SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #331 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Immemorial is to __________ as conditional is to plenary.

Possible Answers:

supreme 

modern

ancient

perspicacious

archaic

Correct answer:

modern

Explanation:

"Conditional" means not absolute, subject to certain conditions or situations. Whereas, "plenary" means unqualified, not conditional, not subject to constraints. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available antonym for "immemorial." Well, "immemorial" means ancient, before the beginning of recorded history. So, the correct answer is "modern." Additionally, "archaic" means ancient and outmoded, no longer in contemporary use; "supreme" means best, greatest; "perspicacious" means discerning, having a keen insight into things, able to notice things

Example Question #332 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Phlegmatic is to __________ as quiescent is to energetic.

Possible Answers:

volatile

mordant

cerulean

verdant

salubrious

Correct answer:

volatile

Explanation:

"Energetic" means full of energy. Whereas, "quiescent" means at rest, in a state of inactivity. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "phlegmatic." Well, "phlegmatic" means (of a person) calm and emotionally stable, composed and tranquil. So, the correct answer is "volatile," which means unstable, likely to change in a negative or even catastrophic fashion. Additionally, "cerulean" means having a sky-blue color; "verdant" means green, having the color of grass; "salubrious" means promoting good health, beneficial; "mordant" means (of humor) sarcastic, cutting, and scathing.

Example Question #333 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Validate is to __________ as retard is to accelerate.

Possible Answers:

remonstrate 

waive 

extirpate 

quash

protrude 

Correct answer:

quash

Explanation:

"Retard" means to slow the progress of, to slow something down. It is therefore an antonym of "accelerate." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "validate." Well, "validate" means demonstrate the validity of, prove to be true, substantiate. It is therefore an antonym of "quash," which means reject or make null and void. Additionally, "remonstrate" means protest passionately against; "extirpate" means destroy completely; "waive" means give away certain rights; "protrude" means stick out from.

Example Question #334 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Saccharine is to sweet as nosy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

willful

neighbor

attention

prying

interested

Correct answer:

interested

Explanation:

Since "saccharine" means overly sweet or sappy, we're looking for an adjective for which "nosy" describes the overabundance of that quality. Of the adjectives listed, "interested," "willful," and "prying," "willful" is not clearly related to "nosy," so we can ignore it as a possible choice. In choosing between "interested" and "prying," "interested" is the better choice, as "prying" has negative connotations and is closer to being a synonym of "nosy" than is "interested," which retains the positive connotations like "sweet" does when compared to "saccharine."  

Example Question #335 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Warm is to hot as amusing is to __________.

Possible Answers:

uproarious 

eloquent 

parsimonious 

derivative 

despondent

Correct answer:

uproarious 

Explanation:

"Warm" is a more mild form of temperature than is "hot," so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which answer choice is a more intense form of the word “amusing.” "Amusing" means moderately funny or entertaining, so the correct answer must mean very funny and entertaining. As a result, the correct answer is “uproarious” which means hilarious or extremely funny. For clarification, "despondent" means without hope; "parsimonious" means stingy with money; "eloquent" describes someone who speaks with style and control; and "derivative" describes something unoriginal.

Example Question #336 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Dislike is to abhor as __________.

Possible Answers:

storm is to drizzle

snow is to blizzard

shout is to yell

like is to loathe

respect is to revere

Correct answer:

respect is to revere

Explanation:

The relationship of "dislike" to "abhor" is a relationship of intensification. To "abhor" someone is to dislike them to a very high degree—to hate them. The only relationships of intensification amongst the answer choices are "respect is to revere," "storm is to drizzle," and "snow is to blizzard." We can rule "storm is to drizzle" out, because the words are in the wrong order. That leaves us with two choices. "Respect is to revere" is the best choice because it is a relationship of intensification of a feeling that one can have for another person.

Example Question #337 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Proud is to supercilious as __________.

Possible Answers:

core is to apple

happy is to ecstatic

exhausted is to tired 

sad is to furious

brush is to hair

Correct answer:

happy is to ecstatic

Explanation:

Someone who is supercilious ("behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others") is extremely proud, so we need to pick out a pair of words in which the second word is an adjective meaning an extreme amount of the first adjective. While "happy is to ecstatic," "exhausted is to tired," and "sad is to furious" all look like potentially correct answers, only "happy is to ecstatic" and "sad is to furious" have their words in the correct order, and "sad is to furious" does not match up - someone who is furious is very angry, not very sad. So, the correct answer is "happy is to ecstatic."

Example Question #338 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Hungry is to ravenous as __________.

Possible Answers:

scared is to petrified

content is to dissatisfied 

myopic is to reclusive 

starving is to skinny

charming is to debilitating

Correct answer:

scared is to petrified

Explanation:

Ravenous means hungry but to a more extreme degree. Petrified means scared, but to a more extreme degree.  

Example Question #6 : Changes In Intensity

Complete the analogy.

Illustrious is to impressive as ___________ is to offensive.

Possible Answers:

malicious

abhorrent

luminous

dissecting

graceful

Correct answer:

abhorrent

Explanation:

This analogy uses adjectives that decrease in intensity. "Illustrious" contains the root "lustr" meaning shine. It is being compared to "impressive." While something "impressive" is "nice," we attribute more value to things that "shine." Take for example, gold or jewels.  Following this relationship, we want a word that has the same basic meaning as "offensive" but with more intensity or strength.  

Of the choices, only "abhorrent" is correct. All the words in the analogy are adjectives, meaning the answer must also be one. Additionally, "abhorrent" contains the prefix "ab" (away) and the root "horrere" (horror, tremble at). Put together, these mean something that is so horrible, we turn away in hate and disgust.

Malicious (adj), root word "mal" (bad, evil). While something "evil" could be "offensive," it is not directly related in meaning to "offensive."

Luminous (adj), root word "lum" (light). This word is related to "illustrious," not "offensive."

Graceful (adj), means full of grace, smooth of disposition and well-mannered. Again, this is the opposite of "offensive."

Dissecting (verb), refers to the act of cutting (a body) into two for study. While some might find the act offensive, it is subject to personal opinion, and is not an adjective.

Example Question #339 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Pungent is to smell as __________ is to sound.

Possible Answers:

aspirant

deafening

harmonious

melodic

chorus

Correct answer:

deafening

Explanation:

The word "pungent" means strong smelling. "Pungent" is a particularly intense word that relates to smell. So, to solve this analogy you are looking for an answer that is a particularly intense word that relates to sound. The correct answer is "deafening" which means very loud. Additionally, "harmonious" and "melodious" both mean pleasant sounding; an "aspirant" is someone with goals, someone who aspires to something in particular.

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