SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #781 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Tangible is to feel as __________.

Possible Answers:

audible is to see

see is to visible

snag is to rip

odorous is to smell

warn is to caution

Correct answer:

odorous is to smell

Explanation:

“Tangible” is an adjective that can mean able to be physically touched, so if something is tangible, one can feel it. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is an adjective describing a quality, and the second word is a verb that conveys how one would experience that quality. “See is to visible” cannot be the correct answer, because “visible” would need to be the first word and “see” the second word to be correct. While “audible is to see” and “odorous is to smell” might each look like a potentially correct answer, one does not see things that are audible, one hears things that are audible, so “audible is to see” cannot be correct. One smells things that are odorous, however, just as one feels things that are tangible, so “odorous is to smell” is the correct answer.

Example Question #782 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Illegible is to read as incomprehensible is to __________.

Possible Answers:

understand

smell

repeat

taste

hear

Correct answer:

understand

Explanation:

“Illegible” is an adjective that consists of the negative prefix “il-“ and “legible,” so one might infer that it means “not readable.” That inference would be correct, as “illegible” means “not clear enough to be read,” so we need to pick out a verb that describes what you can’t do to something that is “incomprehensible.” “Incomprehensible” is a word that also consists of the negative prefix “in-“ and “comprehensible,” and because “comprehensible” means “able to be understood,” one might infer that “incomprehensible” means “not able to be understood.” That inference would be correct, as “incomprehensible” means “not able to be understood; not intelligible.” So, just as one cannot read something that is illegible, one cannot understand something that is incomprehensible, so “understand” is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Melt is to liquid as __________ is to gas.

Possible Answers:

fabricate

evaporate

eradicate

prognosticate

truncate

Correct answer:

evaporate

Explanation:

The process by which something turns from a solid into a "liquid" is called "melting." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words means to turn something into a "gas." The correct answer is "evaporate." Additionally, "truncate" means shorten; "eradicate" means completely destroy; "fabricate" means fake, make up a story; "prognosticate" means make a prediction about the future.

Example Question #4 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Legible is to __________ as visible is to see.

Possible Answers:

read

talk

catch

find

hear

Correct answer:

read

Explanation:

"Visible" means able to be "seen." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these actions is described by "legible." Well, "legible" means (of writing) able to be "read."

Example Question #5 : Abilities

Complete this analogy.

Doctor is to relief as _________________.

Possible Answers:

car is to transportation

singer is to entertainment

sunlight is to sunshine

wall is to separation 

lotion is to moisture 

Correct answer:

singer is to entertainment

Explanation:

The correct answer is "singer is to entertainment."

This analogy explores the relationship of what an individual provides through his or her occupation. 

A doctor provides relief (from pain). A singer provides entertainment (to the general public).

Example Question #1 : Other Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Singer is to cantata as driver is to __________.

Possible Answers:

breakneck

motivation

racecourse

steering wheel

tire

Correct answer:

racecourse

Explanation:

A "cantata" is a piece of music for singers and instruments. A singer sings or navigates through a cantata. A driver navigates a racecourse. A driver controls an automobile, but not in the same way a singer sings a song. A singer sings a song, a driver drives a racecourse.

Example Question #771 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Escalator is to stairs as motorcycle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skateboard

bicycle

car

carriage

running

Correct answer:

bicycle

Explanation:

Since an escalator is an automated moving staircase powered by electricity, we can think of it as an automated, electric version of a staircase. So, we need to pick out an answer choice which describes something we could think of as being an un-electrified, un-automated motorcycle. Since both bicycles and motorcycles are two-wheeled vehicles, but motorcycles have motors whereas bicycles are propelled by the rider's pedaling, "bicycle" is the correct answer.

Example Question #772 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Sun is to eclipse as window is to __________.

Possible Answers:

glass

scratch

shatter

breeze

curtains

Correct answer:

curtains

Explanation:

“Eclipse” is a word that when used as a noun can mean the passage of one celestial object in front of the sun, partially or completely blocking its light from reaching Earth. So, because an eclipse obscures the sun, we need to pick out an answer choice that represents something that obscures a window. While “glass” might look like a potentially correct answer because windows are often made of glass, glass does not obscure windows, so “glass” cannot be the correct answer. Curtains, however, obscure windows just as an eclipse obscures the sun, so “curtains” is the correct answer.

Example Question #71 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Rode is to road as doe is to __________.

Possible Answers:

forest

wood

dough

deer

ray

Correct answer:

dough

Explanation:

“Rode” and “road” are homonyms, since they sound the same but have different meanings. “Doe” means female deer and sounds the same as “dough” when pronounced.

Example Question #72 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Grimace is to pain as __________ is to happiness.

Possible Answers:

beam

gape

scowl

stare

frown

Correct answer:

beam

Explanation:

To "grimace" is to express pain using one's face. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words means to express happiness using one's face, to smile. The correct answer is "beam" which means intensely smile with joy. Additionally, "gape" means stare; "scowl" means frown in anger or frustration.

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