SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #32 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Peony is to flower as __________.

Possible Answers:

bat is to mammal

color is to purple

mark is to indicate

computer is to electricity

seed is to germinate

Correct answer:

bat is to mammal

Explanation:

A "peony" is a type of flower, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a type or example of the second. While “color is to purple” and “bat is to mammal” might each seem like a potentially correct answer, “color is to purple” cannot be the correct answer because “color” is not an example of a “purple.” A bat is an example of a mammal, however, just as a peony is an example of a flower, so “bat is to mammal” is the correct answer.

Example Question #41 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Fruit is to pear as __________.

Possible Answers:

bee is to honey

fruitful is to ineffective

apple is to orchard

cereal is to bowl

planet is to Mars

Correct answer:

planet is to Mars

Explanation:

A pear is an example of a fruit, so we need to pick out another answer choice in which the first word is a category and the second word is an item that falls into that category. While" fruitful is to ineffective" may look like a good answer choice because it uses the word "fruitful" and our first set of words included the word "fruit," "fruitful" and "ineffective" are antonyms, not a category and an item in that category, so "fruitful is to ineffective" cannot be the correct answer. Similarly, "apple is to orchard" may also sound like a good answer because like "fruit is to pear," it mentions fruit; however, "apple is to orchard" represents an item and a place where it is produced, not a category and an item in that category, so "apple is to orchard" is not the correct answer either. However, in the answer "planet is to Mars,"  Mars is an example of a planet, just like a pear is an example of a fruit, so "planet is to Mars" is the correct answer.

Example Question #161 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Orchid is to flower as ruby is to __________.

Possible Answers:

red

gold

gemstone

necklace

mine

Correct answer:

gemstone

Explanation:

Since an orchid is a kind of flower, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what red is a kind of. While "red" might look like a good answer because "ruby" can refer to a color that is a deep shade of red, we're not looking for a pair of synonyms, but a category into which "ruby" falls. Since a ruby is a kind of gemstone, "gemstone" is the correct answer.

Example Question #162 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Calculus is to mathematics as chemistry is to __________.

Possible Answers:

biology 

science 

history 

psychology

religious studies

Correct answer:

science 

Explanation:

"Calculus" is a type of mathematics, so to solve this analogy you have to determine to which of these subjects chemistry belongs. The correct answer is “science.”

Example Question #163 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Waltz is to dance as jazz is to __________.

Possible Answers:

repetition

steps

symphony

music

rock

Correct answer:

music

Explanation:

A “waltz” is a type of “dance,” just as "jazz" is a type of "music." To clarify the other terms, “repetition” is the act of doing things over and over again; a "symphony" is a long musical composition.

Example Question #164 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Tree is to deciduous as cat is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tiger

feline

animal

long-haired

canine

Correct answer:

long-haired

Explanation:

Since "deciduous" is a word that describes certain kinds of trees, we need to pick out a word that describes certain kinds of house cats. While "feline" and "long-haired" both seem to be potentially correct answers, "feline" describes all cats, not just certain kinds, so it can't be the correct answer. "Long-haired" is the correct answer because just as certain trees are deciduous, certain cats are long-haired.

Example Question #165 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Virtue is to generosity as vice is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sympathy

kindness 

honesty 

empathy

greed 

Correct answer:

greed 

Explanation:

"Generosity," which means kindness, is generally considered a "virtue," or a positive characteristic. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is considered a "vice," or a negative attribute. "Greed" is the only answer choice that has a negative connotation, so the correct answer is that “greed” is a vice.

Example Question #166 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

America is to Republic as Saudi Arabia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

oil 

nation 

Middle East 

monarchy 

None of these answers

Correct answer:

monarchy 

Explanation:

America is governed as a Republic, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice describes the government of Saudi Arabia. The test would never ask you to recall specific historical or political facts like this, so you can be sure when you see questions like this that everything you need to solve the analogy is in the analogy. You might not know that Saudi Arabia is governed as a monarchy, but you can probably determine that monarchy is the only answer choice that is a system of government. You need to know the relationship of the first two words!

Example Question #167 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Pungent is to olfactory as bright is to __________.

Possible Answers:

visual

honest

dark

clever

silent

Correct answer:

visual

Explanation:

“Pungent” means strong-smelling and “olfactory” means related to the sense of smell. So something that is "pungent" is detected by your "olfactory" sense. Similarly, something that is “bright” is detected by your “visual” sense.

Example Question #163 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Dinosaur is to pterodactyl as dessert is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sweetness

insect

damage

water

brownie

Correct answer:

brownie

Explanation:

A pterodactyl is a kind of dinosaur, so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a kind of dessert. While both "water" and "brownie" may look like potentially correct answer choices because each can be consumed by humans, "brownie" is the correct answer, because while "water" is not a kind of a desert, "brownie" is.

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