SSAT Middle Level Verbal : SSAT Middle Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #181 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Orchid is to flower as ruby is to __________.

Possible Answers:

red

gemstone

necklace

mine

gold

Correct answer:

gemstone

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

biology 

religious studies

psychology

science 

history 

Correct answer:

science 

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

rock

music

symphony

steps

repetition

Correct answer:

music

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

animal

long-haired

feline

tiger

canine

Correct answer:

long-haired

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

honesty 

greed 

kindness 

sympathy

empathy

Correct answer:

greed 

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

oil 

Middle East 

nation 

monarchy 

None of these answers

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 #186 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Dinosaur is to pterodactyl as dessert is to __________.

Possible Answers:

damage

water

insect

sweetness

brownie

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 #187 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to engagement ring as utensil is to knife.

Possible Answers:

Anchor

Penalty

Felony

Misdemeanor

Heirloom

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.

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