SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #332 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Color is to hue as __________.

Possible Answers:

speed is to rapidity

bird is to worm

hue is to paint

skeleton is to bones

anger is to peace

Correct answer:

speed is to rapidity

Explanation:

"Hue" is a noun that means "a color or shade," so "hue" and "color" are synonyms. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of a pair of nouns that are synonyms. While "hue is to paint" and "speed is to rapidity" may each look like potentially correct answers, "hue is to paint" cannot be the correct answer because while paint has a certain hue, "hue" is not a synonym of "paint." However, "speed" and "rapidity" are synonyms, just like "hue" and "color," so "speed is to rapidity" is the correct answer.

Example Question #333 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Erratic is to variable as __________.

Possible Answers:

potential is to definite

song is to sing

arid is to damp

frozen is to melted

frenetic is to hectic

Correct answer:

frenetic is to hectic

Explanation:

“Erratic” is an adjective that means “not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable,” while “variable” is an adjective that means “not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change.” So, “erratic” and “variable” are synonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of synonyms. While “arid is to damp” and “frenetic is to hectic” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “arid” is an adjective that means “having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation” when being used to describe a land or climate, making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “damp.” “Frenetic,” however, is an adjective that means “fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way,” while “hectic” is an adjective that means “full of incessant or frantic activity,” and because “frenetic” and “hectic” are synonyms, just as “erratic” and “variable” are synonyms, “frenetic is to hectic” is the correct answer.

Example Question #334 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Aboriginal is to indigenous as foreign is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

alien 

detached

coincidental

apathetic 

adamant

Correct answer:

alien 

Explanation:

"Aboriginal" and "indigenous" are two words used to describe people who are native to a particular area. To solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of "foreign." The correct answer is “alien,” which can mean someone from another country, as well as someone or something from outer-space. For clarification, "detached" means separate or aloof, "apathetic" means not caring, "coincidental" means happening due to chance, and "adamant" means stubborn or inflexible.

Example Question #335 : Analogies

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

Under the weather is to sick as weather the storm is to __________.

Possible Answers:

laud 

deride 

endure 

promote 

chaperone

Correct answer:

endure 

Explanation:

"Under the weather" is an English idiom that means to feel sick. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is most similar in meaning to the English idiom "weather the storm." "Weather the storm" means to endure something, so "endure" is the correct answer. For clarification, "laud" means to praise, "deride" means mock, and "chaperone" means accompany someone as their guardian when used as a verb.

Example Question #336 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Wily is to crafty as rancorous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

merciful 

vengeful 

tolerant 

patient 

forgiving

Correct answer:

vengeful 

Explanation:

Someone who is "wily" is also "crafty," as they have very similar meanings, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is most similar to rancorous. "Rancorous" means vengeful, angry and unforgiving.

Example Question #337 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Castigate is to scold as debunk is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Create

Destroy 

Hide 

Expose 

Exhibit 

Correct answer:

Expose 

Explanation:

"Castigate" means tell-off, scold or rebuke, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of "debunk." To "debunk" something means to expose or disprove it, so "expose" is the correct answer. For clarification, "exhibit" means to showcase or to present.

Example Question #338 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Raft is to float as storm is to __________.

Possible Answers:

danger

tempest

welfare

sun

calm

Correct answer:

tempest

Explanation:

A “raft,” a simple vessel used to cross water can also be called a “float.” Of the words the only one which means the same as “storm” is “tempest.” “Welfare” is somebody’s condition with respect to being happy and healthy.

Example Question #339 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lopsided is to uneven as revoke is to __________.

Possible Answers:

supplant 

cancel 

condemn 

laud 

begin 

Correct answer:

cancel 

Explanation:

"Lopsided" is a synonym of "uneven," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of "revoke." "Revoke" means to take something back or to cancel something previously granted, so the closest synonym is “cancel.” For clarification, "laud" means to praise and is an antonym of "condemn," which means to criticize, and "supplant" means replace.

Example Question #340 : Analogies

Complete the analogy:

Tiny is to minute as __________.

Possible Answers:

size is to small

landscape is to empty

colossal is to vast

deep is to abyss

narrow is to wide

Correct answer:

colossal is to vast

Explanation:

"Tiny" and "minute" are both adjectives that describe the size of something, and they are synonyms. Here, we are using the definition of "minute" that refers to something very tiny, not to  of an hour. Similarly, "Colossal" and "vast" are adjectives, and they both refer to the size of something, and they are synonyms. "Colossal" and "vast" both mean extremely large.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

An "abyss" is "deep", but abyss is a noun. Abyss means a vast, immeasurable chasm.

"Narrow and wide" are both adjectives, and both refer to the size of something, but they are opposites.

"Small" is an adjective that refers to size, but "size" is the general concept, not a synonym of small.

"Landscapes" can be "empty", but landscapes is a noun and empty is an adjective. Additionally, landscape and empty are not synonymous.

Example Question #211 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Sprint is to dart as wander is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dance 

meander 

jog

run 

skip 

Correct answer:

meander 

Explanation:

Sprint and dart are synonyms meaning to run quickly. Likewise, wander and meander are synonyms meaning to walk slowly or without set purpose. 

None of the other options are synonyms for wander, and therefore do not complete the analogy.

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