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 #391 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Hill is to mountain as pond is to __________.

Possible Answers:

river

lake

canoe

rain

beach

Correct answer:

lake

Explanation:

Since a mountain can be thought of as a really large hill, we need to pick out a word that can be thought of as a really large pond. While "lake," "river," and "rain" all have to do with water, "lake" is the best answer because a river involves flowing water, which a pond doesn't, and rain involves water falling from the sky, which a pond doesn't either. Since a lake can be thought of as a large pond, "lake" is the best answer.

Example Question #1 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Gale is to wind as __________.

Possible Answers:

ashes are to fire

downpour is to rain

fact is to fiction

vigilant is to surprise

rewind is to fast forward

Correct answer:

downpour is to rain

Explanation:

“Gale” is a noun that means “a very strong wind,” so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word represents a very strong version of the second word. While “ashes are to fire” and “downpour is to rain” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “ashes are to fire” cannot be the correct answer because “ashes” are defined as “the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance,” not “a large or powerful fire.” “Downpour,” however, when used as a noun, means “a heavy rainfall,” and because a downpour is a heavy rain just as a gale is a strong wind, “downpour is to rain” is the correct answer.

Example Question #511 : Analogies

Hungry is to ravenous as __________

Possible Answers:

thirsty is to guzzle

angry is to furious

flu is to fever

None of these answers accurately reflect the relationship.

happy is to satisfied

Correct answer:

angry is to furious

Explanation:

“Ravenous” is an adjective that means extremely hungry. Since “hungry” and “ravenous” are synonyms, and “ravenous” has a greater intensity than “hungry,” we’re looking for a pair of words that are synonyms, in which the second word has a higher intensity than the first.

 Since “fever” is a symptom of the “flu,” the words have a cause-and-effect relationship. The words aren’t synonyms. We can rule out this choice. 

 “Guzzle” is a verb that means to eat or drink something greedily. Although “guzzle” has a higher intensity than “thirsty,” the words aren’t synonyms. We can rule out this choice. 

 “Satisfied” is an adjective that means pleased or content. Though “happy” and “satisfied” have similar meanings, they intensity is about equal, so we can rule out this choice. 

 “Furious” is an adjective that means extremely angry. It is a synonymous with angry” with a higher intensity.

Of the answer choices, “ANGRY is to FURIOUS” is the best choice.

 

Example Question #2 : Changes In Intensity

Like is to abhor as __________.

Possible Answers:

happy is to miserable

hero is to villain

friend is to family

compliment is to insult

None of these answers accurately reflect the relationship.

Correct answer:

happy is to miserable

Explanation:

“Abhor” is a verb that means to hate or detest. Since “like” means to find agreeable or enjoyable, we’re looking for a pair of words in which the second word is opposite in meaning and higher in intensity.

“Compliment” and “insult” are antonyms with equal intensity, so we can rule out this choice.

“Hero” and “villain” are antonyms with equal intensity, so we can rule out this choice.

Although at times one might “like” their friends and “abhor” their family, “friend” and “family” are not antonyms. We can rule out this choice.

“Miserable” is an adjective that means wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable. It is an antonym to “happy” with a higher intensity.

Of the answer choices, “HAPPY is to MISERABLE” is the best choice.

Example Question #3 : Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Trounce is to __________ as eradicate is to destroy.

Possible Answers:

argue

defeat

mend

cause

rectify

Correct answer:

defeat

Explanation:

"Eradicate" means to completely destroy, to 'wipe something out.' It is a more intense version of the word "destroy." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "trounce" is a more intense version of. The correct answer is that "trounce" means to rout or to heavily "defeat." Additionally, "rectify" means to repair a situation, to fix a problem; "mend" means to repair a breakage, to fix something that is broken.

Example Question #392 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Knoll is to hill as __________ is to river.

Possible Answers:

cold

stream

ocean

estuary

water

Correct answer:

stream

Explanation:

A "knoll" is a small hill. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answers means something like small river. The correct answer is therefore "stream." Additionally, an "estuary" is the mouth of a river, the place where a river runs into the ocean.

Example Question #393 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Grove is to forest as principality is to __________.

Possible Answers:

kingdom

woods

prince

foreign

palace

Correct answer:

kingdom

Explanation:

A "grove" is the name given to a small "forest," a small wooded area. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words could describe a larger "principality." Well, a "principality" is a small, independent nation ruled by a prince. So, the correct answer is "kingdom."

Example Question #394 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Hamlet is to __________ as pebble is to stone.

Possible Answers:

island 

river 

mansion 

animal 

town 

Correct answer:

town 

Explanation:

A "pebble" is a small rock or stone. So, to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these a "hamlet" is a small version of. The correct answer is that a "hamlet" is a village, or a small "town." 

Example Question #395 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Dinghy is to boat as __________ is to lake.

Possible Answers:

pond

water

drink

ocean

river

Correct answer:

pond

Explanation:

A "dinghy" is a small "boat." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a word that describes a small "lake." The correct answer is "pond."

Example Question #1 : Animal Related Terminology

Purr is to cat as roar is to __________.

Possible Answers:

goat

lion

eagle

bee

dog

Correct answer:

lion

Explanation:

"Purr" describes a noise that cats make—it's even defined as "a low continuous vibratory sound, typically that made by a cat or vehicle." So, since cats purr, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes an animal that roars. Of the potential answer choices, only lions roar, so "lion" is the correct answer.

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