SSAT Upper Level Verbal : SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Antonyms

Superhero is to nemesis as __________.

Possible Answers:

ally is to friend

hero is to villain

mentor is to teach

comedy is to slapstick

student is to homework

Correct answer:

hero is to villain

Explanation:

“Nemesis” is a noun that can mean either “the inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall” or “a long-standing rival; an archenemy.” So, a superhero and a nemesis form a pair of rivals, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of two nouns which form a pair of rivals. While “ally is to friend” and “competitor is to rival” might each look like a potential correct answer, “ally” is a synonym of “friend,” so the two words cannot represent a pair of rivals and “ally is to friend” cannot be the correct answer. “Hero” and “villain,” however, do form a pair of rivals like “superhero” and “nemesis,” so “hero is to villain” is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Antonyms

History is to future as __________.

Possible Answers:

yesterday is to tomorrow

clock is to hands

plans are to memories

present is to past

recite is to memorize

Correct answer:

yesterday is to tomorrow

Explanation:

“History” is a noun associated with time that has passed, while “future” is a noun associated with time that is yet to pass. So, we need to pick out a pair of nouns in which the first noun is associated with the past and the second noun is associated with the future. While “present is to past” and “yesterday is to tomorrow” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “present” is not associated with the past and “past” is not associated with the future, so “present is to past” cannot be the correct answer. “Yesterday,” however, is a noun associated with the past, while “tomorrow” is a noun associated with the future, so “yesterday is to tomorrow” is the correct answer.

Example Question #381 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy 

Mirthless is to amused as jaunty is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Unabashed 

Troubled 

Jest 

Jumbled 

Nondescript 

Correct answer:

Troubled 

Explanation:

Mirthless means not happy or amused and is therefore an antonym of amused. To solve this analogy you must therefore identify the best antonym for jaunty. Jaunty means carefree or without worries so the best answer choice is “troubled.” For clarification unabashed means shameless; nondescript means unremarkable; jumbled means mixed-up; something done in jest is something done for a joke.

Example Question #382 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy

Serendipitous is to unfortunate as upbraid is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Reproach 

Chastise 

Unimagined 

Praise

Unhinged 

Correct answer:

Praise

Explanation:

Serendipitous is an antonym for unfortunate so to solve this analogy you must find the best available antonym for upbraid. Upbraid means scold, chastise or reproach so the best antonym is “praise.”

Example Question #163 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Tropical is to frigid as polar is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cold 

hot 

tepid 

inspired 

lukewarm 

Correct answer:

hot 

Explanation:

"Tropical" is a type of climate that would generally be very hot, and frigid means very cold; to solve this analogy you are looking for the opposite of the type of temperatures that would be associated with a polar climate. A polar climate would likely be very cold, so the correct answer is the antonym of cold, “hot.”

Example Question #383 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Doleful is to jubilant as tentative is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sure 

surprised 

unsure 

sad

happy 

Correct answer:

sure 

Explanation:

"Doleful" means very sad, and "jubilant" means very happy, so to solve this analogy you know you must identify the best available antonym for "tentative," which means to be unsure and careful as a result of that uncertainty.

Example Question #165 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Complete this analogy.

Inconspicuous is to obtrusive as glacial is to _________.

Possible Answers:

very fast 

lukewarm 

very slow 

impressive 

frigid 

Correct answer:

very fast 

Explanation:

"Inconspicuous" means difficult to notice which is an antonym for "obtrusive," which means highly noticeable. You must therefore identify the best available antonym for "glacial," which describes something very slow moving (like a glacier); thus the best antonym is “very fast.”

Example Question #384 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Prohibited is to encouraged as circumspect is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wishful 

extroverted

utopian 

judicious 

inconsiderate 

Correct answer:

inconsiderate 

Explanation:

"Prohibited" means forbidden and is an antonym of "encouraged;" therefore, you must identify the best available antonym for "circumspect," which means prudent, considerate and thoughtful, so the best antonym is “inconsiderate.” For clarification, "judicious" is a synonym for "circumspect;" "extroverted" means outgoing; "utopian" describes a vision or representation of an ideal of perfection.

Example Question #385 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Excessive is to minimalist as discordant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

portentous

ludicrous 

cantankerous

ineligible 

harmonious 

Correct answer:

harmonious 

Explanation:

Excessive and minimalist are antonyms. Excessive means to have or be too much; minimalist means providing only the least needed. So to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is the best available antonym for discordant. Discordant means in disagreement or incompatible. So the best antonym is “harmonious” which means in agreement or peaceful. For clarification, "cantankerous" means bad-tempered; "ineligible" means not allowed or qualified to do something; "portentous" means self-important; "ludicrous" means ridiculous.

Example Question #386 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Absence is to presence as conceal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

prevent 

unreal 

reveal 

avoid 

consider 

Correct answer:

reveal 

Explanation:

Absence is the antonym of presence so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best antonym of conceal. To "conceal" something is to hide it so the correct answer is “reveal” which means to show something.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors