SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #551 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Massacre is to human as __________ is to animal.

Possible Answers:

cadaver

genocide

carrion

autopsy

cull

Correct answer:

cull

Explanation:

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 _________________.

Possible Answers:

prune

jettison

imbue

accrue

defame

Correct answer:

defame

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

worship

emotion

loyalty

truth

ownership

Correct answer:

worship

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

wound

song

cathedral

sibling

fabric

Correct answer:

wound

Explanation:

"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 _____________.

Possible Answers:

eggs

sperm

solutions

currency

hair

Correct answer:

eggs

Explanation:

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 #556 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pendulum is to oscillate as satellite is to __________.

Possible Answers:

space

technology

communicate

break

orbit

Correct answer:

orbit

Explanation:

"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 __________.

Possible Answers:

egg is to hatching

dog is to fetching

captain is to sailing

mother is to caring

fighting is to wrestler

Correct answer:

captain is to sailing

Explanation:

Sewing is the task of a seamstress. Similarly, sailing is the task of a captain.

Example Question #57 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete the analogy.

Betray is to comrade as _____________ is to behavior.

Possible Answers:

etiquette

purgatory

demeanor

penalty

condone

Correct answer:

condone

Explanation:

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 #3 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to thief as construct is to builder.

Possible Answers:

Purloin

Implicate

Relegate

Tantalize

Impute

Correct answer:

Purloin

Explanation:

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 #4 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to serve as sovereign is to rule.

Possible Answers:

Monarch

Journalist

Oligarch

Peon

Clergyman

Correct answer:

Peon

Explanation:

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.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors