All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Abilities
Complete the analogy.
Kangaroo is to jump as __________.
ride is to bike
drive is to car
baby is to child
lawnmower is to cut
lemonade is to drink
lawnmower is to cut
One ability of kangaroos is to jump. Since "kangaroo" is first and the ability is second, the answer needs to follow the same format. "Lemonade" is a type of "drink" and "baby" is a type of "child," so these answers can be eliminated. While a car can be driven and a biken can be riden, the order is incorrect. The only answer that fits is that a "lawnmower" can "cut."
Example Question #5 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Bark is to dog as __________ is to wolf.
hunt
howl
cat
puppy
pack
howl
"Bark" is the sound made by a "dog," so to solve this analogy you simply need to determine what sound a "wolf" makes. The correct answer is "howl." When solving analogies your first step is always to figure out the relationship between the words in the question - in this case the relationship was the sound a "dog" makes is a "bark," what is the sound a wolf makes?
Example Question #6 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Feather is to fly as fin is to __________.
fish
breathe
walk
swim
bird
swim
A "feather" is used by birds to help them to "fly." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which action is helped by the use of a "fin." Well, a "fin" is part of the body of a fish that is used to help fish to "swim."
Example Question #7 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Sleep is to indoors as __________ is to outdoors.
night
sun
sail
moon
bed
sail
"Sleep" is an action that one generally undertakes "indoors." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action usually done "outdoors." The correct answer is to "sail." Although the "sun" and "moon" are both "outdoors," they are objects not actions.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
MISTAKE
Error
Detraction
Solution
Mystery
Detail
Error
The prefix "mis-" means not, wrong, or bad, and the word “mistake” means something done wrong, or an "error." To provide further help, a “solution” is an idea about how to fix a problem; a "detraction" is something that takes away from a positive state of something else; a "mystery" is a situation in which something is unknown or a book, movie, or play involving the solving of a crime that is difficult to understand; and a "detail" is a specific aspect of something.
Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DEFUNCT
Tiresome
Broken
Brief
Penniless
Passive
Broken
“Defunct” means no longer working or in existence. As such, it is most similar to the word “unusable," which means not able to be used. In this word, the negative prefix "un-" means not and makes "unusable" mean the opposite of "usable." To provide further help, “penniless” means completely poor and without possessions; “tiresome” means boring; “passive” means not fighting, peaceful, or not aggressive; and “brief" means lasting for a short time or concise.
Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL
Citizen
Foreigner
Extraordinary
Alien
Ordinary
Alien
"Extraterrestrial" means alien when used as an adjective, and an "extraterrestrial" is is an alien. So, "alien" is the correct answer. To help you understand the formation of words, consider that "terrestrial" means from the earth and in this context, the prefix "extra-" means something other than. So an extraterrestrial is something from somewhere other than the earth. To help you further, "extraordinary" means something other than ordinary, "ordinary" means normal, a "foreigner" is someone from another country, and a "citizen" is a member of a nation.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
HYPERSENSITIVE
Insensitive
Quite sensitive
Senseless
Overly sensitive
Pertaining to the senses
Overly sensitive
If you are “hypersensitive” you are overly sensitive to things. For example, you may easily have your feelings hurt. The prefix "hyper-" usually means overly.
Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
SURPASS
Exceed
Motorway
Throw
Recede
High
Exceed
To “surpass” is to go beyond or to become better than someone or something. “Exceed” also means to go beyond the limit of something or to become better than someone or something. Look for prefixes like "sur-" and "ex-" where "sur-" can mean above and "ex-" can mean out of. To further help you, “recede” means to go back, so you can say waves “recede” on the shore.
Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
UNACCEPTABLE
Meticulous
Intolerable
Unmitigated
Incomprehensible
Domesticity
Intolerable
The prefix "un-" is a negation prefix and usually means not, so the word “unacceptable” means not acceptable. Of the answer choices, this is closest in meaning to “intolerable,” which means not tolerable. The prefix "in-" is used very much like the prefix "un-." To provide further help, “unmitigated” means not mitigated, pure; “domesticity” is life inside the home; “meticulous” means careful, paying great attention to detail; “incomprehensible” means not able to be understood.
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All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
