All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #551 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Massacre is to human as __________ is to animal.
autopsy
cull
cadaver
genocide
carrion
cull
A deliberate killing of a group of humans is known as a "massacre," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words refers to a deliberate and organized killing of animals. The correct answer is "cull." Additionally, "genocide" is the deliberate and premeditated killing of an ethnic group; "carrion" is dead animal flesh; a "cadaver" is a corpse; an "autopsy" is an investigation into the medical cause of someone's death.
Example Question #552 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Epithet is to describe as libel is to _________________.
accrue
prune
jettison
defame
imbue
defame
An "epithet" is a word or phrase used to "describe" a group of people, usually in a negative way. So, the purpose of an "epithet" is to "describe." To solve this analogy you need to determine what the purpose of "libel" is. Well, "libel" is false information published with the intent of damaging the reputation of someone. The purpose of "libel" is to "defame" (ruin the reputation of). Additionally, "imbue" means fill with; "prune" means trim, cut; "accrue" means accumulate, gather money through interest or investment, grow in wealth or value; "jettison" means discard, get rid of unwanted waste.
Example Question #553 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Coroner is to death as pilgrim is to __________.
emotion
loyalty
truth
ownership
worship
worship
A "coroner" is someone who investigates the causes of a "death." So, a "coroner" is concerned with "death," what is a "pilgrim" concerned with? Well, a "pilgrim" is someone who goes on a journey for religious purposes. So, a "pilgrim" is concerned with "worship."
Example Question #554 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Excavate is to fossil as cauterize is to __________.
song
sibling
cathedral
fabric
wound
wound
"Excavate" means to dig a hole for the purposes of removing something. So, one can "excavate" a "fossil." To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something that one might "cauterize." Well, "cauterize" means to burn the skin to help a "wound" to heal.
Example Question #555 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Lactate is to milk as ovulate is to _____________.
hair
sperm
solutions
currency
eggs
eggs
To "lactate" means to produce "milk," usually for the purposes of sustaining one's offspring. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is produced by someone who is "ovulating." Well, to "ovulate" means (of a female) to produce "eggs" for reproduction.
Example Question #1 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Pendulum is to oscillate as satellite is to __________.
communicate
break
space
technology
orbit
orbit
"Oscillate" is a verb meaning swing back and forth at a constant pace. Since "oscillate" describes the nature of a pendulum's movement, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that describes the nature of a satellite's movement. Of the three answer choices which are verbs ("communicate," "break," and "orbit"), only "orbit" describes a type of movement, and specifically the movement of a satellite. Since a satellite orbits just as a pendulum oscillates, "orbit" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
Seamstress is to sewing as __________.
egg is to hatching
captain is to sailing
dog is to fetching
fighting is to wrestler
mother is to caring
captain is to sailing
Sewing is the task of a seamstress. Similarly, sailing is the task of a captain.
Example Question #59 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object
Complete the analogy.
Betray is to comrade as _____________ is to behavior.
purgatory
condone
demeanor
etiquette
penalty
condone
A "comrade" is an ally or fellow worker. To fight or turn against them is to "betray them." The relationship is an action (betray) that can be done to a noun (comrade). Behavior is also a noun, so the answer will be a verb that can be done to or with it.
The answer is "condone" (verb), a reaction to behavior, generally with a negative connotation, such as allowing bad behavior. Prefix "con" = with, root "don" give.
"Demeanor" (noun), prefix "de" = of/away, root "mien" = face or action. It refers to the appearance someone shows to others. This is similar to behavior, but not an action.
"Penalty" (noun), root "penal" = punishment. This is a possible reaction to poor decisions, but not to behavior in general, and it is not an action.
"Purgatory" (noun), root "purg" = to clean, make pure. This is the place your spirit may go based on the decisions made in life. This is a possible consequence, but not an action.
"Etiquette" (noun) means proper and polite behavior.
Example Question #601 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to thief as construct is to builder.
Relegate
Purloin
Impute
Implicate
Tantalize
Purloin
Constructing things is something that a "builder" would do, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something a thief might do. "Thieves" tends to steal, so the correct answer is "purloin." Additionally, "impute" means attribute to; "tantalize" means tease; "relegate" means demote to an inferior position; "implicate" means suggest is guilty or responsible.
Example Question #3 : Actor And Action
Complete this analogy.
__________ is to serve as sovereign is to rule.
Peon
Oligarch
Clergyman
Journalist
Monarch
Peon
A "sovereign" is a monarch, someone who "rules." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these is someone who "serves." The correct answer is "peon" which means servant, slave, someone who serves a ruler. Additionally, a "monarch" is a king or queen; an "oligarch" is someone wealthy who has political power in a country; a "clergyman" is a member of the clergy, a member of the church; a "journalist" is someone who reports the news.
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