SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #741 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lottery is to ticket as __________.

Possible Answers:

scratch is to card

vote is to ballot

poker is to ante

money is to gamble

travel is to voucher

Correct answer:

vote is to ballot

Explanation:

You need a ticket to engage in the lottery, and a ballot to make a vote. The second item is the piece of paper that lets you take part in the activity.

Example Question #26 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Telephone is to voice as __________.

Possible Answers:

letter is to writing

flashlight is to bright

television is to movie

walk signal is to button

stroller is to walking

Correct answer:

letter is to writing

Explanation:

When we use a telephone, we communicate using our voice. Similarly, when we write a letter, we communicate using our writing.

Example Question #29 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Yellow is to caution as red is to __________.

Possible Answers:

deer

stop

green

tops

read

Correct answer:

stop

Explanation:

Yellow is the color of signs that mean caution, and red is the color of signs that mean stop. 

Example Question #30 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Spa is to asp as stink is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skink

knits

smell

kinks

snake

Correct answer:

knits

Explanation:

This is a word game analogy. The second word in each pair is an anagram of the first. Spa anagrams to asp and stink anagrams to knits.

Example Question #661 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Flora is to plants as __________ is to animals.

Possible Answers:

mammals

fauna

nature

extinct

evolved

Correct answer:

fauna

Explanation:

"Flora" and "fauna" are the scientific names for plants and animals, respectively. So, "flora" are plants and "fauna" are animals. This is the only information you need to solve this analogy.

Example Question #662 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Corroborate is to story as __________ is to testimony. 

Possible Answers:

verify 

denigrate 

atrophy 

vilify 

amplify

Correct answer:

verify 

Explanation:

To begin with "corroborate" means offer evidence in support of a claim made by another person and "testimony" is a formal statement given about how something happened. One can "corroborate" a story, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action that one can do to "testimony." The correct answer is "verify" which means prove as true, prove to be valid. In the context of this sentence "corroborate" and "verify" are also synonyms of one another. Additionally, "denigrate" means criticize harshly, make fun of unfairly; "atrophy" means weaken due to lack of use; "amplify" means make louder, make more intense; "vilify" means portray as a villain, demonize

Example Question #663 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Cartography is to maps as seismology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

religious belief

weather patterns

mathematics

earthquakes

animals

Correct answer:

earthquakes

Explanation:

"Cartography" is the science of map-making, the art of making maps. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices "seismology" is concerned with. The correct answer is "earthquakes."

Example Question #664 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Invoice is to delinquent as _______________.

Possible Answers:

book is to overdue

account is to opened

check is to void

letter is to stamped

bank is to robbed

Correct answer:

book is to overdue

Explanation:

An "invoice" is a bill. "Delinquent" means not paid at the desired or directed time. So an invoice that is late is "delinquent." (There is another definition of "delinquent," a person who frequently does illegal or immoral things.)

A "check" that is late is not called "void." (To "void" a check means to render it unpayable, so there is a sort of connection between "check" and "void," but not the best connection out of all the answer choices.)

Is a late account opened? No, that makes no sense. An "account" (as in a checking account) is "opened" (created), but that has nothing to do with being late.

Is a "book" that is late overdue? Yes. If you check out a book from a library and do not turn it in by its due date, it is termed overdue. So "book is to overdue" is the answer.

Example Question #666 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Elucidate is to clarity as ________________.

Possible Answers:

obfuscate is to confusion

answer is to successful

praise is to truth

sully is to reputation

engage is to end

Correct answer:

obfuscate is to confusion

Explanation:

 To "elucidate" is to explain clearly. The root is “lucid” which refers to light, both actual light and light meaning wisdom or knowledge. So to "elucidate" is to give clarity to a subject.

The correct answer is "obfuscate is to confusion." "Obfuscate" means to make something unclear or confusing. So to "obfuscate" is to bring confusion to a subject.

To "sully" is to make dirty or impure. It can be a literal meaning, as in “The pollution from the mill sullied the once pure river,” or it can also have a more figurative meaning, as in “The rumors of cheating sullied the soccer player’s good name.” So there is a connection between sully and reputation (to sully is to corrupt one’s reputation) but it isn’t the same connection as elucidate has to clarity.

Engage and end don’t have much of a connection, and surely not “to engage is to give end to something.” To engage is to occupy (“I can’t see the mayor right now because I’m engaged in a meeting.”) or to interest ("His lecture engaged the curiosity of the students.")

 

Example Question #665 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Stunt is to growth as _______________.

Possible Answers:

enamor is to affection

expand is to width

migrate is to season

reiterate is to repetition 

disinfect is to bacteria

Correct answer:

disinfect is to bacteria

Explanation:

To "stunt" means to hinder or lessen growth. (Malnutrition will stunt the growth of children.)

To "disinfect" will hinder or lessen bacteria. (Just as stunting growth doesn’t necessarily mean to stop all growth, to disinfect does not necessarily eliminate all bacteria; have you ever read the packaging that says “Kills 99.9% of germs?”)

To "reiterate" means to say something again, so "reiterate" doesn’t mean to hinder or lessen repetition. To "enamor" means to fill with affection and love, so enamor doesn’t mean to hinder or lessen affection.

"Migrate" means to move to one region, country, etc. from another. Although certain animals migrate in a certain season,migrate doesn’t mean to hinder or lessen a season, so it isn’t the answer. 

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