SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Example and Category

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #44 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

America is to Republic as Saudi Arabia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

oil 

nation 

monarchy 

None of these answers

Middle East 

Correct answer:

monarchy 

Explanation:

America is governed as a Republic, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice describes the government of Saudi Arabia. The test would never ask you to recall specific historical or political facts like this, so you can be sure when you see questions like this that everything you need to solve the analogy is in the analogy. You might not know that Saudi Arabia is governed as a monarchy, but you can probably determine that monarchy is the only answer choice that is a system of government. You need to know the relationship of the first two words!

Example Question #22 : Example And Category

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Pungent is to olfactory as bright is to __________.

Possible Answers:

silent

honest

clever

visual

dark

Correct answer:

visual

Explanation:

“Pungent” means strong-smelling and “olfactory” means related to the sense of smell. So something that is "pungent" is detected by your "olfactory" sense. Similarly, something that is “bright” is detected by your “visual” sense.

Example Question #21 : Example And Category

Complete this analogy.

Dinosaur is to pterodactyl as dessert is to __________.

Possible Answers:

brownie

damage

water

insect

sweetness

Correct answer:

brownie

Explanation:

A pterodactyl is a kind of dinosaur, so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a kind of dessert. While both "water" and "brownie" may look like potentially correct answer choices because each can be consumed by humans, "brownie" is the correct answer, because while "water" is not a kind of a desert, "brownie" is.

Example Question #24 : Example And Category

Dog is to domesticated as wolf is to __________.

Possible Answers:

predatory

dangerous

vicious

frightening

feral

Correct answer:

feral

Explanation:

“Domesticated” is an adjective that means tame, and “dog” is an example of tame animal. Since “wolf” is an example of untamed animal, we’re looking for a word that has the closest meaning to “untamed.” And while wild animals can often be “dangerous,” “predatory,” “frightening,” or “vicious,” only “feral” is an adjective that means wild and untamed.

Of the answer choices, “feral” is the best choice.

Example Question #51 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to engagement ring as utensil is to knife.

Possible Answers:

Misdemeanor

Heirloom

Anchor

Penalty

Felony

Correct answer:

Heirloom

Explanation:

A "knife" is an example of a "utensil" (a small household instrument), so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these an "engagement ring" is an example of. The correct answer is a "heirloom," which is something valuable that is handed down within a family from generation to generation. Additionally, an "anchor" is something used to weigh something down or make sure it does not move; a "penalty" is a punishment; a "felony" is a serious crime; a "misdemeanor" is a minor offense, a less serious crime.

Example Question #52 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Carnivore is to wolf as herbivore is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cafe

meat

cow

shark

grass

Correct answer:

cow

Explanation:

A "wolf" is an example of a "carnivore" (meat-eater), so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an example of a "herbivore" (plant-eater). The correct answer is "cow."

Example Question #53 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Vertebrate is to human as invertebrate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dog

lion

octopus

moose

whale

Correct answer:

octopus

Explanation:

A "vertebrate" is an animal with a backbone. This includes all the answer choices you see here (as well as humans), except "octopus." An "octopus" is an example of an "invertebrate" because it has no backbone.

Example Question #54 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Lead is to metal as __________ is to gas.

Possible Answers:

oxygen

zinc

aluminum

iron

copper

Correct answer:

oxygen

Explanation:

"Lead" is an example of a "metal." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an example of a "gas." The correct answer is "oxygen."

Example Question #55 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Catamaran is to __________ as blacksmith is to tradesman.

Possible Answers:

religion

occupation

subject

animal

boat

Correct answer:

boat

Explanation:

A "blacksmith" is someone who makes and shapes iron by hand. This is an example of a "tradesman." So, to solve this analogy which of these answer choices is a "catamaran" an example of? Well, a "catamaran" is a "boat" with twin-hulls. So, the correct answer is "boat." Additionally, "occupation" means job, vocation, profession, what someone does for a living.

Example Question #56 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete this analogy.

Leek is to onion as yam is to __________.

Possible Answers:

farmer

dinner

potato

fruit

meal

Correct answer:

potato

Explanation:

A "leek" is an example of an "onion," so to solve this analogy you merely need to determine what a "yam" is an example of. The correct answer is "potato."

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