All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Antonyms
Superhero is to nemesis as __________.
ally is to friend
hero is to villain
mentor is to teach
comedy is to slapstick
student is to homework
hero is to villain
“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 __________.
yesterday is to tomorrow
clock is to hands
plans are to memories
present is to past
recite is to memorize
yesterday is to tomorrow
“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 __________.
Unabashed
Troubled
Jest
Jumbled
Nondescript
Troubled
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 __________.
Reproach
Chastise
Unimagined
Praise
Unhinged
Praise
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 __________.
cold
hot
tepid
inspired
lukewarm
hot
"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 __________.
sure
surprised
unsure
sad
happy
sure
"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 _________.
very fast
lukewarm
very slow
impressive
frigid
very fast
"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 __________.
wishful
extroverted
utopian
judicious
inconsiderate
inconsiderate
"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 __________.
portentous
ludicrous
cantankerous
ineligible
harmonious
harmonious
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 __________.
prevent
unreal
reveal
avoid
consider
reveal
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.
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