All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #661 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Flora is to plants as __________ is to animals.
evolved
mammals
extinct
fauna
nature
fauna
"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.
amplify
vilify
denigrate
verify
atrophy
verify
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 __________.
weather patterns
mathematics
earthquakes
animals
religious belief
earthquakes
"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 _______________.
account is to opened
letter is to stamped
check is to void
bank is to robbed
book is to overdue
book is to overdue
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 ________________.
obfuscate is to confusion
answer is to successful
praise is to truth
sully is to reputation
engage is to end
obfuscate is to confusion
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 _______________.
reiterate is to repetition
enamor is to affection
expand is to width
migrate is to season
disinfect is to bacteria
disinfect is to bacteria
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.
Example Question #671 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Wedding is to marriage as ______________.
piety is to religion
gown is to bride
funeral is to death
monarchy is to coronation
inauguration is to term
inauguration is to term
At first look, wedding and marriage might seem like synonyms. But here’s a better connection: A "wedding" is the formal ceremony that begins a marriage.
Is an inauguration the formal ceremony that begins a term? It is. An "inauguration" is a ceremony to mark the beginning of something, especially the formal admission of someone into office, as in the beginning of the term of office of the President of the United States. (In the United States, in the year of a presidential election, Inauguration Day is on January 20th.)
Is a "monarchy" the formal ceremony that begins a "coronation"? No. It’s more the other way around. A "coronation" is the crowning ceremony of a king or a queen, which begins his or her monarchy, or rule.
Is "piety" the formal ceremony that begins a religion? No. "Piety" means the quality of being religious or pious, but it is not the formal ceremony that begins a religion.
Is a "funeral" the formal ceremony that begins a death? Let’s hope not! The death occurs before the funeral.
Lastly, a "gown" is not the formal ceremony that begins a bride; a gown may be worn by a bride, but it isn't a ceremony beginning a bride.
Example Question #31 : Other Analogies
Complete the analogy.
Debase is to value as decompress is to __________.
desire
pressure
distance
affection
temperature
pressure
To "debase" means to humiliate and insult, or to reduce the value of something. So, if "debase" means to reduce "value," what does "decompress" involve the reduction of? To "decompress" means to reduce the pressure within something, so the correct answer is "pressure."
Example Question #32 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Trifle is to importance as madman is to ____________.
sanity
honesty
vigor
money
time
sanity
"Trifle" means having little "importance." So, a "trifle" is something that lacks "importance." Which of these is something that a "madman" lacks? The correct answer is "sanity," or the ability to behave rationally. Additionally, "vigor" is strength and health.
Example Question #33 : Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Sadist is to cruelty as sybarite is to _____________.
dormancy
commendation
efficacy
luxury
scruples
luxury
A "sadist" is someone who derives pleasure from causing pain to others. So, a "sadist" is primarily concerned with "cruelty." What is a "sybarite" primarily concerned with? Well, a "hedonist" is omeone who is self-indulgent and seeks "luxury." Additionally, "scruples" are misgivings, doubts about something; "dormancy" means a state of inactivity; "commendation" means award, certificate given in recognition of accomplishment; "efficacy" means how effective something is, how likely something is to work as intended.
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