SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Other Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Look-alike is to sight as homophone is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sound

spelling

meaning

taste

smell

Correct answer:

sound

Explanation:

A “look-alike” is defined as someone or something that or who closely resembles another person or thing, so a look-alike resembles someone visually, or through sight. We need to pick out an answer choice that describes what sense or concept a “homophone” is associated with. While “sound,” “spelling,” and “meaning” may each look like a potentially correct answer choice because a “homophone” is a word, “homophone” specifically means one of a pair or group of words that are pronounced in the same way but have different meanings. Homophones sound the same, just as look-alikes are similar in visual appearance, so “sound” is the correct answer.

Example Question #22 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Water is to ice as magma is to __________.

Possible Answers:

stone

molten

crust

circulating

subterranean

Correct answer:

stone

Explanation:

When water cools, it becomes ice; therefore, this analogy requires that which magma becomes when it cools. Magma is the liquid stone that flows under the earth’s crust. When this cools, it becomes stone again. This is the only option that fits among those provided.

Example Question #23 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Justice is to scales as __________.

Possible Answers:

peace is to dove

power is to socks

crown is to royalty

sunglasses are to sun

war is to gunfire

Correct answer:

peace is to dove

Explanation:

Since scales are a symbol of the abstract concept of justice, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is a concrete symbol of the abstract concept that the first word represents. While "crown is to royalty" may look like an appealing answer, its words are in the incorrect order (royalty doesn't symbolize a crown—a crown symbolizes royalty), so it can't be the correct answer. A dove is a symbol of peace, however, so "peace is to dove" is the correct answer.

Example Question #24 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Mourn is to deceased as __________.

Possible Answers:

leaf is to tree

dust is to duster

congratulate is to winner

concrete is to sidewalk

dance is to ballerina 

Correct answer:

congratulate is to winner

Explanation:

Since one mourns someone who is deceased, we need to pick out a pair of words in which the first word represents something you do to/for the second word. While "dance is to ballerina" and "congratulate is to winner" may both look like potentially correct answers, "dance is to ballerina" cannot be correct because you do not "dance ballerinas," but just as you mourn someone who is deceased, you congratulate someone who is a winner. So, "congratulate is to winner" is the correct answer.

Example Question #25 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Generous is to donation as ancillary is to __________.

Possible Answers:

amenable

aid

servile

audacious

amiable

Correct answer:

aid

Explanation:

A person who is generous is likely to give a donation to some cause. Thus, the analogy could be read as, “As a generous person is likely to give a donation, so something that is ancillary is likely to provide or give X.” The word “ancillary” comes from the Latin “ancilla,” meaning female servant. In English, something "ancillary" is something that provides secondary support or aid to an operation or undertaking. Thus, among the options provided, “aid” is the best.

Example Question #26 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Tactile is to touch as olfactory is to __________.

Possible Answers:

taste

sight

idea

smell

sound

Correct answer:

smell

Explanation:

“Tactile” is an adjective that means “dealing with the sense of touch” or “perceptible by touch.” So, something that is perceptible via the sense of touch is tactile, and we need to pick out an answer choice that describes with what sense something “olfactory” is perceptible. While all of the potential answer choices except for “idea” are connected with specific senses, “olfactory” is an adjective that means “relating to the sense of smell,” so “smell” is the correct answer.

Example Question #27 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lottery is to ticket as __________.

Possible Answers:

travel is to voucher

money is to gamble

scratch is to card

poker is to ante

vote is to ballot

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 #28 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Telephone is to voice as __________.

Possible Answers:

walk signal is to button

television is to movie

letter is to writing

stroller is to walking

flashlight is to bright

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

tops

green

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

snake

kinks

smell

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.

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