All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #341 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Small is to infinitesimal as large is to __________.
humiliating
obtuse
illicit
abstruse
gargantuan
gargantuan
"Infinitesimal" means very small, tiny. So, to solve this analogy you are looking for the answer choice that means very large, giant. The correct answer is therefore "gargantuan." Additionally, "illicit" means illegal, against the rules; "humiliating" means embarrassing, causing shame; "abstruse" means hard to understand; "obtuse" means stupid.
Example Question #342 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to trickle as hurtle is to meander.
Orate
Cascade
Loft
Galvanize
Bolster
Cascade
To begin with to "meander" is to move slowly, in an indirect fashion. And, to "hurtle" is to move very quickly, in a chaotic fashion. Both words relate to movement, but "hurtle" is a much more intense form of "meander." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a much more intense form of "trickle." To "trickle" means (of a liquid) to fall in very small quantities. So, the correct answer is "cascade" which means to fall rapidly. Additionally, "orate" means speak in public; "galvanize" means motivate, inspire to action; "bolster" means support, reinforce; "loft" means throw up high.
Example Question #343 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Sad is to miserable as happy is to __________.
prostrate
monotonous
celestial
blissful
irate
blissful
"Miserable" is a more intense version of being "sad." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a more intense version of being "happy." The correct answer is "blissful" which means full of bliss, deeply and profoundly happy. Additionally, "irate" means furious, very angry; "celestial" means heavenly; "prostrate" means lying flat; "monotonous" means boring, unchanging.
Example Question #11 : Changes In Intensity
Complete this analogy.
Hound is to pursue as _______________.
efface is to approach
badger is to harass
rat is to edge
bug is to defeat
faze is to mollify
badger is to harass
To "hound" means to pursue relentlessly. ("The criminal was hounded across the country by law enforcement and finally captured.")
Is to "badger" to harass relentlessly? Yes, by definition, that’s exactly what it means. ("James badgered me every day for a week until I paid him the five dollars I owed him.") So, "badger is to harass" is the correct answer.
Does "efface" mean to approach relentlessly? No. To "efface" means to erase or to make seem insignificant. It has nothing to do with approaching someone or something.
Does “to bug” mean to defeat relentlessly? Nope. To "bug" is to annoy.
Is “to faze” to mollify relentlessly? No. To "faze" means “to disturb or unsettle” someone, whereas "mollify" means to reduce the anger of someone. They are basically antonyms, so they have a connection, but it isn’t the connection that the stem words have.
Lastly, "rat" does not mean to edge relentlessly.
Example Question #344 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Gale is to wind as _____________.
humidity is to atmosphere
pane is to window
downpour is to rain
roof is to house
sleet is to winter
downpour is to rain
A "gale" is a very strong wind. A "downpour" is a very heavy rainfall. This question asks you to identify a change, in this case an increase, in intensity.
Example Question #345 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Breeze is to gale as trickle is to __________.
torrent
weather
drizzle
gust
wind
torrent
A "breeze" is a light wind and a "gale" is a very strong and powerful wind. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a more intense version of a "trickle." Well, a "trickle" is a slow-moving stream of water. So, the correct answer is "torrent," which means a very powerful and fast-moving stream of water. Additionally, "gust" refers to a sudden and powerful flow of wind; "drizzle" means (of rain) to fall slowly and weakly.
Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology
Dog is to wolf as cat is to __________.
gorilla
lion
shark
giraffe
kangaroo
lion
A dog is a domesticated canine, while a wolf is a wild canine. So, because a cat is a domesticated feline, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes an animal that is a wild feline. “Lion” is the only answer choice that refers to a wild feline, so “lion” is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology
Hound is to bay as __________.
ground is to bar
cat is to purr
dog is to peninsula
wolf is to howl
snake is to hiss
wolf is to howl
Hound dogs bay; it is a very specific sound associated strongly with this type of dog (canine). A howl is a specific sound associated strongly with a wolf (also a canine). "Cat is to purr" and "Snake is to hiss" also make some sense, but the BEST fit is "wolf is to howl" as both animals are canines.
Example Question #3 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Calf is to fledgling as cow is to __________.
Dog
Lion
Bird
Monkey
Horse
Bird
A calf is a young cow, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these animals is an adult version of a fledgling. "Fledgling" can be used in two ways (as an adjective it means youthful or inexperienced), when used in this context, as a noun, it means young bird. So the correct answer is “bird.”
Example Question #4 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Cow is to beef as deer is to __________.
veal
stag
mare
pork
venison
venison
"Beef" is the name given to the meat product derived from a cow, so to solve this analogy, you need to determine the name of the meat product that is derived from a deer. This should lead you to the correct answer, "venison."
Certified Tutor