All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #41 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Incriminate is to vindicate as __________.
color is to red
leave is to remain
help is to assist
claw is to paw
frighten is to terrify
leave is to remain
“Incriminate” is a verb that means make someone appear guilty of committing a crime, and “vindicate” is a verb that can mean remove blame or suspicion from someone. “Incriminate” and “vindicate” are thus antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two verbs which are antonyms of each other. That means that neither “frighten is to terrify” nor “help is to assist” can be the correct answer, because each of those answer choices consists of a pair of synonyms, not antonyms. “Leave” is an antonym of “remain,” however, just as “incriminate” is an antonym of “vindicate,” so “leave is to remain” is the correct answer.
Example Question #42 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Surge is to plummet as __________.
nail is to trim
catch is to release
dye is to cloth
test is to cheat
wood is to flammable
catch is to release
"Surge" is a verb that can mean a large and sudden increase while "plummet" is verb that can mean a large and sudden decrease. So, "surge" and "plummet" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of words that are antonyms. Because "catch" and "release" are the only pair of antonyms listed as a possible answer choice, "catch is to release" is the correct answer, because just as "surge" is the opposite of "plummet," "catch" is the opposite of "release."
Example Question #43 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Ornate is to plain as __________.
bird is to egg
sleep is to dream
conniving is to naive
noise is to shush
dull is to uninteresting
conniving is to naive
“Ornate” is an adjective that means adorned with a complicated design, so “ornate” and “plain” are antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out an answer choice which also consists of two antonyms. While “conniving is to naive” and “dull is to uninteresting” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “dull” is an adjective that can mean boring, so it is a synonym, not an antonym, of “uninteresting,” and “dull is to uninteresting” cannot be the correct answer. “Conniving,” however, is an adjective that means conspiring to accomplish bad things, while “naive” can mean innocent when describing a person. So, because “conniving” is an antonym of “naive” just as “ornate” is an antonym of “plain,” “conniving is to naive” is the correct answer.
Example Question #44 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Ravenous is to satiated as __________.
balloon is to helium
just is to fair
nimble is to spry
facetious is to serious
proposed is to suggested
facetious is to serious
Since "ravenous" means very hungry and "satiated" means very full, the two words are antonyms. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the two words are opposites. While "nimble is to spry" might look like a good answer, "nimble" means agile and "spry" means lively and agile, the two words are synonyms, so "nimble is to spry" cannot be the correct answer. "Facetious is to serious," however, consists of a pair of antonyms: "facetious" means flippant and not treating important issues seriously. Because "facetious" is an antonym of "serious" just as "ravenous" is an antonym of "satiated," "facetious is to serious" is the correct answer.
Example Question #45 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Volatile is to stable as boisterous is to __________.
challenging
lively
energetic
calm
unstable
calm
"Volatile" means unstable or dangerous and is an antonym of "stable," which means reliable or unvarying. To solve this analogy, you have to determine the best antonym of "boisterous." "Boisterous" means loud, wild, and energetic, so the best antonym is “calm,” which means peaceful or tranquil. For clarification, "lively" and "energetic" both mean full of energy, "challenging" means presenting difficulties, and "unstable" means unsteady or likely to change.
Example Question #46 : Antonyms
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Inflate is to deflate as suitable is to __________.
credible
suited
whirlwind
unsuitable
conform
unsuitable
"Inflate" means to swell up or fill with air while "deflate" means to reduce or release air from. They are antonyms, just like “suitable” and “unsuitable.” To further help you, “credible” means easy to believe or information you can rely on; “conform” is to become similar or the same; “suited” means appropriate, fitting.
Example Question #47 : Antonyms
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Honest is to deceptive as humble is to ___________.
oblique
typical
brave
arrogant
mumble
arrogant
If someone is “deceptive," they are dishonest, so "deceptive" and "honest" are antonyms because they have opposite meanings. The opposite of “humble,” which means not proud, is “arrogant,” which means proud and feeling superior. To clarify the other terms, “oblique” means not direct or not straightforward; “typical” means commonplace; “mumble” means to talk quietly or unclearly.
Example Question #48 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Colossal is to minuscule as __________.
night is to day
pan is to cook
flower is to stem
fragrance is to smell
kindle is to flame
night is to day
"Colossal" is an adjective that means "very big," and "minuscule" an adjective that means "very small," so the two words are antonyms, or opposites, and we need to pick out another pair of words that are also antonyms. Because "night is to day" is the only answer choice in which the two words are opposites, "night is to day" is the correct answer.
Example Question #49 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Recalcitrant is to obedient as pedantic is to __________.
delirious
resourceful
interesting
boring
insightful
interesting
"Recalcitrant" means unruly and disobedient, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym for "pedantic." "Pedantic" means boring in paying too much attention to unimportant details, so the best antonym is "interesting." For clarification, someone who is "insightful" is discerning, someone who is "resourceful" is capable, and "delirious" means crazy or feverish.
Example Question #50 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Congenial is to disagreeable as debilitating is to __________.
impressive
weakening
strengthening
underwhelming
diabolical
strengthening
"Congenial" means agreeable, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "debilitating." "Debilitating" means greatly weakening, so the best antonym is “strengthening.” For clarification, "diabolical" means evil.
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