All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #381 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Gallant is to __________ as lukewarm is to scorching.
chronic
reclusive
fervent
tactful
craven
craven
"Lukewarm" means tepid, (of liquid) neither hot nor cold. And, "scorching" means very hot, blistering, burning. These two words are antonyms because they have opposite meanings. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "gallant" (brave, heroic). The correct answer is "craven" which means cowardly, pathetic, not heroic. Additionally, "fervent" means overly passionate; "chronic" means (of pain) constant; "tactful" means polite, knowing what one should and should not say; "reclusive" means prone to avoiding the company of others.
Example Question #382 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Idle is to active as polite is to __________.
lewd
inert
bashful
destitute
abject
lewd
"Idle" means not "active," lazy. So, "idle" and "active" are antonyms. To solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these words has the opposite meaning to "polite." The correct answer is "lewd," which means rude, inappropriate, crude and offensive. Additionally, "bashful" means shy and easily embarrassed; "destitute" means completely penniless, having no possessions; "inert" means motionless; "abject" means miserable.
Example Question #383 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Deteriorate is to improve as __________ is to conceal.
covet
flaunt
corroborate
dither
merit
flaunt
To "deteriorate" means (of a condition) to worsen, to become worse. "Deteriorate" is therefore an antonym of "improve." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "conceal." Well, "conceal" means to hide, to disguise, to not show to others. So, the correct answer is "flaunt," which means to display obnoxiously, to show off. Additionally, "corroborate" means offer evidence in support of someone else's testimony; "covet" means desire, want what someone else has; "dither" means hesitate, delay in doing something; "merit" means deserve, earn.
Example Question #384 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Rail is to extol as __________ is to disassemble.
originate
indict
array
benefit
cater
array
"Rail" means to launch into a verbal attack against. Whereas, "extol" means to laud, to praise something. These two words are therefore antonyms because they have opposite meanings, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "disassemble." Well, "disassemble" means to take apart, to separate. So, the correct answer is "array," which means to arrange, assemble, put together, line up. Additionally, "benefit" means help, provide an advantage; "indict" means formally accuse of a crime; "originate" means come from; "cater" means satisfy, meet the specific needs of someone.
Example Question #385 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Voluminous is to small as temerity is to __________.
shyness
boldness
concern
rebelliousness
avaricious
shyness
"Voluminous" means very big, so it is an antonym of small. To solve this analogy you have to find the best antonym for temerity. "Temerity" means boldness, so the correct answer is “shyness.” For clarification, "avaricious" means greedy.
Example Question #1 : Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Happy is to elated as sad is to __________.
parsimonious
miserable
cantankerous
ebullient
ungrateful
miserable
"Elated" means very happy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices means very sad. The correct answer is “miserable.” For clarification, "cantankerous" means grumpy; "parsimonious" means not generous; ebullient means cheerful.
Example Question #2 : Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Big is to bigger as bad is to __________.
None of these are correct
worse
better
worser
badder
worse
The word “bigger” is used to compare something that is “more big” than another something. We cannot say “more big” because it is incorrect use of language, so we say “bigger.” Likewise, we cannot say “more bad” as that too is incorrect use of English. To solve this analogy you have to determine which word is used to describe something that is “more bad.” The correct answer is “worse.” “Badder” is not a word.
Example Question #3 : Changes In Intensity
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Breeze is to hurricane as pretty is to __________.
happy
average
gorgeous
ugly
person
gorgeous
The relationship in "breeze is to hurricane" is an increase in degree. A hurricane is made up of much stronger winds than a breeze. The best choice is "gorgeous," as the word means very pretty, showing that same increase in degree. "Ugly" is an antonym of "pretty" and a "person" is someone who might be pretty. The other two choices, "average" and "happy," are completely unrelated to "pretty."
Example Question #510 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Enraged is to angry as __________.
vain is to sleepy
sad is to miserable
pierce is to spear
waist is to belt
ecstatic is to happy
ecstatic is to happy
“Enraged” is an adjective that means “very angry; furious,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two adjectives describing emotion, with the first one being a more extreme version of the second one. While “sad is to depressed,” “vain is to sleepy,” and “ecstatic is to happy” all consist of two words describing moods or emotions, “sad” is not a more extreme version of “miserable” (“of a person: wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable”), so “sad is to miserable” has its words in the incorrect order compared to the example and thus cannot be the correct answer. “Vain” is an adjective that means “having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth,” not “very sleepy,” so “vain is to sleepy” cannot be the correct answer either. “Ecstatic,” however, is an adjective that means “feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.” Because “ecstatic” means “very happy” just as “enraged” means “very angry,” “ecstatic is to happy” is the correct answer.
Example Question #511 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Eating is to feasting as __________.
sprinting is to running
sky is to air
hopscotch is to game
nice is to kind
walking is to running
walking is to running
The relationship in "eating is to feasting" is that while "eating" and "feasting" both mean consuming food, the word "feasting" has a more intense meaning that that of "eating." "Eat" means to take in for nourishment while "feast" means to eat a lot, often at great expense. There is an increase in degree between the words "eat" and "feast." The pair that shares this relationship is "walking is to running," so it is therefore the best choice. "Sprinting is to running" has the appropriate relationship but is in the reverse order and shows a decrease in degree, because "sprinting" is a less intense action than is "running". Because of this, it is not the appropriate choice. Considering the other choices, the "sky" is made up of "air", "nice" and "kind" are synonyms, and "hopscotch" is a type of "game."
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All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
