All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #181 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Orchid is to flower as ruby is to __________.
red
gemstone
necklace
mine
gold
gemstone
Since an orchid is a kind of flower, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what red is a kind of. While "red" might look like a good answer because "ruby" can refer to a color that is a deep shade of red, we're not looking for a pair of synonyms, but a category into which "ruby" falls. Since a ruby is a kind of gemstone, "gemstone" is the correct answer.
Example Question #182 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Calculus is to mathematics as chemistry is to __________.
biology
religious studies
psychology
science
history
science
"Calculus" is a type of mathematics, so to solve this analogy you have to determine to which of these subjects chemistry belongs. The correct answer is “science.”
Example Question #183 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Waltz is to dance as jazz is to __________.
rock
music
symphony
steps
repetition
music
A “waltz” is a type of “dance,” just as "jazz" is a type of "music." To clarify the other terms, “repetition” is the act of doing things over and over again; a "symphony" is a long musical composition.
Example Question #184 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Tree is to deciduous as cat is to __________.
animal
long-haired
feline
tiger
canine
long-haired
Since "deciduous" is a word that describes certain kinds of trees, we need to pick out a word that describes certain kinds of house cats. While "feline" and "long-haired" both seem to be potentially correct answers, "feline" describes all cats, not just certain kinds, so it can't be the correct answer. "Long-haired" is the correct answer because just as certain trees are deciduous, certain cats are long-haired.
Example Question #46 : Part/Whole, Part/Part, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Virtue is to generosity as vice is to __________.
honesty
greed
kindness
sympathy
empathy
greed
"Generosity," which means kindness, is generally considered a "virtue," or a positive characteristic. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is considered a "vice," or a negative attribute. "Greed" is the only answer choice that has a negative connotation, so the correct answer is that “greed” is a vice.
Example Question #185 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
America is to Republic as Saudi Arabia is to __________.
oil
Middle East
nation
monarchy
None of these answers
monarchy
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 __________.
silent
honest
clever
visual
dark
visual
“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 #186 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Dinosaur is to pterodactyl as dessert is to __________.
damage
water
insect
sweetness
brownie
brownie
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 __________.
predatory
dangerous
vicious
frightening
feral
feral
“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 #187 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to engagement ring as utensil is to knife.
Anchor
Penalty
Felony
Misdemeanor
Heirloom
Heirloom
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.