SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Qualities and Features

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Neglectful is to care as adulterated is to __________.

Possible Answers:

negligent

purity

fabricate

unfaithful

faith

Correct answer:

purity

Explanation:

When someone is neglectful, they do not care or provide care where it is needed. The analogy could be expressed as a lack: “As something neglectful lacks care, so does something adulterated lack X.” Although we use the term “adultery” to describe someone who has committed an act against marriage, the word “adulterate” comes from the Latin meaning to corrupt, in the sense of to ruin the purity of. We could adulterate a sample of water by adding foreign elements (and so forth). Thus, something that is adulterated lacks its appropriate purity.

Example Question #22 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Trustworthy is to credence as malicious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sinful

preponderant

evil

fear

wicked

Correct answer:

fear

Explanation:

The word “credence” means belief in the truth of something. If someone is "trustworthy," we are likely to give credence to his or her words or claims. Something "malicious" is evil or ill-intentioned and harmful. Such a thing or person deserves to be feared, which adequately fulfills the parallel for this analogy.

Example Question #23 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Immaculate is to dirt as innocent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fulfilled

uncontaminated

purity

unalloyed

guilt

Correct answer:

guilt

Explanation:

The word “immaculate” comes from the combination of the “i-” prefix used as a privation (i.e. not) to the root which means stained, spotted, or dirty. Thus, the word means not stained, and generally is used to mean completely clean. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as something immaculate lacks any dirt, so does something innocent have no X.” An innocent person lacks guilt, which is the best answer among those provided.

Example Question #24 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Credulity is to unbelievable as apathy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

weird

following

gullible

interesting

boring

Correct answer:

interesting

Explanation:

If you regard things with credulity, you find nothing unbelievable. If you regard things with apathy, you find nothing interesting.

Example Question #14 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Pulmonary is to lungs as cardiac is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pump

kidney

heart

circulation

tongue

Correct answer:

heart

Explanation:

The word “pulmonary” comes from the Latin word for the lungs. It is used to in English to describe physical conditions related to these organs, as when someone has pulmonary embolism, which is a type of blockage of blood to the lung. Just as “pulmonary” describes the lungs, “cardiac” describes conditions related to the heart.

Example Question #25 : Qualities And Features

Craven is to bravery as scarce is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cowardice

bold

rarity

abundance

craving

Correct answer:

abundance

Explanation:

To be craven is to lack bravery. To be scarce is to lack abundance.

Example Question #25 : Qualities And Features

RECLUSE : SOLITARY

Possible Answers:

landlord : polite

crowd : unruly

pasture : windy

animal : surly 

artist : creative

Correct answer:

artist : creative

Explanation:

A recluse is someone who is defined as being solitary or apart from society. An artist is someone who is defined as being creative. Thus, the two relationships between the pairs of words are the same.  

Example Question #26 : Qualities And Features

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Nomadic is to tribe as permanent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

culture

anthropology

city

society

civilization 

Correct answer:

city

Explanation:

The word "nomadic" can be a characteristic of a tribe. Therefore, the correct answer will be an answer choice that can be described as "permanent." The word "permanent" is used as the opposite of "nomadic," so in this context it means non-moving or consistently located in the same location. The noun that is best described by this word is "city," which is therefore the correct answer. 

Example Question #27 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Torrid is to tropic as frigid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

oceanic

algid

eskimo

cold

arctic

Correct answer:

arctic

Explanation:

Torrid describes the weather in the tropics, and frigid describes the weather in the arctic. 

Example Question #28 : Qualities And Features

Complete this analogy.

Glutton is to restraint as braggart is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wisdom 

fear 

remorse 

modesty 

jubilance 

Correct answer:

modesty 

Explanation:

A glutton is someone who is greedy and selfish; restraint means ability to control oneself and prevent oneself from over-indulgence. A glutton is someone who would not show restraint so to solve this analogy you must identify what kind of behavior a braggart would be unlikely to demonstrate. A braggart is someone who boasts and is arrogant (think “brag”) so you can determine that a braggart would not demonstrate “modesty.”

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