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 #341 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Small is to infinitesimal as large is to __________.

Possible Answers:

humiliating

obtuse

illicit

abstruse

gargantuan

Correct answer:

gargantuan

Explanation:

"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.

Possible Answers:

Orate

Cascade

Loft

Galvanize

Bolster

Correct answer:

Cascade

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

prostrate

monotonous

celestial

blissful

irate

Correct answer:

blissful

Explanation:

"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 _______________.

Possible Answers:

efface is to approach

badger is to harass

rat is to edge

bug is to defeat

faze is to mollify

Correct answer:

badger is to harass

Explanation:

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 _____________.

Possible Answers:

humidity is to atmosphere

pane is to window

downpour is to rain

roof is to house

sleet is to winter

Correct answer:

downpour is to rain

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

torrent

weather

drizzle

gust

wind

Correct answer:

torrent

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

gorilla

lion

shark

giraffe

kangaroo

Correct answer:

lion

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

ground is to bar

cat is to purr

dog is to peninsula

wolf is to howl

snake is to hiss

Correct answer:

wolf is to howl

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

Dog 

Lion 

Bird 

Monkey 

Horse 

Correct answer:

Bird 

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

veal 

stag 

mare 

pork 

venison 

Correct answer:

venison 

Explanation:

"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."

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