SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, and Subject/Object

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Crank is to turning as __________ is to mooring.

Possible Answers:

hearth

tirade

anchor

scowl

harbor

Correct answer:

anchor

Explanation:

A "crank" is a device used to facilitate the "turning" of something. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a device used for "mooring." Well, you first need to know that "mooring" means to fix a boat in place in a harbor so that it cannot be moved by the water. The correct answer is therefore "anchor." Additionally, a "harbor" is where boats are docked; a "tirade" is a long and impassioned verbal attack against someone or something; a "hearth" is a fireplace or a home; a "scowl" is an angry frown.

Example Question #32 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Charcoal is to fuel as detergent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

clean

vend

lend

practice

cook

Correct answer:

clean

Explanation:

"Charcoal" is a material used to provide "fuel" or heat energy. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that "detergent" is used for. The correct answer is to "clean." Additionally, "vend" means to sell and "lend" means allow to borrow.

Example Question #32 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Pyre is to __________ as scaffolding is to reinforcing.

Possible Answers:

cremating

abstaining

reimbursing

drenching

hoarding

Correct answer:

cremating

Explanation:

"Scaffolding" is some temporary structure erected during construction to help with "reinforcing" the building. So, "scaffolding" is used for "reinforcing," what is a "pyre" used for? The correct answer is that a "pyre," is a pile of flammable material used in a funeral burning. So, it is used for "cremating," (burning a dead body). Additionally, "abstaining" means not participating it, not taking part; "drenching" means soaking, making very wet; "reimbursing" means paying someone back money they are owed; "hoarding" means collecting items or money and hiding them or refusing to use them.

Example Question #1 : User And Tool

Complete this analogy.

Sculptor is to clay as __________.

Possible Answers:

painter is to paint

water is to watercolor

paint is to canvas

writer is to typewriter

melody is to musician

Correct answer:

painter is to paint

Explanation:

Since a sculptor creates works of art out of clay, we need to pick out another set of words in which the first word describes someone who creates art using the second word as their medium. While "painter is to paint" and "writer is to typewriter" may both look like good answers, a typewriter is not a writer's medium, but the tool they use to write. (Words or text would be a writer's medium.) "Painter is to paint" is the correct answer because a painter creates works of art out of paint (and canvas), just like a sculptor creates works of art out of clay.

Example Question #481 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy:

Carpenter is to hammer as __________.

Possible Answers:

bird is to egg

captain is to boat

chef is to food

metalworker is to welding torch

baton is to policeman

Correct answer:

metalworker is to welding torch

Explanation:

A carpenter uses a hammer to build wooden objects, so we need to find a similar relationship in the analogies. A "metalworker" uses a "welding torch" to build metal objects. "Metalworker" and "welding torch" have the same relationship as carpenter and hammer.

A captain uses a boat, but the boat is not simply a tool for the captain, it is the captain's home. 

Birds hatch from eggs, there is no user or tool in this analogy.

Chefs make food, but food is not the tool of the chef.

The policeman is not the tool of the baton, but vice versa. Analogies must match conceptually, so if you have a user paired with a tool, you need to find an answer that also has a user and a tool.

 

Example Question #31 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete the analogy:

Mechanic is to car as __________.

Possible Answers:

filmmaker is to movies

cowboy is to horses

driver is to limo

plumber is to toilet

salesman is to car

Correct answer:

plumber is to toilet

Explanation:

Mechanics repair cars. Similarly, "plumbers" fix "toilets."

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Drivers drive limos but typically do not repair them. Filmmakers make movies. Cowboys ride horses. A salesman sells cars.

Example Question #3 : User And Tool

Complete the analogy:

Chauffeur is to car as __________.

Possible Answers:

pilot is to plane

lawyer is to court

painter is to photography

runner is to race

oarsman is to steamship

Correct answer:

pilot is to plane

Explanation:

"Chauffeurs" drive "cars" as their occupation. Similarly, "pilots" fly "planes" as their occupation. 

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

A lawyer works in the court, but does not operate the court in the same way that a pilot or a chauffeur operate a plane or a car. Painters paints pictures, while photography is the art of taking pictures with a camera. Runners run races; there are no tools in this analogy. An oarsman rows a boat, but a steamship has no oarsmen as it is steam-powered, thus the oarsman does not operate the steamship as his profession.

Example Question #613 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pen is to author as __________.

Possible Answers:

mother is to baby

ornament is to Christmas

chalk is to teacher

hotdog is to bun

plant is to garden

Correct answer:

chalk is to teacher

Explanation:

The correct answer is "chalk is to teacher."

This analogy expresses a user and tool relationship. 

A pen is a tool that an author uses to do his or her job. Therefore, we need to find an identical relationship for the second half of the analogy. 

A teacher uses chalk to perform (specific tasks) his or her job. 

Example Question #614 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Statistician is to __________ as geologist is to rocks.

Possible Answers:

literature

geography

history

data

romance

Correct answer:

data

Explanation:

A "geologist" is someone who studies rocks, someone who examines rocks. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is studied or examined by a "statistician." A "statistician" is primarily concerned with statistics, or "data." To provide extra help, "data" is facts collected and analyzed.

Example Question #615 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Mason is to __________ as grocer is to food.

Possible Answers:

stone

iron

water

wood

money

Correct answer:

stone

Explanation:

A "grocer" is someone who sells food, and other household products for a living. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a product made or sold by a "mason." The correct answer is "stone." A "mason" is someone who cuts and shapes stone and marble for a living.

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