All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #41 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Faux is to bona fide as __________.
fraudulent is to dishonest
book is to tome
vault is to spring
faux pas is to mistake
gregarious is to unsociable
gregarious is to unsociable
“Faux” is an adjective that means imitative, fake, or false, while “bona fide” is an adjective that means authentic. “Faux” and “bona fide” are thus antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “faux pas is to mistake” might look like a potentially correct answer because, like the example, it includes the word “faux,” “faux pas” and “mistake” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “faux pas is to mistake” cannot be the correct answer. Similarly, while “fraudulent is to dishonest” might look like a potentially correct answer, “fraudulent” and “dishonest” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “fraudulent is to dishonest” cannot be the correct answer either; however, “gregarious” is an adjective that can mean sociable, and “unsociable” is an adjective that can mean not sociable. Because “gregarious” and “unsociable” are antonyms just as “faux” and “bona fide” are antonyms, “gregarious is to unsociable” is the correct answer.
Example Question #42 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Create is to destroy as brazen is to __________.
discreet
foolhardy
warrior
defense
courageous
discreet
To create something has the opposite effect of destroying something; therefore you know you are looking for an antonym. "Brazen" means bold or brash, so the best available antonym is "discreet," which means cautious or tactful.
Example Question #43 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Defensible is to untenable as enraged is to __________.
murderous
irritated
serene
generous
vexed
serene
The word “defensible” can be thought of as meaning something like defendable, though it specifically means able to be justified. For instance, we would speak of “a defensible thesis,” meaning thereby that some argument is coherent and able to be defended against objections. When something is “tenable,” it is able to be “held” against objections. Thus, something “untenable” cannot be upheld (and is thereby indefensible). Thus, this analogy is one of antonyms. In contrast to being “enraged,” the best opposed word would be “serene.” Someone who is “serene” is not agitated at all but instead is at peace and is calm. This is quite different from the state of being enraged.
Example Question #44 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Inept is to capable as literal is to __________.
symbolic
strict
poetic
mathematical
scientific
symbolic
Someone who is “inept” lacks skill or is without abilities (if the word is taken in its most negative sense). The word “aptitude” means natural ability in some regard or for some task. Thus, the word “capable” is an antonym to “inept,” meaning that this analogy requires you to find an antonym for “literal.” When something is described or interpreted in a literal manner, it is understood in its most basic sense without adding additional interpretation (such as symbolic or allegorical interpretations). Thus, the best option for an antonym among those provided is “symbolic,” which is quite opposite to a literal interpretation.
Example Question #45 : Antonyms
Analogies
SUBTLE : OBVIOUS
cold : friendly
dramatic : impractical
miserly : frugal
adoring : grateful
fleeting : momentary
cold : friendly
Subtle means hard to detect or not immediately obvious. Thus, it is the opposite of obvious.
One definition of cold is unfriendly. Thus, it is the opposite of friendly.
In both pairs, the first word is the opposite of the second word.
Example Question #46 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Feral is to domesticated as desolate is to __________.
populous
separate
empty
vociferous
inane
populous
Feral means wild and is an antonym of domesticated which describes an animal accustomed to living with humans, like a dog or cat. So to solve this analogy you have to find the best antonym for desolate. Desolate means empty, abandoned or isolated so the best antonym is “populous” which means inhabited or crowded. For clarification, "inane" means pointless; "vociferous" means vocal and loud.
Example Question #47 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Impervious is to susceptible as __________.
lucid is to clear
worry is to problem
cool is to chilly
humdrum is to stupendous
energy is to asleep
humdrum is to stupendous
“Impervious” is an adjective that means “not allowing fluid to pass through,” or when followed by the word “to,” “unable to be affected by.” “Susceptible,” on the other hand, means “likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.” So, “impervious” and “susceptible” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “lucid is to clear” and “humdrum is to stupendous” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “lucid” is an adjective that means “expressed clearly; easy to understand,” so “lucid” and “clear” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “lucid is to clear” cannot be the correct answer. “Humdrum,” however, when used as an adjective, means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous,” while “stupendous” means “extremely impressive.” Because “humdrum” is an antonym of “stupendous” just as “impervious” is an antonym of “susceptible,” “humdrum is to stupendous” is the correct answer.
Example Question #48 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Abhor is to love as vengeful is to __________.
revenge
like
cancel
forgiving
merciless
forgiving
Abhor means detest or hate and is an antonym of love; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must determine the best available antonym for "vengeful." This should lead you to the correct answer, which is “forgiving.”
Example Question #49 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Impudent is to respectful as lachrymose is to __________.
suspenseful
tearful
fearful
superstitious
joyful
joyful
"Impudent" means disrespectful and rude which are both antonyms of respectful; therefore in order to solve this analogy you must identify the best antonym for lachrymose. Lachrymose means tearful or very sad, so the correct antonym is “joyful.”
Example Question #50 : Antonyms
Complete this analogy.
Bucolic is to urban as rural is to __________.
community
smooth
cosmopolitan
banish
feral
cosmopolitan
Bucolic refers to the country and urban to the city. Similarly, rural is countrified, or unsophisticated, and cosmopolitan is of the city or sophisticated.
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