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 #21 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Sow is to before as __________ is to after.

Possible Answers:

erect

grouse

boast

reap

elongate

Correct answer:

reap

Explanation:

You may have heard the expression "you reap what you sow" which will have helped you solve this analogy (always use whatever tools you have at your disposal when solving analogies, they are primarily about critical thinking and reasoning). If you did not make this connection it becomes necessary to know the following: The verb "sow" means to plant seeds that will later grow and need to be harvested. This is something you do "before" the crops can grow. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action that might be taken after the crops have grown. The correct answer is "reap" which means to harvest, to cut and collect crops. Additionally, "erect" means set up, stand up, put together; "elongate" means make or become longer; "grouse" means carp, complain, whine; "boast" means brag about, talk loudly about things you have achieved.

Example Question #22 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Malnourished is to __________ as dehydrated is to water.

Possible Answers:

food

money

love

help

work

Correct answer:

food

Explanation:

"Dehydrated" means dried, deprived of "water," thirsty, in need of "water." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these one might require if one were "malnourished." Well, "malnourished" means not supplied with enough "food" to be healthy, starving.

Example Question #23 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Mosque is to Islam as __________ is to Judaism.

Possible Answers:

prayer

synagogue

church

monastery

hymn

Correct answer:

synagogue

Explanation:

A "mosque" is a place of holy worship in the "Islamic" faith. So, to solve this analogy you simply need to determine which of these is a place of holy worship in the "Jewish" faith. The correct answer is "synagogue." Additionally, a "hymn" is a religious song; a "monastery" is a place where monks live and study.

Example Question #24 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Buccaneer is to ship as waitress is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bistro

sage

commodity

conundrum

brigand

Correct answer:

bistro

Explanation:

A "buccaneer" is a pirate. So, a place where a "buccaneer" might be found is a "ship." Which of these is a place where a "waitress" might be found? The correct answer is a "bistro," which is another word for a fancy cafe. Additionally, "conundrum" means problem with two possible solutions; "sage" means wise, wise person; a "commodity" is something of value; a "brigand" is another word for "buccaneer," pirate.

Example Question #25 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Hospice is to __________ as morgue is to dead.

Possible Answers:

thin

sick

untidy

young

brilliant

Correct answer:

sick

Explanation:

A "morgue" is a place where the "dead" are kept before being buried. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these might be kept or found in a "hospice." The correct answer is "sick" people. A "hospice" is a place where sick or old people are cared for.

Example Question #26 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete the analogy.

Field is to football as ____________.

Possible Answers:

cloud is to sky

ice is to freezer 

track is to racing

customer is to store

car is to dealership

Correct answer:

track is to racing

Explanation:

The correct answer is "track is to racing."

The activity of football takes place on a field. We want to look for a similar relationship for the second part of the analogy. 

The activity of racing takes place on a track, completing the analogy.

Example Question #27 : Location, Time, Or Context

Complete this analogy.

Introduction is to beginning as ________________.

Possible Answers:

battery is to charger

conclusion is to end

achievement is to trophy

paragraph is to essay

author is to journal

Correct answer:

conclusion is to end

Explanation:

An introduction occurs at the beginning of a book, event, etc. Similarly a conclusion occurs at the end, making that the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Perilous is to danger as jocular is to . . .

Possible Answers:

humor

silence

fervor

platitudes

athleticism

Correct answer:

humor

Explanation:

Since "perilous" means "full of danger; dangerous," we need to pick out a word which describes what someone "jocular" is full of or characterized by. Since "jocular" means "fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful," "humor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy

Warlock is to magical as gymnast is to __________.

Possible Answers:

notorious 

indolent

laughable 

intelligent 

flexible

Correct answer:

flexible

Explanation:

A characteristic commonly associated with a warlock is to be magical, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a common characteristic of a gymnast. Gymnasts are usually "flexible," so that is the correct answer. For clarification, "notorious" means to be famous for the wrong reasons; "indolent" means lazy or lethargic.

Example Question #2 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Cigarette is to detrimental as apple is to _________.

Possible Answers:

harmful 

deleterious

injurious 

helpful 

hurtful 

Correct answer:

helpful 

Explanation:

A quality associated with cigarettes is that they are “detrimental” to your health. "Detrimental" means not helpful, causing negative consequences. To solve this analogy you have to determine what impact an apple would likely have on someone’s health. The correct answer is that an apple is “helpful.” For clarification, the other four answer choices are synonyms of one another and of detrimental.

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