oath as author is to __________.

Possible Answers:

page

read

writer 

story 

publish 

Correct answer:

story 

Explanation:

An “oath” is a promise or commitment of loyalty to someone or something. An “oath” is something you “swear,” so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is related to the verb “author.” An “author” is someone who writes books, and to "author” something means to write it. Of the provided answer choices, the only thing that one can "author" is a "story." To provide further help, “publish” means share a story with the world by making it available to readers.

Example Question #591 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Fighter is to strong as dancer is to __________

Possible Answers:

pensive 

serene 

agile 

determined 

timid 

Correct answer:

agile 

Explanation:

Being “strong” is a characteristic usually associated with being a “fighter,” so to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these answer choices is a word often associated with a “dancer.” The correct answer is “agile,” which means having good balance and athleticism. To provide further help, “serene” means peaceful; “determined” means hard-working and wanting to succeed very badly; “pensive” means thinking a lot about something; and “timid” means quiet and shy.

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