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 #411 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Unintelligible is to comprehensible as jocund is to __________.

Possible Answers:

angry

humorless

ridiculous

laughable

trivial

Correct answer:

humorless

Explanation:

When something is "comprehensible," it is understandable. You likely use the word “comprehend,” which is a related form of the same root. When someone “comprehends” something, he or she “grasps” it completely. The word “apprehend” can mean to understand, though it usually means to grasp a hold of in the physical sense. They come from the same general root. We can say that “unintelligible” and “comprehensive” are antonyms, so we must look for an antonym for “jocund.” The word generally means cheerful. Among the options, do not be fooled by “angry.” A jocund person is probably not angry, but more appropriately are they said to be without humor or humorless. This is the better answer.

Example Question #412 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Ascetic is to hedonistic as antiquated is to __________.

Possible Answers:

innovative 

unseemly

ancient 

discovery 

archaeologist

Correct answer:

innovative 

Explanation:

"Ascetic" is an adjective used to describe someone’s behavior and lifestyle that denies personal luxury and enforces rigid self-discipline. This is the opposite type of behavior as might exhibited by a hedonist. A "hedonistic" lifestyle is one directed towards the pursuit of pleasure. To solve this analogy, then, you need to find the word that is most opposite in meaning to "antiquated." "Antiquated" means ancient or old-fashioned, making it an antonym of "innovative." "Innovative" means new or creative.

Example Question #413 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Faux is to bona fide as __________.

Possible Answers:

book is to tome

faux pas is to mistake

vault is to spring

gregarious is to unsociable

fraudulent is to dishonest

Correct answer:

gregarious is to unsociable

Explanation:

“Faux” is an adjective that means imitative, fake, or false, while “bona fide” is an adjective that means authentic. “Faux” and “bona fide” are thus antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “faux pas is to mistake” might look like a potentially correct answer because, like the example, it includes the word “faux,” “faux pas” and “mistake” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “faux pas is to mistake” cannot be the correct answer. Similarly, while “fraudulent is to dishonest” might look like a potentially correct answer, “fraudulent” and “dishonest” are synonyms, not antonyms, so “fraudulent is to dishonest” cannot be the correct answer either; however, “gregarious” is an adjective that can mean sociable, and “unsociable” is an adjective that can mean not sociable. Because “gregarious” and “unsociable” are antonyms just as “faux” and “bona fide” are antonyms, “gregarious is to unsociable” is the correct answer.

Example Question #414 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Create is to destroy as brazen is to __________.

Possible Answers:

defense

courageous

foolhardy 

discreet 

warrior

Correct answer:

discreet 

Explanation:

To create something has the opposite effect of destroying something; therefore you know you are looking for an antonym. "Brazen" means bold or brash, so the best available antonym is "discreet," which means cautious or tactful.

Example Question #415 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Defensible is to untenable as enraged is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vexed

generous

murderous

irritated

serene

Correct answer:

serene

Explanation:

The word “defensible” can be thought of as meaning something like defendable, though it specifically means able to be justified. For instance, we would speak of “a defensible thesis,” meaning thereby that some argument is coherent and able to be defended against objections. When something is “tenable,” it is able to be “held” against objections. Thus, something “untenable” cannot be upheld (and is thereby indefensible). Thus, this analogy is one of antonyms. In contrast to being “enraged,” the best opposed word would be “serene.” Someone who is “serene” is not agitated at all but instead is at peace and is calm. This is quite different from the state of being enraged.

Example Question #416 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Inept is to capable as literal is to __________.

Possible Answers:

poetic

strict

mathematical

symbolic

scientific

Correct answer:

symbolic

Explanation:

Someone who is “inept” lacks skill or is without abilities (if the word is taken in its most negative sense). The word “aptitude” means natural ability in some regard or for some task. Thus, the word “capable” is an antonym to “inept,” meaning that this analogy requires you to find an antonym for “literal.” When something is described or interpreted in a literal manner, it is understood in its most basic sense without adding additional interpretation (such as symbolic or allegorical interpretations). Thus, the best option for an antonym among those provided is “symbolic,” which is quite opposite to a literal interpretation.

Example Question #417 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Analogies

SUBTLE : OBVIOUS

Possible Answers:

adoring : grateful 

fleeting : momentary 

cold : friendly

dramatic : impractical

miserly : frugal

Correct answer:

cold : friendly

Explanation:

Subtle means hard to detect or not immediately obvious.  Thus, it is the opposite of obvious.  

One definition of cold is unfriendly.  Thus, it is the opposite of friendly.

In both pairs, the first word is the opposite of the second word.    

Example Question #418 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Feral is to domesticated as desolate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vociferous

empty 

populous 

inane 

separate

Correct answer:

populous 

Explanation:

Feral means wild and is an antonym of domesticated which describes an animal accustomed to living with humans, like a dog or cat. So to solve this analogy you have to find the best antonym for desolate. Desolate means empty, abandoned or isolated so the best antonym is “populous” which means inhabited or crowded. For clarification, "inane" means pointless; "vociferous" means vocal and loud.

Example Question #419 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Impervious is to susceptible as __________.

Possible Answers:

humdrum is to stupendous

worry is to problem

energy is to asleep

lucid is to clear

cool is to chilly

Correct answer:

humdrum is to stupendous

Explanation:

“Impervious” is an adjective that means “not allowing fluid to pass through,” or when followed by the word “to,” “unable to be affected by.” “Susceptible,” on the other hand, means “likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.” So, “impervious” and “susceptible” are antonyms, and we need to pick out an answer choice that also consists of a pair of antonyms. While “lucid is to clear” and “humdrum is to stupendous” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “lucid” is an adjective that means “expressed clearly; easy to understand,” so “lucid” and “clear” are synonyms, not antonyms, and “lucid is to clear” cannot be the correct answer. “Humdrum,” however, when used as an adjective, means “lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous,” while “stupendous” means “extremely impressive.” Because “humdrum” is an antonym of “stupendous” just as “impervious” is an antonym of “susceptible,” “humdrum is to stupendous” is the correct answer.

Example Question #420 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Abhor is to love as vengeful is to __________.

Possible Answers:

forgiving 

cancel 

revenge 

like 

merciless

Correct answer:

forgiving 

Explanation:

Abhor means detest or hate and is an antonym of love; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must determine the best available antonym for "vengeful." This should lead you to the correct answer, which is “forgiving.”

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