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 #4 : User And Tool

Complete this analogy.

Chiropractic is to __________ as acupuncturist is to needles.

Possible Answers:

sorcery

massage

vaccination

hospital

surgeon

Correct answer:

massage

Explanation:

An "acupuncturist" is someone who uses "needles" to treat a patient. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something at a "chiropractor" might use. Well, a "chiropractor" is someone who treats back problems. So, the correct answer is "massage." Additionally, a "surgeon" is a doctor operates on people; "sorcery" is magic; "vaccination" is inoculation, treating someone with a small amount of a disease to prevent them from contracting a more serious version of the disease.

Example Question #1 : User And Tool

Complete the analogy.

Doctor is to thermometer as __________.

Possible Answers:

singer is to sing

actor is to script

screwdriver is to repair

lion is to prey

wind is to blow

Correct answer:

actor is to script

Explanation:

The correct answer is "actor is to script."

This analogy expresses a user/tool relationship. A doctor uses a thermometer to perform his or her job. An actor uses a script to perform his or her job.

Example Question #2 : User And Tool

Complete this analogy.

Clippers is to barber as _______________.

Possible Answers:

computer is to student

mattress is to bed

picture is to wall

flash is to camera 

paintbrush is to artist

Correct answer:

paintbrush is to artist

Explanation:

The correct answer is "paintbrush is to artist."

This analogy explores the relationship of a tool and the user of the tool. Clippers are used by a barber to perform the task of cutting hair; likewise, a paintbrush is used by an artist to paint.

Example Question #41 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Discard is to trash as consume is to __________.

Possible Answers:

rebellion

food 

travel 

emotion 

sleep 

Correct answer:

food 

Explanation:

"Trash" is a noun, and "discard" (which means to throw away) is an action that one typically does with that noun. To complete this analogy, you have to determine which object matches with the action "consume." To "consume" means take in or eat, so the correct answer is “food," because just as one typically discards trash, one typically consumes food.

Example Question #42 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Teacher is to exam as __________.

Possible Answers:

patient is to hospital

army is to soldier

doctor is to vaccine

pilot is to plane

quilt is to fabric

Correct answer:

doctor is to vaccine

Explanation:

The relationship between "teacher" and "exam" is that a teacher is the person who administers or gives an exam. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word describes a person who administers or gives the second word. "Doctor is to vaccine" and "Pilot is to plane" may each look like potentially correct answer choices because the first word in each choice is an occupation, but since a pilot does not administer or give a plane, but flies it instead, "pilot is to plane" cannot be the correct answer. Because doctors administer or give vaccines just like teachers administer or give exams, "doctor is to vaccine" is the correct answer.

Example Question #43 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Corrode is to metal as burn is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fire

ashes

sun

paper

water

Correct answer:

paper

Explanation:

"Corrode" is a verb that means destroy a metal via a chemical reaction, and metal is something that can be corroded. So, because the next verb is "burn," we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun indicating something flammable. "Ashes" might look like a potentially correct answer, because many things are reduced to ash when burnt, but ashes themselves are not flammable, so "ashes" cannot be the correct answer. While "fire" and "sun" also have to do with burning, "paper" is the only answer choice that is a noun that indicates a flammable object. So, "paper" is the correct answer, because just as metal can be corroded, paper can be burned.

Example Question #44 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Vaccination is to disease as helmet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

head

bicycle

destitution

cut

concussion

Correct answer:

concussion

Explanation:

A "vaccination" is an inoculation intended to prevent one from getting a specific disease, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is prevented by a helmet. The correct answer is “concussion,” or confusion or unconsciousness caused by one's head being hit. For clarification, "destitution" is another word for excessive poverty.

Example Question #41 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Doctor is to patient as teacher is to __________.

Possible Answers:

parent 

nurse 

officer 

politician

student 

Correct answer:

student 

Explanation:

A doctor helps patients, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is a group of people helped by teachers. The correct answer, of course, is “student.”

Example Question #46 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Vacuum is to carpet as washer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brick

tile

clean

clothing

water

Correct answer:

clothing

Explanation:

One uses a vacuum to clean carpet, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what type of material or objects a washer is used to clean. Of the five answer choices, three are tangible objects: “clothing,” “tile,” and “brick.” Because a washer is used to clean clothing just like a vacuum is used to clean carpet, “clothing” is the correct answer.

Example Question #47 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Past is to nostalgia as future is to __________.

Possible Answers:

retirement

wistful

regretful

excitement

ruse

Correct answer:

excitement

Explanation:

"Nostalgia" is a positive feeling related to the past or a fond memory of the past. To solve this analogy, you need to consider which of the answer choices relates to a positive feeling about the future. Feeling "regretful" means not being happy about choices made in the past, so that cannot be the correct answer. Likewise, "wistful" is a synonym of "nostalgia" and relates to a feeling about the past. A "ruse" is a deception, a trick. The correct answer is "excitement," which is a feeling of happiness about something that is going to happen in the future. You might consider that a "retirement" is something that might happen to you in the future; however, it does not match with the specific relationship established in this analogy.

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