All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #8 : Determining Part Of Speech
Complete this analogy.
Die is to dice as fish is to __________.
chop
slice
catch
live
fish
fish
A "die" is the singular form of a six-sided cube with a different number of dots on each side used in games. The plural of "die" is "dice." "Fish" is the plural form of "fish," so "fish" is the right answer. This is confusing though, because "die" and "dice" both have multiple meanings. "Die" could mean stop being alive, and dice could mean chop or slice. Hopefully, you figured out that "die" is also the singular form of "dice."
Example Question #9 : Determining Part Of Speech
Complete this analogy.
Write is to pen as prohibit is to __________.
explain
deploy
forbid
declare
attend
forbid
While at first glance you might assume that "pen" is being used in the sense of a writing instrument that uses ink, that would mean that the model relationship is one of action to object you use to do that action. However, none of the answer choices are objects that one might use to "prohibit," something, so that can't be the correct model relationship. "Pen" can also be used as a verb that means write, so "write" and "pen" are synonyms. That means that to solve this analogy, you have to find the best synonym of "prohibit." "Prohibit" means ban or forbid, so "forbid" is the correct answer.
Example Question #11 : Determining Part Of Speech
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Wend is to stationary as dock is to __________.
depart
herb
pier
enclosure
doctor
depart
To “wend” is to move from one place to another,whereas “stationary” is the opposite: staying in one place or position. To “dock” is to haul or guide into or alongside a usually wooden pier used as a landing place or moorage for boats;the opposite of this is to “depart” or to set sail. An “enclosure” is like a fence, something used to contain something else. A “pier” is another work for “dock.”
Example Question #12 : Determining Part Of Speech
Complete this analogy.
Summon is to dismiss as well is to __________.
worry
tears
water
scary
amiss
amiss
“Summon” and “dismiss” are opposites of each other. If you “summon” someone, you ask him or her to come to your location, whereas if you “dismiss” someone, you tell them that they are free to leave your location. “Well” has many meanings, such as a pit that you get water from. To solve the analogy, we need to find a word that is the opposite of one of the meanings of “well.” One meaning of “well” is in good health or in a state in which everything is all right. An opposite of this meaning of “well” is “amiss.” If there is something “amiss,” there is something wrong or not all right. The other words are not opposites of any of the meanings of "well."
Example Question #13 : Determining Part Of Speech
Complete this analogy.
Frighten is to scare as sink is to __________.
rise
bowl
flounder
founder
hole
founder
"Frighten" and "scare" are synonyms, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a synonym of "sink." “Founder” has many meanings, but in this case its meaning of sink makes it the correct answer. If you chose "bowl," you may have been thinking of "sink" in the sense of a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture. However, "bowl" and "sink" have different meanings and are not synonyms. The incorrect answer choice “flounder” means struggle to move or obtain footing.
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Subterranean is to __________ as airborne is to eagle.
swim
fly
worm
dinosaur
cow
worm
An "eagle" is an example of an "airborne" (in the air, flying) creature. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "subterranean" creature. Well, to solve this you obviously need to know what "subterranean" means. There are two relevant roots in the word to consider: First, sub- means below, beneath, under and second, terra- means Earth. So, "subterranean" means below the Earth. Which of these creatures lives "below the Earth?" A "worm."
Example Question #2 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Orthodox is to heterodox as dormant is to __________.
Pious
Latent
Devout
Quiescent
Active
Active
The root "dox" means related to established thought or opinion, and the root "ortho" means straight or correct, so someone who is “orthodox” accepts traditions or the established account of things. On the other hand, the prefix "hetero" means other or different, so someone who is “heterodox” challenges traditions and accepts other accounts of things besides the established one. The two words are opposites of another, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym for “dormant.” “Dormant” means hidden, asleep or inactive, so the best antonym is “active.” To provide further help, “latent” means hidden and “quiescent” means dormant, while “pious” and “devout” both describe someone who is deeply religious.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Polychromatic is to monochromatic as ___________.
lungs are to breathing
prince is to king
ascending is to descending
actor is to emoting
forgetful is to misplace
ascending is to descending
"Polychromatic" means having many different colors, while the term "monochromatic" means having only one color or shades of white, grey, and black. You can infer these definitions because of the words' prefixes and root: "poly-" means many, "mono-" means one, and the root "chrom" means having to do with color; it is derived from the Greek word chroma, which means "color." So, "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are antonyms, or opposites, and to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which consists of antonyms. "Ascending" means going or rising up, whereas "descending" means going or sinking down, so just as "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are opposites, so are "ascending" and "descending," making "ascending is to descending" the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Phobophobia is to fear as androphobia is to __________.
women
ghosts
technology
men
machines
men
To begin with the suffix -phobia immediately tells you that you are dealing with a fear. So, "anglophobia" is fear of the English. "Phobophobia" is therefore fear of fear itself. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "androphobia" is the fear of. To do this you need to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix andro- which means man. So, "androphobia" is fear of man, fear of men.
Example Question #4 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Ornithophobia is to birds as xenophobia is to __________.
darkness
heights
silence
death
foreigners
foreigners
The prefix ornith- means birds, so "ornithophobia" means fear of birds. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "xenophobia" is the fear of. To do this you will need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. The prefix xen- means foreign, so "xenophobia" is fear of foreigners.
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All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
