All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #201 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Feral is to domesticated as desolate is to __________.
inane
populous
empty
separate
vociferous
populous
Feral means wild and is an antonym of domesticated which describes an animal accustomed to living with humans, like a dog or cat. So to solve this analogy you have to find the best antonym for desolate. Desolate means empty, abandoned or isolated so the best antonym is “populous” which means inhabited or crowded. For clarification, "inane" means pointless; "vociferous" means vocal and loud.
Example Question #374 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Impervious is to susceptible as __________.
humdrum is to stupendous
lucid is to clear
cool is to chilly
worry is to problem
energy is to asleep
humdrum is to stupendous
“Impervious” is an adjective that means “not allowing fluid to pass through,” or when followed by the word “to,” “unable to be affected by.” “Susceptible,” on the other hand, means “likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.” So, “impervious” and “susceptible” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “lucid is to clear” and “humdrum is to stupendous” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “lucid” is an adjective that means “expressed clearly; easy to understand,” so “lucid” and “clear” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “lucid is to clear” cannot be the correct answer. “Humdrum,” however, when used as an adjective, means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous,” while “stupendous” means “extremely impressive.” Because “humdrum” is an antonym of “stupendous” just as “impervious” is an antonym of “susceptible,” “humdrum is to stupendous” is the correct answer.
Example Question #295 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Abhor is to love as vengeful is to __________.
revenge
cancel
forgiving
like
merciless
forgiving
Abhor means detest or hate and is an antonym of love; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must determine the best available antonym for "vengeful." This should lead you to the correct answer, which is “forgiving.”
Example Question #296 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Impudent is to respectful as lachrymose is to __________.
suspenseful
joyful
tearful
superstitious
fearful
joyful
"Impudent" means disrespectful and rude which are both antonyms of respectful; therefore in order to solve this analogy you must identify the best antonym for lachrymose. Lachrymose means tearful or very sad, so the correct antonym is “joyful.”
Example Question #297 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Bucolic is to urban as rural is to __________.
feral
cosmopolitan
community
smooth
banish
cosmopolitan
Bucolic refers to the country and urban to the city. Similarly, rural is countrified, or unsophisticated, and cosmopolitan is of the city or sophisticated.
Example Question #51 : Antonyms
Complete the analogy.
Straight is to winding as confident is to ________________.
unequal
meek
victorious
verify
ambivalent
ambivalent
"Straight" and "winding" are both descriptions and opposite in meaning. Think of a road, which can extend straight, or wind its path through hills and trees. To follow the relationship, we want a word that is an antonym of "confident." Also, confident is an adjective, so our answer should be as well. "Confident" contains the prefix "con" meaning with, and the root "fid," meaning trust (think of fidelity). So, we want a word opposite from feeling trusting.
The answer is "ambivalent" because it means to be unsure, or torn between at least two equal decisions. (The prefix "ambi" = both, the root "vale" = strength/worth.)
"Verify" (verb) means to prove or confirm the truth ("ver" = truth) of something. Doing so may help you feel confident, but it is not directly related in meaning. Also, not an adjective.
"Unequal" (adj) describes choices in terms of value. This may provide great reasons for a decision to be made confidently or not, but is not directly related.
"Meek" (adj) means shy, the opposite of bold and sure, but being shy does not necessarily mean you aren't confident in other aspects aside from your personal demeanor and verbal output.
"Victorious" (adj) describes triumph, or winning. It is not an antonym of "confident."
Example Question #52 : Antonyms
Complete the analogy.
Construct is to ___________ as bedeck is to simplify.
destruction
exterminate
demolition
eradicate
assemble
eradicate
The complete half of the analogy shows an antonym relationship between "bedeck" (to place decorations on) and "simplify" (to make plain, simple). As these are opposites, the corresponding word to construct must also be opposite in meaning. All the words in the analogy are also verbs, indicating the answer should be as well.
The correct choice is "eradicate," which means to destroy completely. When something is "constructed," it is usually built anew. Eradication carries the same connotation of putting together or taking apart completely and totally.
"Assemble" (verb) means to put together; a synonym of construct.
"Demolition" (noun) means the act/state of destruction. While the word is a good fit, it is the wrong part of speech.
"Exterminate" (verb) means to kill. This word is similar in meaning, but is used to convey destruction towards living things (even bugs).
"Destruction" (noun) means to take apart, destroy. The word is a true antonym of construction, but is the wrong part of speech. It must be a verb to suit the word construct.
Example Question #51 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Susceptible is to immune as docile is to __________.
subservient
hawkish
outlandish
domineering
facile
domineering
To begin with "susceptible" means vulnerable, likely to be harmed by and "immune" means not vulnerable, incapable of being harmed by. These two words have opposite definitions, so they are antonyms. To solve this analogy then you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "docile." "Docile" means obedient, subservient, under control. The correct antonym is "domineering" which means dominating, in control, authoritative. Additionally, "facile" means easy; "hawkish" means aggressive, desiring war; "outlandish" means unusual, bizarre and showy; "subservient" means docile, under the control of someone else.
Example Question #52 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Vindictive is to magnanimous as opulent is to __________.
awry
impressionable
perfidious
flustered
spartan
spartan
"Vindictive" means bitter, spiteful, seeking revenge, refusing to forgive. "Magnanimous" means generous and forgiving, accepting in victory and defeat. These two words are antonyms of one another, so to solve this problem you are looking for the answer choice that has the opposite meaning to "opulent" which means fancy, luxurious, extravagant. The correct answer is "spartan" which means bare, lacking anything but the essentials, poor and barren. Additionally, "flustered" means overwhelmed and confused; "perfidious" means disloyal; "impressionable" means naive and innocent, easily misled; "awry" means amiss, 'out of place'.
Example Question #53 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to vital as composed is to undisciplined.
Episodic
Manifold
Essential
Superfluous
Didactic
Superfluous
The adjective "composed" means calm and under control, whereas the adjective "undisciplined" means not under control, badly behaved. These two words are antonyms of one another so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is an antonym of "vital." The adjective "vital" means essential, needed. Therefore, the correct answer is "superfluous" which means not needed, not essential, not required, unnecessary. Additionally, "episodic" means occurring in regularly repeating patterns, occurring in episodes; "didactic" means instructional, educational; "manifold" means diverse, varied.
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
