SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Ignore is to flout as quaint is to _________.

Possible Answers:

Old-fashioned

Wide-spread

Confined 

Portly 

Innovative

Correct answer:

Old-fashioned

Explanation:

Ignore and flout are synonyms of one another that both mean to not pay attention to something. So to solve this analogy you have to determine the best synonym for quaint which should lead you to “old-fashioned.” For clarification, "innovative" means new and ground-breaking; "confined" means restricted; "portly" means fat.

Example Question #12 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Mystery is to enigmatic as horror is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Energetic 

Worldly 

Chilling 

Forlorn 

Laudatory

Correct answer:

Chilling 

Explanation:

To be enigmatic is a characteristic of a mystery. "Enigmatic" means mysterious and puzzling. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which answer choice is a characteristic of a horror. The correct answer is therefore “chilling.” If something is “chilling” it causes a feeling of dread and horror. For clarification, "laudatory" means admiring and full of praise; "worldly" means knowledgeable; "forlorn" means sad.

Example Question #13 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Accuse is to indict as persuade is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Careful 

Propagate 

Imply 

Sway 

Feelings 

Correct answer:

Sway 

Explanation:

Accuse and indict are synonyms that both mean to blame someone. So to solve this analogy you need to identify which answer choice is the best synonym of persuade. Persuade means to convince somebody to do something so the correct answer is “sway.” To "sway" someone is to convince them of your opinion. For clarification, "propagate" means to spread; "imply" means to express an idea subtlety and indirectly.

Example Question #14 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Discretion is to prudence as ascertain is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Confuse 

Winsome 

Misunderstand

Determine 

Allay 

Correct answer:

Determine 

Explanation:

Discretion and prudence are synonyms that both mean to be tactful and show careful judgment. So to solve this analogy you must identify the best available synonym for ascertain. To "ascertain" something means to find out something with certainty or to determine something. The correct answer is “determine.” For clarification, "allay" means to calm or dispel fears; "winsome" means charming.

Example Question #15 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Blatant is to obvious as winsome is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Somber 

Eloquent 

Charming 

Forceful

Victorious 

Correct answer:

Charming 

Explanation:

Blatant and obvious are synonyms that both mean easy to see, unsubtle. So to solve this analogy it is necessary to identify the best available synonym for winsome. Winsome means handsome and charming, so the correct answer is “charming.” For clarification, "eloquent" refers to adept and stylish speech; "somber" means very sad.

Example Question #16 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Narcissist is to egotistical as philanthropist is to __________.

Possible Answers:

magnanimous 

demanding 

miserly 

poor 

incredulous

Correct answer:

magnanimous 

Explanation:

A narcissist is someone who is self-obsessed and in love with their own physical appearance. Egotistical means self-centered so a characteristic of a narcissist is to be egotistical, this means in order to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a quality of a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who gives to charity so the correct answer is “magnanimous” which means very generous and giving. For clarification, "miserly" is an antonym of generous; "incredulous" means speechless or shocked.

Example Question #17 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Pragmatic is to impractical as puzzling is to __________.

Possible Answers:

elusive 

controlling 

simple

degrading 

winsome 

Correct answer:

simple

Explanation:

Pragmatic means concerned with practical results as opposed to theories or methods and is loosely a synonym for practical. Impractical is therefore an antonym so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best antonym for puzzling. Puzzling means confusing or difficult to understand so the correct answer is “simple.” For clarification, "winsome" means charming and naïve; "degrading" means humiliating and debasing, dehumanizing; "elusive" means hard to capture or identify.  

Example Question #18 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Abominable is to virtuous as sacrosanct is to _________.

Possible Answers:

surfeit 

unhallowed 

wiry 

harmful

remonstrate 

Correct answer:

unhallowed 

Explanation:

Abominable means evil or abhorrent and is an antonym of virtuous which means good. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice is the best antonym for sacrosanct. Sacrosanct means sacred and not to be violated so the best antonym is “unhallowed” which means not blessed or sacred. For clarification surfeit means excess and remonstrate means to argue or protest.

Example Question #19 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Intimate is to suggest as intimidate is to _________.

Possible Answers:

befriend 

strike 

frighten 

create 

share 

Correct answer:

frighten 

Explanation:

Intimate is a synonym for suggest so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is the best synonym for intimidate. To "intimidate" someone means to impose your will on them through fear, so the correct answer is “frighten.”

Example Question #20 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Ponderous is to tome as terse is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dissertation 

portfolio 

essay 

manifesto 

synopsis 

Correct answer:

synopsis 

Explanation:

A tome is a large, heavy book usually about something serious or challenging. Ponderous means dull, laborious or excessively large. It is a quality of a tome to usually be ponderous so to solve this analogy you must identify which of the answer choices is generally terse. Terse means brief so the correct answer is “synopsis” which is a brief description of the plot of something much longer. For clarification, a "dissertation" is a type of lengthy essay written in formal language to express a thesis; "manuscript" is a hand-written book; "portfolio" is a collection of work, often art-work.

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