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 #441 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Consecrate is to desecrate as demonize is to ________________.

Possible Answers:

vilify

penitentiary

netherworld

solidify

deify

Correct answer:

deify

Explanation:

"Consecrate" means make holy, make sacred and "desecrate" means to take something holy and make it no longer, to destroy or besmirch something holy. So, these two words are antonyms, which of these words has the opposite meaning to "demonize." Well, "demonize" means "vilify," to make someone out as a villain, to portray someone or something as evil. The best available antonym is therefore "deify," which means to make someone out as holy, to praise someone to the extent of making them seem like a God. Additionally, "solidify" means harden, become or make solid; "netherworld" means hell; "penitentiary" means prison, particularly a prison for felons who have committed serious crimes

Example Question #442 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Superficial is to methodical as _________________ is to depressed.

Possible Answers:

jovial

collision

frivolous

pugilist

funereal

Correct answer:

jovial

Explanation:

"Superficial" means not having much depth, focused only on surface issues, not "methodical." "Methodical" means done in such a manner as to be considered deep and complete, orderly and systematic. These two words are therefore antonyms. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "depressed." The correct answer is "jovial," which means cheerful. Additionally, "collision" means accident, a moment when a crash or impact occurs; "pugilist" means fighter, boxer; "funereal" means having the somber and serious atmosphere of a funeral; "frivolous" means pointless, having little value or purpose.

Example Question #443 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Exorbitant is to ______________ as pejorative is to complimentary.

Possible Answers:

moderate

extortionate

unconscionable

prohibitive

excessive

Correct answer:

moderate

Explanation:

"Pejorative" means having a disparaging, prejudiced, or insulting effect. It is therefore an antonym of "complimentary" (praising, flattering). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is an antonym of "exorbitant." Well, "exorbitant" means (of a price) unreasonably expensive. So, the correct answer is "moderate." Additionally, all the other answer choices are loosely synonyms of "exorbitant," although they have somewhat different meanings - "extortionate" means exorbitant; "prohibitive" means so expensive or abstruse as to prohibit most people from being included; "excessive" means unreasonably large or intense; "unconscionable" means immoral and completely unreasonable

Example Question #444 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Inimical is to advantageous as ________________ is to limpid.

Possible Answers:

clear 

ebullient 

synthetic 

homely 

opaque 

Correct answer:

opaque 

Explanation:

"Inimical" means harmful, likely to cause trouble, disadvantageous. It is therefore an antonym of "advantageous" (favorable, working to one's advantage). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "limpid" (clear, allowing light to pass through). The correct answer is "opaque," which means not allowing light to pass through, not clear. Additionally, "ebullient" means enthusiastic and excited; "synthetic" means chemically produced to mimic something natural; "homely" means plain, unattractive

Example Question #445 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Gaiety is to anguish as _____________ is to trustworthiness.

Possible Answers:

perfidy

boor

banality

platitude

fiasco

Correct answer:

perfidy

Explanation:

"Gaiety" means cheerfulness, being happy and lighthearted. Whereas, "anguish" is intense sadness and suffering. These two terms are therefore antonyms, so which of these answer choices has the opposite meaning to "trustworthiness?" The correct answer is "perfidy," which means treachery, disloyalty. Additionally, "banality" is the condition of being unoriginal and mundane; a "fiasco" is a chaotic and disastrous event; a "boor" is a rude and obnoxious and uninteresting person; a "platitude" is an unoriginal and insincere remark.

Example Question #446 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Imbecile is to mastermind as _____________ is to periphery.

Possible Answers:

zenith

nadir

hub

fringe

terse

Correct answer:

hub

Explanation:

An "imbecile" is a fool, an extremely stupid person. A "mastermind" is a genius, someone who is the brains behind a plan or operation. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is opposite in meaning to "periphery." Well, "periphery" means the fringes, on the edge, not in the center of something. So, the correct answer is "hub," which means center of activity. Additionally, "terse" means brief, 'to the point'; "fringe" means edge; "nadir" means low-point; "zenith" means high-point, moment of great personal triumph

Example Question #447 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Herculean is to ______________ as leery is to rash.

Possible Answers:

strenuous

facile

arduous

grueling

laborious

Correct answer:

facile

Explanation:

"Leery" means overly cautious, wary. "Rash" means hasty, reckless, not thinking before acting. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "herculean." Well, "herculean" means (of a task) very difficult and exhausting to accomplish. So, the correct answer is "facile," which means easy. Additionally, all the other answer choices are all synonyms of "herculean," they all refer to a job that is very difficult and tiring

Example Question #448 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Indigent is to affluent as _________________ is to inattentive.

Possible Answers:

truculent

scrupulous

taciturn

timorous

lambent

Correct answer:

scrupulous

Explanation:

"Indigent" means poor, penniless, in need. "Affluent" means wealthy, rich, prosperous. These two words are therefore antonyms, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "inattentive." Well, "inattentive" means careless, not paying attention to. So, the best available answer is "scrupulous," which means careful, diligent, meticulous, paying close attention to. Additionally, "truculent" means aggressive; "timorous" means easily scared; "taciturn" means silent, quiet; "lambent" means (of a light) flickering, glowing.

Example Question #449 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Forebear is to _____________ as summit is to base.

Possible Answers:

progenitor

descendant

ancestor

miser

benefactor

Correct answer:

descendant

Explanation:

The "summit" is the top of something, especially a mountain. And, the "base" is the bottom of something, especially a mountain. These two words are antonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "forebear" (ancestor). The correct answer is "descendant." Additionally, "miser" means person who does not give generously to others, someone who is stingy with money; "benefactor" means person who provided the financial support for; "progenitor" means a person or idea from which all other things descend.

Example Question #450 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Hale is to __________ as laconic is to verbose.

Possible Answers:

unwilling

unlikely

unlucky

unhealthy

unimpressed

Correct answer:

unhealthy

Explanation:

"Laconic" means (of writing or speech) containing few words. "Verbose" means (of writing or speech) containing too many words. These words are therefore antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "hale." Well, "hale" means strong, fit, and healthy. So, the correct answer is "unhealthy."

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