SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #401 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Bedridden is to __________ as curt is to brief.

Possible Answers:

stationary

ponderous

intractable

infirm

gleaming

Correct answer:

infirm

Explanation:

"Curt" means "brief" in a rude manner. "Curt" and "brief" are loosely synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is closest in meaning to "bedridden." "Bedridden" means so sick as to be forced to remain in bed. So, the correct answer is "infirm," which means very sick. Additionally, "ponderous" means slow-moving; "intractable" means stubborn, refusing to change ones mind; "gleaming" means shiny, sparkling; "stationary" means not moving, remaining in one place, fixed in place.

Example Question #402 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Coliseum is to stadium as __________ is to tyrant.

Possible Answers:

pauper

despot

philistine

fissure

brigand

Correct answer:

despot

Explanation:

A "coliseum" is another word for a "stadium." These words are synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "tyrant." Well, a "tyrant" is an autocratic and cruel ruler who has absolute power over their country. This is identical in meaning to "despot." Additionally, a "pauper" is a very poor person who has to beg for money; a "brigand" is a pirate; a "philistine" is an uncultured person; a "fissure" is a crack, a split.

Example Question #421 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete the analogy.

Alarmed is to frightened as _________________.

Possible Answers:

bleach is to clothes

logical is to nonsense

gloom is to depression

gritty is to to smooth

clear is to foggy

Correct answer:

gloom is to depression

Explanation:

The correct answer is "gloom is to depression."

This is an analogy that expresses a synonym relationship. "Alarmed and frightened" have a similar meaning, making them synonyms. "Gloom and depression" also have similar definitions, which correctly completes the analogy. 

Example Question #422 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Monologue is to soliloquy as underling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lassitude

syndicate

repository

subaltern

philistine

Correct answer:

subaltern

Explanation:

"Monologue" and "soliloquy" are synonyms, both words refer to a speech given by one single actor during a play. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "underling" (a person of lower-rank, a subordinate). The correct answer is "subaltern." Additionally, "lassitude" is exhaustion, weariness; a "philistine" is an uncultured person; a "syndicate" is a collection of people who have a similar interest and are working together to further that interest; a "repository" is a place for storing things.

Example Question #423 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Novelty is to outdatedness as dull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

warp

sharp

tedious

ennui

gull

Correct answer:

sharp

Explanation:

Since "novelty" means "the quality or state of being new, different, and interesting," and "outdatedness" means "the quality of no longer being useful, acceptable, modern, or current," "novelty" and "outdatedness" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "dull." While "ennui" may look like a good answer choice, "ennui" means "a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest," so while one might feel ennui at the prospect of doing something dull, "ennui" does not mean the opposite of "dull," so it can't be the correct answer. "Sharp," however, is an antonym of "dull" when "dull" is used to mean "having an edge or point that is not sharp," so "sharp" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Antonyms

Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .

Possible Answers:

verdant

correctable

incipient

legible

corrugated

Correct answer:

correctable

Explanation:

Since someone who is generous is not miserly ("hating to spend money"), the two words are antonyms, so we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "incorrigible." "Incorrigible" is an adjective that refers to people or their tendencies, and means "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed." While "corrugated" sounds somewhat like "incorrigible," "corrugated" means "shaped into alternate ridges and grooves" and is used with materials, surfaces, and structures. Since "corrugated" is not an opposite of "incorrigible," it can't be the correct answer. "Correctable," however, means the opposite of "incorrigible," so "correctable" is the correct answer.

Example Question #424 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Candor is to falsehood as __________.

Possible Answers:

dirty is to soiled

distance is to map

happiness is to misery

genius is to brilliant

anger is to fury

Correct answer:

happiness is to misery

Explanation:

"Candor" is a noun that means "the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness," so it is an antonym of "falsehood." That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of antonyms. While "anger is to fury" might look like a potentially correct answer, "anger" and "fury" are synonyms, not antonyms, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Happiness is to misery," however, is the correct answer, because just as "candor" is an antonym of "falsehood," "happiness" is an antonym of "misery."

Example Question #425 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

worried

mad

sad

confused

pleased

Correct answer:

pleased

Explanation:

"Hazy" and "clear" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "livid." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry." So, "mad" cannot be the correct answer, because while "mad" and "livid" are synonyms, we are not looking for synonyms, but antonyms. "Pleased," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, esp. at an event or a situation," and because "pleased" is the answer choice that is most nearly an antonym of "livid," "pleased" is the correct answer.

Example Question #426 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Doubt is to trust as __________.

Possible Answers:

hurry is to hustle

heal is to wound

howl is to yowl

dig is to ditch

hop is to jump

Correct answer:

heal is to wound

Explanation:

“Doubt” is a word that when used as a verb can mean “ feel uncertain about,” “question the truth or fact of (something),” or “disbelieve (a person or their word).” “Trust,” on the other hand, when used as a verb, means “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.” So, “doubt” and “trust” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which consists of a pair of antonyms. While “hurry is to hustle” might look like a potentially correct answer choice, “hurry” means “move or act with haste; rush” when used as a verb, and “hustle” can be used as a verb that means “hurry; bustle,” so the two words are synonyms, not antonyms, and “hurry is to hustle” cannot be the correct answer. “Heal is to wound,” however, consists of a pair of antonyms, because “wound” can mean “inflict an injury on (someone)” whereas heal can mean “cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again” when used of a person or treatment. So, because “heal” and “wound” are opposites just as “doubt” and “trust” are opposites, “heal is to wound” is the correct answer.

Example Question #427 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy

Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fat

tall

small

cute 

ugly 

Correct answer:

ugly 

Explanation:

"Corpulent" means fat, so it is an antonym of skinny. In order to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for comely. "Comely" means cute, so the best antonym is “ugly.”

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