All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #452 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Colossal is to minuscule as __________.
pan is to cook
flower is to stem
night is to day
kindle is to flame
fragrance is to smell
night is to day
"Colossal" is an adjective that means "very big," and "minuscule" an adjective that means "very small," so the two words are antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out another pair of words that are also antonyms. Because "night is to day" is the only answer choice in which the two words are opposites, "night is to day" is the correct answer.
Example Question #45 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Recalcitrant is to obedient as pedantic is to __________.
resourceful
insightful
interesting
delirious
boring
interesting
"Recalcitrant" means unruly and disobedient, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym for "pedantic." "Pedantic" means boring in paying too much attention to unimportant details, so the best antonym is "interesting." For clarification, someone who is "insightful" is discerning, someone who is "resourceful" is capable, and "delirious" means crazy or feverish.
Example Question #451 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Congenial is to disagreeable as debilitating is to __________.
diabolical
impressive
strengthening
weakening
underwhelming
strengthening
"Congenial" means agreeable, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "debilitating." "Debilitating" means greatly weakening, so the best antonym is “strengthening.” For clarification, "diabolical" means evil.
Example Question #454 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Prone is to standing as __________.
up is to down
seedling is to tree
likely is to probable
chicken is to egg
toast is to bread
up is to down
Since one meaning of "prone" is "lying flat, especially face downward," the first pair of words is a pair of antonyms, since "lying flat" and "standing" are opposites. We need to pick out another pair of words that form a pair of opposites. Since "up is to down" is the only answer choice that consists of a pair of opposites, it is the correct answer.
Example Question #455 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Paltry is to significant as harangue is to __________.
Notorious
Permit
Pompous
Praise
Detrimental
Praise
"Paltry" means insignificant or very small. To solve this analogy, you have to determine the best antonym of "harangue." "Harangue" means rebuke or scold, so “praise" is the best antonym and the correct answer. For clarification, "detrimental" means harmful, "notorious" means infamous, "pompous" means arrogant and pretentious, and "permit" means allow.
Example Question #456 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Graceful is to clumsy as irredeemable is to ___________.
Outlawed
Determined
Curable
Radical
Itinerant
Curable
"Graceful" means possessing good balance or elegant, and "clumsy" means not having good balance or uncoordinated. To solve this analogy, you have to identify the best available antonym of "irredeemable." "Irredeemable" means not able to be saved or forgiven, and as such, the word that is its best antonym is “curable.” For clarification, "outlawed" means banned, "itinerant" means wandering or without a home, "radical" means total or revolutionary, and "determined" means strong-willed or resolute.
Example Question #457 : Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Dawn is to dusk prologue is to ___________.
glossary
rewind
epilogue
synopsis
index
epilogue
“Dawn” is means sunrise and “dusk” means sunset, so they are opposites. The opposite of a “prologue” is an “epilogue.” A “prologue” is an introduction to a piece of literature and an “epilogue” is a conclusion. To clarify, a “glossary” is where you find explanations to terms within a book; an “index” is where you can search for terms or items which occur in a book; a “synopsis” is the short description found on the back cover of a book and is often called a "blurb."
Example Question #331 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Product is to knockoff as innovator is to __________.
predecessor
fan
copycat
mentor
rival
copycat
“Knockoff” is a noun that means a less-expensive imitation of a specific product, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes someone who is an imitator of an innovator. While both “fan” and “copycat” might look like potentially correct answers, “fan” in this context means admirer or devotee, and makes no mention of the fan copying the person they admire, whereas “copycat,” when used as a noun, means a person who copies something, especially someone else's mannerisms. So, because a copycat imitates an innovator just as a knockoff is an imitation of a product, “copycat” is the correct answer.
Example Question #459 : Analogies
Plain is to decorated as stark is to __________.
opulent
luxurious
ornate
pretty
delicate
ornate
“Plain” is an adjective that means not decorated or elaborate, so the words are antonyms. “Stark” is an adjective that means bare or without decoration, so we’re looking for the word that has the closest meaning to “decorated.” While things that are “decorated” may also be “pretty” or “delicate,” the words aren’t close synonyms. The same applies to “luxurious” and “opulent.” “Ornate” is an adjective that means elaborately decorated.
Of the answer choices, “ornate” is the best choice.
Example Question #332 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
False is to true as fake is to __________.
moral
authentic
accurate
original
honest
authentic
As we all know, “true” and “false” are direct antonyms. “Fake” is an adjective that means not genuine, so we’re looking for the word that has the closest meaning to “genuine.” “Authentic” is an adjective that means genuine and true, not fake.
Of the answer choices, “authentic” is the best choice.
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