SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Blasphemy is to religion as adultery is to __________

Possible Answers:

The state 

Professionalism

Marriage

Friendship 

Divinity 

Correct answer:

Marriage

Explanation:

To blaspheme means to speak ill or mockingly of God. So blasphemy is an offense against religion. To solve this analogy you have to identify what adultery is an offense against. "Adultery" means to engage in physical intimacy with someone other than your spouse so it is an offense against “marriage.”

Example Question #1 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Creation is to destruction as implacable is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Cruel

Yielding

Callous

Pitiless

Merciless

Correct answer:

Yielding

Explanation:

Creation and destruction are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for implacable. "Implacable" means relentless so the best antonym is “yielding.” For clarification, "cruel," "merciless," "pitiless" and "callous" are all synonyms for implacable.

Example Question #1 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Tedium is to enthusiasm as susceptible is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Notoriety

Infamy 

Callousness

Resistant 

Generosity 

Correct answer:

Resistant 

Explanation:

"Tedium" means extreme boredom and is an antonym of enthusiasm. So to solve this analogy you need to determine the best antonym for susceptible. "Susceptible" means vulnerable so the best antonym is “resistant.” For clarification, "callousness" means mercilessness; "notoriety" and "infamy" are synonyms that both describe being famous for the wrong reasons.

Example Question #1 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Languid is to energetic as miserly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Fair 

Famous 

Discreet 

Generous 

Cantankerous

Correct answer:

Generous 

Explanation:

"Languid" means unenergetic so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available antonym for miserly. "Miserly" means not generous so the best answer is “generous.” For clarification, "discreet" means sneaky; "cantankerous" means quick to anger, bad-tempered.

Example Question #2 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Wanton is to random as forceful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Menacing 

Frightening

Unimposing 

Weak 

Vigorous

Correct answer:

Vigorous

Explanation:

"Wanton" is a synonym for random as in “the wanton destruction caused by the hurricane.” So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available answer choice for forceful. As "forceful" means strong, powerful and able to inflict ones will on another the correct answer is “vigorous.” For clarification, "weak" and "unimposing" are synonyms, as are "frightening" and "menacing." 

Example Question #2 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Sinister is to menacing as effusive is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Frequent

Forlorn

Frigid 

Fulsome

Foolish 

Correct answer:

Fulsome

Explanation:

"Sinister" and "menacing" are synonyms that both describe the scary and ominous quality of something. So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for effusive. "Effusive" means not restrained in expressing feelings, demonstrative and emotive. The correct answer is therefore “fulsome” which means excessively complimentary. For clarification, "frigid" describes something very cold; "forlorn" means very sad.

Example Question #2 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Labyrinth is to confusing as rollercoaster is to _________.

Possible Answers:

Exhilarating

Whimsical

Tedious 

Mundane 

Quirky 

Correct answer:

Exhilarating

Explanation:

A "labyrinth" is another name for a maze. A quality of a maze or labyrinth is to be confusing so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a quality of a rollercoaster. This should lead you to the correct answer which is “exhilarating” which means stimulating and exciting. For clarification, "mundane" and "tedious" both mean boring; "whimsical" and "quirky" both mean silly.

Example Question #1 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Haughty is to conceited as vain is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Heavy 

Nostalgic

Harrowing 

Important 

Futile 

Correct answer:

Futile 

Explanation:

"Haughty" and conceited are synonyms that both mean proud and arrogant. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these answer choices is the best synonym for vain. Vain means useless or ineffective so the correct answer is “futile” which means useless effort. For clarification, to feel "nostalgic" means to positively remember the past; something that is "harrowing" is horrifying.

Example Question #3 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Ameliorate is to improve as cogent is to _________.

Possible Answers:

Unlikely

Implausible

Catastrophic

Viable

Primary 

Correct answer:

Viable

Explanation:

Ameliorate and improve are synonyms that both mean to make a situation better. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for cogent. "Cogent" means intelligently thought out and viable. For clarification, "implausible" is a synonym for unlikely; "catastrophic" means disastrous.

Example Question #4 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Nomenclature is to classification as calculus is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Assistance 

Assistance 

Impossible

Mathematics 

Scientific observation 

Correct answer:

Mathematics 

Explanation:

Nomenclature is a type of classification based on assigning names. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what calculus is a type of, this should lead you to the correct answer which is “mathematics.”

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