All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Exaggeration is to hyperbole as peaceable is to _________.
amicable
disgraceful
parsimonious
quaint
unworthy
amicable
Exaggeration and hyperbole are synonyms that both mean to overstate something. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best synonym for peaceable. Peaceable means friendly and disposed toward avoiding conflict, the correct answer is therefore “amicable” which means friendly and disinclined toward conflict. For clarification, "quaint" means cute and old-fashioned; "parsimonious" means frugal and economical.
Example Question #22 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Palace is to ostentatious as hovel is to __________.
Big
Lofty
Luscious
Dirty
Whimsical
Dirty
Ostentatious means luxurious and showy which is a quality that would usually describe a palace. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a quality usually associated with a hovel. A hovel is a shack; a small, dirty and poor home. The correct answer is therefore “dirty.” For clarification, "luscious" means succulent; "whimsical" means quirky; "lofty" means ambitious or big.
Example Question #23 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Dollar is to currency as cartographer is to __________.
map
profession
building
animal
desire
profession
A dollar is a type of currency so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices a cartographer is a type of. A "cartographer" is someone who makes maps so the correct answer is “profession” which is a synonym for job.
Example Question #24 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Spiteful is to malicious as noise is to __________.
wanton
din
quiet
loft
impressive
din
Spiteful and malicious are synonyms that describe mean and hurtful behavior. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a synonym for noise. The correct answer is therefore “din.” A “din” is a loud, persistent noise. For clarification, "wanton" means random.
Example Question #25 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Esteem is to admire as contempt is to __________.
friendship
association
disgust
love
apathy
disgust
To hold something in esteem means to respect and admire it. So to solve this analogy you have to figure out which one of the answer choices is most similar in meaning to “to hold someone in contempt.” To have contempt for someone means you dislike and are disgusted by it. So the correct answer is “disgust.” For clarification, "apathy" means not caring.
Example Question #26 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Friend is to amity as enemy is to __________.
ludicrous
vitality
judicial
animosity
homeopathy
animosity
Amity means friendliness and so describes the sort of relationship that would be experienced between two friends. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices best describes the sort of relationship experienced by two enemies. This should lead you to “animosity” which means hostility or ill-feeling. For clarification, "ludicrou"s means absurd; "vitality" means youthfulness and energy; "homeopathy" is a type of disease treatment system in which natural remedies are of primary importance; "judicial" means to be fair and wise in making decisions.
Example Question #27 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Orator is to virtuoso as charlatan is to __________.
student
teacher
genius
essayist
fraudster
fraudster
An orator is someone skilled at public speaking and a virtuoso is someone who is skilled at anything in particular, so an orator is a type of virtuoso. A "charlatan" is an imposter and is therefore a type of “fraudster.”
Example Question #28 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Xenophobia is to foreigners as acrophobia is to __________.
Insects
Natives
Religion
Heights
Fire
Heights
Xenophobia is the fear of foreigners. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what acrophobia is a fear of. The correct answer is “height.” The suffix –phobia will always describe a fear.
Example Question #29 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Commodious is to spacious as domicile is to __________.
Wizard
Home
Circus
Dog
Work
Home
Commodious and spacious are both synonyms that mean roomy or ample space. So to solve this analogy you need to determine the best synonym for domicile. The prefix dom- usually relates to house or home so the correct answer is “home.”
Example Question #30 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Agoraphobia is to open spaces as arachnophobia is to __________.
Spiders
Fire
Crowds
Heights
Insects
Spiders
Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what arachnophobia is a fear of. You may have noticed that the prefix arachn- is the same as in arachnid (which is another word for spider) so an arachnophobia is a fear of spiders.
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