All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #242 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Rest is to relax as ridicule is to __________.
inundate
supplant
lampoon
hemorrhage
opine
lampoon
"Rest," when used as a verb, and "relax" are synonym. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the same meaning as "ridicule" (make fun of, mock). The correct answer is "lampoon." Additionally, "supplant" means replace, take over control from; "inundate" means flood, overwhelm; "hemorrhage" means to be losing blood, or something else, very quickly; "opine" means declare, state as one's opinion.
Example Question #243 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Utopian is to idealistic as opaque is to __________.
perfidious
imperious
jubilant
murky
iconoclastic
murky
"Utopia" means "idealistic." It is therefore a synonym of "idealistic," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these has the same meaning as "opaque." Well, "opaque" means not transparent, cloudy, murky, not clear. Additionally, "jubilant" means very happy and celebratory; "imperious" means arrogant and domineering, assuming power for oneself; "perfidious" means treacherous, not trustworthy, duplicitous; "iconoclastic" means involving an attack on long-held and beloved beliefs.
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
Fortune is to pittance as excess is to . . .
decline
overabundance
constant
paucity
surfeit
paucity
Since a fortune is a lot of money and a pittance is "a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage," "fortune" and "pittance" are opposites, and we need to pick out a word that is an opposite of "excess." Since "excess" means "an amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable," we should pick out a word that has to do with not having enough of something. While "paucity" and "decline" may both look like correct answers, decline is a verb, so it can't be the correct answer, as we need a noun. Since "paucity" means "the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity," "paucity" is the answer choice that is closest to being an antonym of "excess," so "paucity" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Antonyms
Ebullience is to lassitude as __________.
portentous is to ominous
autumn is to winter
farmland is to crop
ennui is to interest
verdant is to plant
ennui is to interest
"Ebullience" is a noun that means "the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance," and "lassitude" is a noun that means "a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy." Since the two words are antonyms, we need to pick out another pair of words that are also opposites. Since "ennui" means "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement," "interest" is its opposite. Since "ennui is to interest" is the only answer choice whose words are antonyms, "ennui is to interest" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Antonyms
Precarious is to stable as lithe is to __________.
careful
rickety
clumsy
likable
blithe
clumsy
Something that is precarious is not stable, and someone who is not lithe is clumsy.
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
STOIC : EMOTIONAL
silent : noisy
argumentative : contentious
punctual : rude
crying : depressed
amiable : riveting
silent : noisy
Stoic means not showing one's feelings or not complaining. Emotional means showing very strong feelings. Stoic is the opposite of emotional. Silent is the opposite of noisy. Thus, the two sets of words have the same relationship.
Example Question #3 : Antonyms
Trivial is to significant as self-aggrandizing is to __________.
disgraceful
determined
lethargic
boastful
modest
modest
Trivial is an adjective that describes an event of little importance. This is an antonym of significant so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available antonym for self-aggrandizing. Self-aggrandizing refers to the act of exaggerating one’s own importance therefore an acceptable antonym would be modest. Modest means humble. For clarification boastful is an antonym of modest; lethargic means very tired.
Example Question #332 : Analogies
Sardonic is to genuine as amiable is to __________.
foolish
worldly
friendly
dislikable
remorseful
dislikable
Sardonic refers to behavior or expression that is disdainful, mocking and cynical. This is an antonym of genuine so to solve this analogy you are looking for the best available antonym for amiable. Amiable means friendly, likable and pleasant so the best answer choice is dislikable. For clarification foolish means not wise; remorseful means expressing regret; worldly means well-informed or knowledgeable.
Example Question #4 : Antonyms
Comely is to repulsive as miserable is to __________.
wishful
ecstatic
well-informed
serene
depressed
ecstatic
Comely is an adjective that means cute or good-looking. This is an antonym of repulsive which means disgusting; therefore to complete the second part of the analogy you are required to find the best possible antonym for miserable. Miserable means very sad. The correct answer is ecstatic which means very happy.
Example Question #1 : Antonyms
Hyperbolic is to understated as intangible is to __________.
degrading
nonsensical
recalcitrant
palpable
implicit
palpable
Hyperbolic is an adjective which describes language or behavior that is exaggerated or over-the-top. Understated has the opposite meaning so to solve this analogy you need to find which answer choice is the best antonym for intangible. Intangible means lacking material qualities, hard to define or incapable of being perceived. The best antonym for this is palpable, which means able to be felt or so intense it is almost able to be felt. For clarification, degrading means making someone feel humiliated; implicit means something not stated, but nonetheless understood; recalcitrant means resistant to authority; nonsensical means ridiculous.
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