SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #651 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Sterilized is to bacteria as disrobed is to __________.

Possible Answers:

clothing

shocking

doctored

nude

infection

Correct answer:

clothing

Explanation:

When something is "sterilized," it is completely clean and thus does not have any bacteria on or in it. (Something “sterile” is likewise so completely clean.) Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something sterilized has no bacteria, something disrobed has no X.” The word “disrobed” is as obvious as it appears. It merely means having taken off one’s clothes, meaning that such a person lacks clothes.

Example Question #652 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Autocracy is to oppression as democracy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

imagination 

fear

liberty 

happiness

property 

Correct answer:

liberty 

Explanation:

"Oppression" is an experience of people under an "autocracy," so to solve this analogy you must identify which answer choice is an experience of people under a "democracy." This should lead you to the correct answer, “liberty.” For clarification, "autocracy" is a government in which one person holds unlimited power.

Example Question #653 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Hair is to bald as money is to __________.

Possible Answers:

destitute

lavish

tightfisted

investment

economical

Correct answer:

destitute

Explanation:

Since someone who is bald has no hair, we need to pick out an answer choice that is an adjective and describes someone who has no money. While "tightfisted" might seem like a good answer choice because it has to do with money, "tightfisted" actually means miserly. Since "tightfisted" doesn't mean having no money, it can't be the correct answer. "Destitute," on the other hand, is an adjective which can mean either extremely poor or lacking necessities. Since someone who is destitute lacks money just as someone who is bald lacks hair, "destitute" is the correct answer.

Example Question #164 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Gauche is to grace as corrupt is to __________.

Possible Answers:

honesty

imprisoned

distasteful

illicit

immoral

Correct answer:

honesty

Explanation:

Someone who is “gauche” lacks social capacities and thus can be said to lack grace. Such a person is likely awkward in public, not knowing how to be subtle when he or she needs be or how to be polite in a tactful manner—though no harm is intended by their tactless actions. The bridge sentence could be constructed, “As someone who is gauche lacks grace, so does someone who is corrupt lack X.” A corrupt person is, among other things, likely to lack honesty—at least about reality itself, for he or she will try to twist and corrupt all things to his or her perverse will.

Example Question #654 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Vacuum is to matter as unintelligible is to __________.

Possible Answers:

idiotic

terse

unknown

confusing

meaning

Correct answer:

meaning

Explanation:

A vacuum is a space lacking matter. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten as, “Just a vacuum lacks matter, so does something unintelligible lack X.” When something is unintelligible, it makes little or no sense and cannot be understood. It could thus be said to lack meaning for someone trying to understand it.

Example Question #166 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Neglectful is to care as adulterated is to __________.

Possible Answers:

purity

faith

negligent

unfaithful

fabricate

Correct answer:

purity

Explanation:

When someone is neglectful, they do not care or provide care where it is needed. The analogy could be expressed as a lack: “As something neglectful lacks care, so does something adulterated lack X.” Although we use the term “adultery” to describe someone who has committed an act against marriage, the word “adulterate” comes from the Latin meaning to corrupt, in the sense of to ruin the purity of. We could adulterate a sample of water by adding foreign elements (and so forth). Thus, something that is adulterated lacks its appropriate purity.

Example Question #21 : Qualities

Complete this analogy.

Trustworthy is to credence as malicious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

preponderant

evil

fear

sinful

wicked

Correct answer:

fear

Explanation:

The word “credence” means belief in the truth of something. If someone is "trustworthy," we are likely to give credence to his or her words or claims. Something "malicious" is evil or ill-intentioned and harmful. Such a thing or person deserves to be feared, which adequately fulfills the parallel for this analogy.

Example Question #167 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Immaculate is to dirt as innocent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

purity

uncontaminated

fulfilled

guilt

unalloyed

Correct answer:

guilt

Explanation:

The word “immaculate” comes from the combination of the “i-” prefix used as a privation (i.e. not) to the root which means stained, spotted, or dirty. Thus, the word means not stained, and generally is used to mean completely clean. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as something immaculate lacks any dirt, so does something innocent have no X.” An innocent person lacks guilt, which is the best answer among those provided.

Example Question #655 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Credulity is to unbelievable as apathy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

weird

interesting

following

gullible

boring

Correct answer:

interesting

Explanation:

If you regard things with credulity, you find nothing unbelievable. If you regard things with apathy, you find nothing interesting.

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Pulmonary is to lungs as cardiac is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pump

tongue

kidney

heart

circulation

Correct answer:

heart

Explanation:

The word “pulmonary” comes from the Latin word for the lungs. It is used to in English to describe physical conditions related to these organs, as when someone has pulmonary embolism, which is a type of blockage of blood to the lung. Just as “pulmonary” describes the lungs, “cardiac” describes conditions related to the heart.

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