SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #581 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Craven is to bravery as scarce is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bold

craving

cowardice

abundance

rarity

Correct answer:

abundance

Explanation:

To be craven is to lack bravery. To be scarce is to lack abundance.

Example Question #702 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

RECLUSE : SOLITARY

Possible Answers:

artist : creative

crowd : unruly

landlord : polite

animal : surly 

pasture : windy

Correct answer:

artist : creative

Explanation:

A recluse is someone who is defined as being solitary or apart from society. An artist is someone who is defined as being creative. Thus, the two relationships between the pairs of words are the same.  

Example Question #703 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Nomadic is to tribe as permanent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

culture

society

anthropology

civilization 

city

Correct answer:

city

Explanation:

The word "nomadic" can be a characteristic of a tribe. Therefore, the correct answer will be an answer choice that can be described as "permanent." The word "permanent" is used as the opposite of "nomadic," so in this context it means non-moving or consistently located in the same location. The noun that is best described by this word is "city," which is therefore the correct answer. 

Example Question #704 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Torrid is to tropic as frigid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

eskimo

cold

algid

arctic

oceanic

Correct answer:

arctic

Explanation:

Torrid describes the weather in the tropics, and frigid describes the weather in the arctic. 

Example Question #705 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Glutton is to restraint as braggart is to __________.

Possible Answers:

jubilance 

modesty 

remorse 

fear 

wisdom 

Correct answer:

modesty 

Explanation:

A glutton is someone who is greedy and selfish; restraint means ability to control oneself and prevent oneself from over-indulgence. A glutton is someone who would not show restraint so to solve this analogy you must identify what kind of behavior a braggart would be unlikely to demonstrate. A braggart is someone who boasts and is arrogant (think “brag”) so you can determine that a braggart would not demonstrate “modesty.”

Example Question #706 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Metallic is to metal as ceramic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wool

brick

plastic

clay

bowl

Correct answer:

clay

Explanation:

“Metallic” is an adjective that means “of, relating to, or resembling metal or metals.” So, something that is metallic can be made of metal, meaning that we need to pick out an answer choice that describes the material that something that is “ceramic” consists of. While all of the answer choices except for “bowl” refer to materials, “ceramic” specifically means “made of clay and hardened by heat,” so “clay” is the correct answer.

Example Question #707 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Wolf is to feral as dog is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wild

natural

uncultivated 

untamed 

domesticated 

Correct answer:

domesticated 

Explanation:

"Feral" means wild and untamed and is a quality generally associated with a wolf so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is generally associated with a dog. A dog is generally “domesticated” which means accustomed to living with or near people. For clarification, the other four answer choices are all loosely synonyms of feral.

Example Question #708 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete the analogy.

Heroine is to noble as strategy is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

procedure

purposefully

None of these answers.

deliberate

imprudent

Correct answer:

deliberate

Explanation:

A "heroine" is a female who is considered brave, which is observed by the adjective "noble." "Noble" is describing a feature of a "heroine." Therefore, the answer is a description of, or feature of, a strategy. 

The correct answer is "deliberate," which means done with careful consideration. A "strategy" is created from careful planning.

"Procedure" (noun) is incorrect because it is not an adjective, and it is synonymous with strategy. It is a set of steps to meet a goal.

"Imprudent" (adj) means not wise or sensible. Prefix "im" = not, root "prud" = wise. It is the antonym of a strategy.

"Purposefully" (adverb) means done on purpose. Root "pur" = forth, "pose" put/place. While it does fit the analogy, it is an adverb and cannot describe a noun (strategy). 

Example Question #661 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Impervious is to penetrated as __________ is to wrong.

Possible Answers:

arbitrary

fraudulent

infallible

abominable

hospitable

Correct answer:

infallible

Explanation:

"Impervious" means unable to be penetrated, unable to be passed through. So, something that is "impervious" cannot be penetrated. Which of these is an answer choice that cannot be "wrong"? The correct answer is "infallible" which means unable to be questioned, incapable of being wrong. Additionally, "arbitrary" means random and meaningless; "abominable" means detestable, loathsome; "hospitable" means welcoming; "fraudulent" means fake, phony, not authentic.

Example Question #662 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Academic is to __________ as comedian is to amusing.

Possible Answers:

university

rendition

hilarious

knowledgeable

diploma

Correct answer:

knowledgeable

Explanation:

It is a quality of a "comedian" to be "amusing" or humorous and entertaining. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of an "academic." An "academic" is someone who studies or teaches at a university for a living, so the correct answer is "knowledgeable." Additionally, a "rendition" is a performance of something practiced.

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