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 #421 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete the analogy.

Alarmed is to frightened as _________________.

Possible Answers:

clear is to foggy

gritty is to to smooth

logical is to nonsense

gloom is to depression

bleach is to clothes

Correct answer:

gloom is to depression

Explanation:

The correct answer is "gloom is to depression."

This is an analogy that expresses a synonym relationship. "Alarmed and frightened" have a similar meaning, making them synonyms. "Gloom and depression" also have similar definitions, which correctly completes the analogy. 

Example Question #422 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Monologue is to soliloquy as underling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

repository

philistine

lassitude

subaltern

syndicate

Correct answer:

subaltern

Explanation:

"Monologue" and "soliloquy" are synonyms, both words refer to a speech given by one single actor during a play. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "underling" (a person of lower-rank, a subordinate). The correct answer is "subaltern." Additionally, "lassitude" is exhaustion, weariness; a "philistine" is an uncultured person; a "syndicate" is a collection of people who have a similar interest and are working together to further that interest; a "repository" is a place for storing things.

Example Question #423 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Novelty is to outdatedness as dull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tedious

gull

warp

ennui

sharp

Correct answer:

sharp

Explanation:

Since "novelty" means "the quality or state of being new, different, and interesting," and "outdatedness" means "the quality of no longer being useful, acceptable, modern, or current," "novelty" and "outdatedness" are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is the opposite of "dull." While "ennui" may look like a good answer choice, "ennui" means "a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest," so while one might feel ennui at the prospect of doing something dull, "ennui" does not mean the opposite of "dull," so it can't be the correct answer. "Sharp," however, is an antonym of "dull" when "dull" is used to mean "having an edge or point that is not sharp," so "sharp" is the correct answer.

Example Question #424 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Generous is to miserly as incorrigible is to . . .

Possible Answers:

correctable

incipient

verdant

corrugated

legible

Correct answer:

correctable

Explanation:

Since someone who is generous is not miserly ("hating to spend money"), the two words are antonyms, so we need to pick out a word that means the opposite of "incorrigible." "Incorrigible" is an adjective that refers to people or their tendencies, and means "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed." While "corrugated" sounds somewhat like "incorrigible," "corrugated" means "shaped into alternate ridges and grooves" and is used with materials, surfaces, and structures. Since "corrugated" is not an opposite of "incorrigible," it can't be the correct answer. "Correctable," however, means the opposite of "incorrigible," so "correctable" is the correct answer.

Example Question #425 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Candor is to falsehood as __________.

Possible Answers:

happiness is to misery

distance is to map

dirty is to soiled

genius is to brilliant

anger is to fury

Correct answer:

happiness is to misery

Explanation:

"Candor" is a noun that means "the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness," so it is an antonym of "falsehood." That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of a pair of antonyms. While "anger is to fury" might look like a potentially correct answer, "anger" and "fury" are synonyms, not antonyms, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Happiness is to misery," however, is the correct answer, because just as "candor" is an antonym of "falsehood," "happiness" is an antonym of "misery."

Example Question #426 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Hazy is to clear as livid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

confused

pleased

sad

mad

worried

Correct answer:

pleased

Explanation:

"Hazy" and "clear" are antonyms, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym of "livid." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry." So, "mad" cannot be the correct answer, because while "mad" and "livid" are synonyms, we are not looking for synonyms, but antonyms. "Pleased," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, esp. at an event or a situation," and because "pleased" is the answer choice that is most nearly an antonym of "livid," "pleased" is the correct answer.

Example Question #427 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Doubt is to trust as __________.

Possible Answers:

hop is to jump

dig is to ditch

howl is to yowl

hurry is to hustle

heal is to wound

Correct answer:

heal is to wound

Explanation:

“Doubt” is a word that when used as a verb can mean “ feel uncertain about,” “question the truth or fact of (something),” or “disbelieve (a person or their word).” “Trust,” on the other hand, when used as a verb, means “believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.” So, “doubt” and “trust” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice which consists of a pair of antonyms. While “hurry is to hustle” might look like a potentially correct answer choice, “hurry” means “move or act with haste; rush” when used as a verb, and “hustle” can be used as a verb that means “hurry; bustle,” so the two words are synonyms, not antonyms, and “hurry is to hustle” cannot be the correct answer. “Heal is to wound,” however, consists of a pair of antonyms, because “wound” can mean “inflict an injury on (someone)” whereas heal can mean “cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again” when used of a person or treatment. So, because “heal” and “wound” are opposites just as “doubt” and “trust” are opposites, “heal is to wound” is the correct answer.

Example Question #428 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy

Corpulent is to skinny as comely is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cute 

fat

tall

small

ugly 

Correct answer:

ugly 

Explanation:

"Corpulent" means fat, so it is an antonym of skinny. In order to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available antonym for comely. "Comely" means cute, so the best antonym is “ugly.”

Example Question #7 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Penurious is to generous as feral is to __________.

Possible Answers:

domesticated 

untamed 

wild

uncertain 

natural

Correct answer:

domesticated 

Explanation:

"Penurious" means stingy or not very generous and is an antonym of "generous." To solve this analogy you have to identify the most accurate antonym for feral. "Feral" means wild, untamed, so the correct antonym is “domesticated,” which means house-trained; a dog is an example of a domesticated animal.

Example Question #8 : Antonyms

Complete this analogy.

Unbelievable is to plausible as robust is to __________.

Possible Answers:

energetic 

depressed 

unhealthy 

sleepy 

healthy 

Correct answer:

unhealthy 

Explanation:

"Unbelievable" is an antonym of plausible, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for robust. "Robust" means in good shape, healthy, so the correct antonym is unhealthy.

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