SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Biologist is to scientist as senator is to __________.

Possible Answers:

elected

politician

representing

duplicitous

political

Correct answer:

politician

Explanation:

A biologist is a type of scientist, so our bridge sentence could be written, “As a biologist is a type of scientist, so a senator is at type of X.” While a senator might be an elected official, the word “elected” is not a class but an adjective to describe a person or institution. Likewise, "political," "representing," and even "duplicitous" all are adjectives, but none are a general class like “politician.” Though it seems simple, this is the best answer, for it describes the same “member of a class” relationship as does the relationship between biologist and scientist.

Example Question #122 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Colloquialism is to expression as pension is to __________.

Possible Answers:

savings

reduction

payment

aged

senescent

Correct answer:

payment

Explanation:

A “colloquialism” is a type of expression that is used in conversation though it is not used in formal speech. It comes from a form of the “cum-” or “con-” prefix (here “col-”) being placed on the “-loq-” base that means speech and other related meanings. (The “-loq-” comes from a Latin base meaning to speak and found in English words like “locution,” “eloquent,” and “colloquy”). For our purposes, merely note that a colloquialism is a specific type of expression. “Expression” is a general class into which “colloquialism” can be placed. Thus, we are looking for the general class into which “pension” can be placed. Strictly speaking, a "pension" is the payment that one receives, generally for retirement. It is not per se a savings, but instead is a payment promised by some organization or government to another person. We use the word to describe such payments as being used for retirement, though it used to be used to describe the types of payments that a patron would give to some artist or scholar to allow that person to continue his or her work.

Example Question #123 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Coin is to money as letter is to __________.

Possible Answers:

e-mail

calligrapher

bill

paper

document

Correct answer:

document

Explanation:

Although “coin” might at first glance appear to be synonymous with “money,” it is better described as being a type of money. Coins can be created for a number of reasons—commemorations, decoration, etc.—and money can come in many forms—paper, coins, electronic forms, checks, etc. The bridge sentence for the analogy could thus be expressed as, “As coins are a type of money, so are letters a type of X.” While several options might be tempting, “document” is the closest thing to a class into which letters can be assigned. Letters are written on paper, perhaps by calligraphers, but they are neither types of paper nor types of calligraphers.

Example Question #124 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Epicurean is to hedonistic as abstemious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

apoplexy

austerity 

asceticism

arrangement 

asinine 

Correct answer:

asceticism

Explanation:

Someone who is epicurean is devoted to sensual pleasure, particularly the consumption of food. This is a type of hedonistic behavior. Hedonism is a school of thought directed towards the primacy of the pursuit of pleasure. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices matches with abstemious behavior. Abstemious means moderate and characterized by the denial of excessive food and alcohol consumption. This is a form of “asceticism” which is a type of behavior that focuses on self-denial of luxury. For clarification, "austerity" means severe, antiquated and plain; "apoplexy" means  a fit of anger; "asinine" is something ridiculous or pointless.

Example Question #125 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pain is to sensation as fear is to __________.

Possible Answers:

control

expression 

emotion 

superstition 

dismissal 

Correct answer:

emotion 

Explanation:

Pain is a type of sensation; sensation being something experienced through the senses. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice fear is experienced through. This should lead you to the correct answer “emotion.” For clarification, "dismissal" means removal or decision not to consider; "superstition" refers to an irrational belief based on faith in the supernatural.

Example Question #126 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Red is to color as __________.

Possible Answers:

fruit is to banana

map is to paper

pet is to rodent

onion is to vegetable

fever is to illness

Correct answer:

onion is to vegetable

Explanation:

Color is a category, and one thing that falls into this category is red—that is, red is a type of color. The same relationship is true of 'onion' and 'vegetable': an onion is an item that falls under the category of vegetable.

Example Question #127 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Parade is to celebration as __________.

Possible Answers:

death is to funeral

family is to house

play is to performance

glitter is to decorating

chocolate is to pastries

Correct answer:

play is to performance

Explanation:

In the same way that a parade is a type of celebration, a play is a type of performance.

Example Question #168 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete the analogy.

To _____________ is to revise as to watercolor is to illustrate.

Possible Answers:

substitution

edit

innovate

draft

omit

Correct answer:

omit

Explanation:

To "watercolor" is to produce a type of illustration, indicating the relationship of the analogy is an example or part of a broader category. All of the words used in the analogy are also verbs, meaning the answer should be as well.

The correct choice is "omit" (verb), which means to lay aside or take out. This is an action and a mode of revision.

"Innovation" (noun) is something that has been renewed or made better than before. This is closer to revise as a synonym.

"Draft" (noun) is the name for the piece of work that is being revised or changed.

"Edit" (verb) means to revise or correct, implying a synonymous relationship.

"Substitution" (noun) means a replacement, and is a type of revision. This would fit the analogy if it was not a noun.

Example Question #124 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Elegy is to poem as __________ is to song.

Possible Answers:

pinnacle

epoch

courier

ditty

biped

Correct answer:

ditty

Explanation:

An "elegy" is a type of poem, usually in memory of someone. So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a type of song. The correct answer is "ditty" which is a lighthearted song, a well-known song. Additionally, "courier" means messenger; the "pinnacle" is the height of achievement, the peak; a "biped" is a two-legged creature; an "epoch" is an era of history, a period of time.

Example Question #125 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Fallacious is to argument as __________ is to story.

Possible Answers:

tangential

supercilious

apocryphal

inexorable

munificent

Correct answer:

apocryphal

Explanation:

The adjective "fallacious" means (of an argument) false and misleading. So, a "fallacious argument" is a false argument, a deceptive argument. Which of these answer choices means a false story, a misleading story? The correct answer is "apocryphal" which means (of a story) most likely untrue and misleading. Additionally, "munificent" means generous; "supercilious" means arrogant, haughty; "tangential" means unrelated or only loosely related; "inexorable" means unstoppable, relentless.

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