All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #51 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Alter is to altar as __________.
paper is to stack
cannon is to canon
ale is to mail
buy is to bought
hole is to fill
cannon is to canon
"Alter" and "altar" mean different things, but they sound the same, so they're homophones. Look for an answer that has two words that sound the same but have different meanings. Since "cannon" sounds like "canon" but means something completely different, "cannon is to canon" is the best choice. "Ale" and "mail" rhyme, but they don't sound exactly the same when spoken.
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Typewriter is to type as mouse is to __________.
withdraw
click
chop
store
click
One uses a typewriter to type, so we need to pick out an answer choice that isa verb that describes what one uses a mouse to do. While “mouse” can mean “a small rodent,” it can also mean “a small handheld device used to move the cursor on a computer screen.” Given the potential answer choices, one can infer that “mouse” is being used to describe the device, not the animal. While “click” and “print” might each look like a potentially correct answer choice, one does not use a mouse to print things, so “print” cannot be the correct answer; however, one does use a mouse to click things, just as one uses a typewriter to type, so “click” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Bill is to duck as __________.
hoof is to cow
easy is to difficult
paper is to seal
swan is to office
tree is to apple
hoof is to cow
What does "bill" mean? It can mean a suggestion for a law that has not yet been signed into law, one piece of paper money, a part of a hat, or the beak of certain types of birds. Pick the meaning that fits best with the other word, "duck," which is a bird's beak. Then choose the answer that best matches this relationship: part of something is to the whole thing. The best fit is "hoof is to cow," because "hoof" refers to a part of a cow. "Tree is to apple" might work, but it would have to be switched around: "apple is to tree."
Example Question #4 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Tutor is to tutor as __________.
teacher is to teach
flog is to fog
driver is to drive
phone is to phone
sun is to son
phone is to phone
The phrase in question relates to a homograph and plays on its different meanings. Recognize that the word "tutor" has two meanings; it can be used as a noun meaning a personal teacher, or as a verb meaning to act as a tutor for someone. "Teacher is to teach" is similar to "tutor is to tutor" because a "teacher" is similar to a "tutor," but "teacher" and "teach" are not a single word with multiple meanings like "tutor." "Driver is to drive" is similar in almost the same fashion, but is also incorrect. "Sun is to son" is tempting, but it is a homophone (two words that sound alike but are spelled differently and mean different things) rather than a homograph like "tutor." The correct answer is "phone" because it also has two meanings, one which is a noun (telephone or cellular communication device) and one that is a verb (to use a phone to call someone).
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Happiness is to cheer as might is to __________.
strength
uncertain
want
certain
weakness
strength
"Happiness" and "cheer" are synonyms, which means that they mean the same thing. So, to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice which means the same thing as "might. While "might" can be used to express that someone may or may not do something in sentences like "She might go to the movies tonight," it can also mean strength when used as a noun. So, "strength" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Dangerous is to harmful as crucial is to __________.
punch
key
official
damaging
sad
key
"Dangerous" and "harmful" are synonyms because they both mean the same thing. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "crucial." "Crucial" means very important. When none of the answer choices may initially look correct, you should see if you can consider any secondary meanings the answer choices might have. While "key" can mean a device used to open a lock when used as a noun, it can also mean most important when used as an adjective. So, "key" is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to "crucial."
Example Question #3 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Finish is to coating as draw is to __________.
slide
tie
painting
gun
close
tie
"Finish” can mean the final coating on a surface or the appearance produced by such a coating. So, a “finish” is a “coating.” “Finish” is more commonly used to mean end or complete, but for this analogy, you need to know one of the secondary meanings of the word. “Draw,” like “finish,” can mean a lot of different things. Commonly “draw” means leave (a contest) undecided; a "draw" can also be called a “tie.” If you chose "gun," "painting," or "close," you were probably thinking of the different meanings of “draw,” but they do not fit the analogy perfectly.
Example Question #1 : Distinguishing Part Of Speech
Complete this analogy.
Ruby is to red as __________.
fur is to soft
dream is to asleep
fence is to wooden
grass is to green
sun is to blue
grass is to green
“Ruby” is a noun that can mean a red gem or a deep red color, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first noun is an object that is the color that the second word, an adjective, describes, or an answer choice in which the two words are synonyms. None of the answer choices consist of a pair of synonyms, so we will need to look for an answer choice that consists of an object and the color of that object. While “grass is to green” and “sun is to blue” may each look like a potentially correct answer, the sun is not blue, so “sun is to blue” cannot be the correct answer. However, grass is often green just like rubies are red, so “grass is to green” is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning Or Part Of Speech From Context
Complete this analogy.
Wind is to clock as __________.
sewer is to trash
spin is to top
desk is to paper
student is to teacher
old is to young
spin is to top
"Wind" has a few meanings, including the movement of air and tighten a spring. Only the last meaning has something to do with a "clock" - some clocks are wound so they keep running. So look for an answer that has the relationship of something done to something it's done to. The best match is "spin is to top", as tops, the toys, can be spun.
Example Question #11 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Cardinal is to bird as __________.
tree is to wood
interesting is to engaging
poodle is to dog
ugly is to beautiful
cat is to siamese
poodle is to dog
One definition of "cardinal" is a type of bird of which the male birds are bright red. Since a cardinal is a bird, look for an answer that consists of a word and a category into that word fits. The best match is "poodle is to dog," as a poodle is a type of dog. "Cat is to tiger" would work if it was in the other order - "tiger is to cat."
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