SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #711 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Bittersweet is to oxymoron as ______________ is to palindrome.

Possible Answers:

suitcase

stairway

engine

radar

clock

Correct answer:

radar

Explanation:

An "oxymoron" is a phrase or word which contains apparently contradictory language. So, "bittersweet" is an "oxymoron" because it contains "bitter" and "sweet" which are two words that mean roughly the opposite of one another. Another example of an "oxymoron" is "open secret" or "sweet sorrow." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "palindrome." Well, a "palindrome" is a word that reads the same backwards as forwards. So, an example of a "palindrome" is "noon" or "eye." The correct answer is therefore "radar." 

Example Question #712 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Polymath is to knowledge as yahoo is to _______________.

Possible Answers:

compassion 

ignorance

majesty

temerity

cruelty 

Correct answer:

ignorance

Explanation:

A "polymath" is someone who understands many things and has a wide-ranging "knowledge." So, if a "polymath" has lots of "knowledge," what does a "yahoo" have a lot of? Well, a "yahoo" is a poorly-educated person, who is rude and "ignorant." Additionally, "compassion" is kindness and generosity, particularly when directed at those who have less than you; "temerity" is audacity, nerve, arrogance and 'cheek'; "majesty" is splendor, dignity, stateliness.

Example Question #713 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Purveyor is to vend as bacchanalian is to __________.

Possible Answers:

carouse

retrogress

solicit

admonish

stymie

Correct answer:

carouse

Explanation:

A "purveyor" is someone who sells luxury products. Another word for "sell" is "vend." So, if a "purveyor" "vends," what does a "bacchanalian" do? Well, a "bacchanalian" is a merrymaker, someone who is given over to drinking too much and partying. So, the correct answer is "carouse," which means to greatly enjoy getting drunk, imbibe. Additionally, "retrogress" means move backwards; "admonish" means scold, yell at, punish; "stymie" means obstruct, hinder, prevent the progress of; "solicit" means ask for, request, seek help or finance.

Example Question #714 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Morphine is to addictive as _____________ is to coastal.

Possible Answers:

hospice

chapel

hubris

riviera

summit

Correct answer:

riviera

Explanation:

"Morphine" is a type of drug used to alleviate pain. One property of "morphine" is that it is highly "addictive." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these could be described as "coastal" (next to the ocean). The correct answer is "riviera." A "riviera" is a coastal part of a tropical or warm country. Additionally, a "hospice" is a home where sick or elderly people are cared for; a "summit" is a peak, the top of something like a mountain; "hubris" is excessive pride and arrogance; a "chapel" is a small church

Example Question #1 : Other Analogies

Fire is to arm as rife is to __________.

Possible Answers:

leg

army

mare

rifle

ram

Correct answer:

ram

Explanation:

This is a word game analogy. The second word is an anagram of the first. Fire anagrams to rife and arm anagrams to ram. 

Example Question #1 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy 

Undulation is to wave as meander is to __________.

Possible Answers:

River 

Ocean 

Lake 

Current 

Circuit 

Correct answer:

River 

Explanation:

Undulation describes the movement of a wave so to solve this analogy you have to identify what the word meander is typically used to describe the movement of. Meander means to follow an indirect route with a series of twists and turns. This most accurately describes the movement of a river.

Example Question #2 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Infuriating is to angry as nauseating is to __________.

Possible Answers:

healthy 

sickly 

passionate 

amorous 

profound 

Correct answer:

sickly 

Explanation:

Something you find "infuriating" (to make furious) is also likely to make you "angry." To solve this answer you have to determine which answer choice is similar in meaning to "nauseating," which means to have been made nauseous, so the correct answer is “sickly.” For clarification, "amorous" means expressing or feeling deep love; "profound" means deep and meaningful; "passionate" means possessing great desire.

Example Question #3 : Other Analogies

Ventriloquism is to sound as __________.

Possible Answers:

boring is to asleep

mirage is to sight

tactile is to touch

painting is to color

sweet is to taste

Correct answer:

mirage is to sight

Explanation:

“Ventriloquism” is a noun that means “the art of projecting your voice so that it seems to come from another source.” So, ventriloquism is a kind of illusion that has to do with sound, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a kind of illusion or trick and the second word is the sense that that illusion is associated with. While “sweet is to taste,” “tactile is to touch,” and “mirage is to sight” might each look like a potentially correct answer, neither “tactile” nor “sweet” are nouns that refer to illusions, so neither “tactile is to touch” nor “sweet is to taste” can be the correct answer. A “mirage,” however, is “an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions.” So, because mirages are a type of illusion associated with sight just as ventriloquism is a type of illusion associated with sound, “mirage is to sight” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Rustic is to country as cosmopolitan is to __________.

Possible Answers:

desert island 

city 

hamlet

tribe 

village 

Correct answer:

city 

Explanation:

A quality typically associated with the country is to be rustic. Rustic means a plain and simple lifestyle. To solve this analogy you have to determine what time of community is best described as cosmopolitan. Cosmopolitan means culturally diverse and the correct answer is therefore “city.”

Example Question #6 : Other Analogies

November is to January as __________.

Possible Answers:

December is to October

February is to July

January is to September

May is to July

March is to September

Correct answer:

May is to July

Explanation:

January is either two months after November or ten months before it. The only answer choice that has two months with the same relationship, in the correct order, is "May is to July."

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