SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Qualities and Features

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Tapestry is to woven as __________.

Possible Answers:

bow is to violin

ice is to freeze

hearth is to fireplace

sharpen is to pencil

sculpture is to carved

Correct answer:

sculpture is to carved

Explanation:

Since "woven" describes how a tapestry is constructed, we need to pick out another pair of words in which the second word describes how the first word is constructed. Both "sculpture is to carved" and "ice is to freeze" appear to be potentially correct answers, but "sculpture is to carved" is the better answer. This is because tapestries and sculptures share the feature of both being traditional types of art, a feature ice does not share, and "woven" and "carved" are both past participles whereas "freeze" is an infinitive. (The answer choices might be more comparable if instead of "ice is to freeze" we had "ice is to frozen").

Example Question #12 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Leaves are to floral as __________.

Possible Answers:

fur is to bear

wooden is to table

fur is to mammalian

scales are to ursine

aquatic is to fish

Correct answer:

fur is to mammalian

Explanation:

Leaves form a constituent part of many floral things, so we need to find another pair of words in which the first word is a constituent part of many things in the category the second word represents. While "aquatic is to fish" may seem like the correct answer, but since "aquatic" is an adjective that describes many fish, it does not represent a constituent part of fish, so it can't be correct. Also, while "scales are to ursine" appears to be in the correct answer format, "ursine" means having to do with bears or bear-like, and since bears do not have scales, "scales are to ursine" can't be the correct answer either. In "fur is to mammalian," however, fur is a constituent part of (many) animals which are mammalian, just as leaves are a constituent part of many plants which are floral. So, the correct answer is "fur is to mammalian."

Example Question #13 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Lie is to deceitful as __________.

Possible Answers:

flee is to courageous

sleep is to energetic

relax is to uptight

dirty is to hygienic

insist is to persistent

Correct answer:

insist is to persistent

Explanation:

If someone lies, other people will likely consider them to be "deceitful," or often intentionally misleading others. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a verb, and the second word is an adjective describing someone who does what the verb conveys. Someone who relaxes is probably not going to be called “uptight” (anxious), and similarly, someone who sleeps is not going to be characterized as "energetic." Someone who is "dirty" is probably not going to be known to be "hygienic" (sanitary), and someone who flees probably isn’t the most "courageous"; however, someone who insists on something is very likely "persistent" (tenacious or determined), just as someone who lies is "deceitful," so “insist is to persistent” is the correct answer.

Example Question #14 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Comedy is to humorous as tragedy is to _________.

Possible Answers:

dramatic 

entertaining

gloomy 

horrifying

romantic 

Correct answer:

gloomy 

Explanation:

A quality of a comedy is to be humorous, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is a quality commonly associated with a tragedy. A tragedy is sad, so the correct answer is “gloomy," which means sad and disspirited.

Example Question #15 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy

Ungainly is to balance as lethargic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

energy 

money

time 

happiness

friends 

Correct answer:

energy 

Explanation:

"Ungainly" means clumsy, so someone who is ungainly lacks balance. To solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is lacking in someone who is lethargic. "Lethargic" means lazy or very tired, so the correct answer is “energy.”

Example Question #16 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Food is to starving as water is to ­__________.

Possible Answers:

eat

liquid 

compound

thirsty 

drink 

Correct answer:

thirsty 

Explanation:

When you are "starving" you eat food, when you are “thirsty” you drink water.

Example Question #16 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dehydration is to water as scurvy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Fruit 

Paper

Oxygen 

Money 

Love 

Correct answer:

Fruit 

Explanation:

"Dehydration" is a condition wherein someone or something chronically requires water. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine what someone suffering from "scurvy" requires. "Scurvy" is a disease commonly experienced by sailors in years gone by, where the affected person becomes unhealthy due to a lack of fruit and vitamins. So, "fruit" is the correct answer.

Example Question #17 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Lethargic is to sleep as emaciated is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Tired 

Exercise

Water

Air

Food 

Correct answer:

Food 

Explanation:

"Lethargic" means tired and in need of sleep, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine what it is that someone who is "emaciated" needs. Someone who is "emaciated" would be very thin and unhealthy, so he or she would require “food.”

Example Question #18 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Ice is to frozen as water is to __________.

Possible Answers:

melted 

perspire 

snow 

rain 

drink 

Correct answer:

melted 

Explanation:

"Ice" is water molecules in their frozen state, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what state of matter water molecules are in when we refer to them simply as water. The correct answer is “melted.” For clarification, "perspire" means to sweat.

Example Question #19 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Guile is to sly as gumption is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

confident 

adamant 

intelligent 

capricious 

sagacious

Correct answer:

confident 

Explanation:

Someone who has "guile" is "sly," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is a characteristic possessed by someone who has "gumption." If you have "gumption," you possess boldness and confidence, so "confident" is the correct answer. For clarification, "guile" means cunning or sneakiness, "adamant" means insistent or persistent, "capricious" means hard to predict, and "sagacious" means wise.

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