SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Qualities and Features

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features

Perilous is to danger as jocular is to . . .

Possible Answers:

silence

platitudes

humor

athleticism

fervor

Correct answer:

humor

Explanation:

Since "perilous" means "full of danger; dangerous," we need to pick out a word which describes what someone "jocular" is full of or characterized by. Since "jocular" means "fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful," "humor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy

Warlock is to magical as gymnast is to __________.

Possible Answers:

laughable 

flexible

notorious 

intelligent 

indolent

Correct answer:

flexible

Explanation:

A characteristic commonly associated with a warlock is to be magical, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a common characteristic of a gymnast. Gymnasts are usually "flexible," so that is the correct answer. For clarification, "notorious" means to be famous for the wrong reasons; "indolent" means lazy or lethargic.

Example Question #2 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Cigarette is to detrimental as apple is to _________.

Possible Answers:

hurtful 

harmful 

injurious 

deleterious

helpful 

Correct answer:

helpful 

Explanation:

A quality associated with cigarettes is that they are “detrimental” to your health. "Detrimental" means not helpful, causing negative consequences. To solve this analogy you have to determine what impact an apple would likely have on someone’s health. The correct answer is that an apple is “helpful.” For clarification, the other four answer choices are synonyms of one another and of detrimental.

Example Question #3 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Funeral is to somber as wedding is to __________.

Possible Answers:

depressing 

jubilant 

gloomy

despondent 

impertinent 

Correct answer:

jubilant 

Explanation:

A "funeral" is a somber occasion, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices best captures the occasion of a wedding. A "wedding" is generally a jubilant time, so the correct answer is “jubilant,” which means celebratory and happy. For clarification, "despondent," "depressing," and "gloomy" are all synonyms of one another; "impertinent" means rude and impudent.

Example Question #3 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Glutton is to greedy as philanthropist is to __________.

Possible Answers:

selfish 

miserly 

penurious 

parsimonious 

charitable 

Correct answer:

charitable 

Explanation:

A characteristic of a glutton is to be greedy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a characteristic commonly associated with a philanthropist. A "philanthropist" is someone who gives to charity, so the correct answer is “charitable.” For clarification, "penurious" means destitute, or very poor; "selfish," "miserly," and "parsimonious" are all synonyms that mean not generous, particularly with money.

Example Question #2 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Stubborn is to mule as sly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

lizard 

dog 

shark 

fox 

elephant 

Correct answer:

fox 

Explanation:

A common saying in English is “as stubborn as a mule.” As such obstinacy has come to be associated with mules. Another common saying is “as sly as a fox.”  To solve this analogy you had to determine which animal is generally associated with slyness. The correct answer is “fox.”

Example Question #2 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Orator is to eloquent as priest is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Pious 

Remorseful

Despondent

Forlorn 

Miserable 

Correct answer:

Pious 

Explanation:

An orator is a public speaker and someone who is eloquent is adept at speaking. A characteristic associated with an orator is eloquence, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a characteristic associated with priests. Priests are generally pious, as pious means deeply religious. For clarification, remorseful means full of guilt and regret; forlorn, despondent and miserable are all loosely synonyms that mean to be sad and without hope.

Example Question #1 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Strong is to ox as quiet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Mouse 

Parrot

Lion 

Woodpecker

Seagull

Correct answer:

Mouse 

Explanation:

“As strong as an ox” is a famous English expression. However, even if you have never heard of this expression, you can still solve the analogy by realizing that "strong" is an adjective that someone might use to describe an ox. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices' words is an animal that is quiet. A "mouse" is a quiet animal, so "mouse" is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Skyscraper is to tall as elephant is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

ivory

small

Africa

tusk

large

Correct answer:

large

Explanation:

The relationship between "skyscraper" and "tall" is that "tall" is a common characteristic of skyscrapers. The best choice is "large," as an elephant's size is a characteristic that is commonly associated with these animals. "Small" does not apply, as elephants are not typically thought of as small creatures. A "tusk" is a part of an elephant and "ivory" is the name of the material that the tusk is made out of. "Africa" is where many elephants live. The most appropriate chioce is "large."

Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Analog is to digital as pocket-watch is to __________.

Possible Answers:

knife

computer

pocket

climate

time

Correct answer:

computer

Explanation:

Something that is “analog” is of or relating to a device or process in which data is represented by physical quantities that change continuously. Something which is “digital” is of, relating to, or being data in the form of especially binary digits. So a “pocket-watch” can be seen as “analog,” whereas a computer is “digital.” The key to this question is your understanding of the word “digital” and that you relate it to “computers.” To clarify, a “climate” is the weather of an area of the world, so India has a hot and tropical “climate,” while New Jersey has a mild and temperate “climate.”

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors