All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #121 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Biologist is to scientist as senator is to __________.
elected
politician
representing
duplicitous
political
politician
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 __________.
savings
reduction
payment
aged
senescent
payment
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 __________.
calligrapher
bill
paper
document
document
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 __________.
apoplexy
austerity
asceticism
arrangement
asinine
asceticism
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 __________.
control
expression
emotion
superstition
dismissal
emotion
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 __________.
fruit is to banana
map is to paper
pet is to rodent
onion is to vegetable
fever is to illness
onion is to vegetable
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 __________.
death is to funeral
family is to house
play is to performance
glitter is to decorating
chocolate is to pastries
play is to performance
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.
substitution
edit
innovate
draft
omit
omit
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.
pinnacle
epoch
courier
ditty
biped
ditty
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.
tangential
supercilious
apocryphal
inexorable
munificent
apocryphal
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.