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 #2 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Calf is to fledgling as cow is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Horse 

Bird 

Dog 

Lion 

Monkey 

Correct answer:

Bird 

Explanation:

A calf is a young cow, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these animals is an adult version of a fledgling. "Fledgling" can be used in two ways (as an adjective it means youthful or inexperienced), when used in this context, as a noun, it means young bird. So the correct answer is “bird.”

Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Cow is to beef as deer is to __________.

Possible Answers:

stag 

pork 

mare 

venison 

veal 

Correct answer:

venison 

Explanation:

"Beef" is the name given to the meat product derived from a cow, so to solve this analogy, you need to determine the name of the meat product that is derived from a deer. This should lead you to the correct answer, "venison."

Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Bee is to hive as rabbit is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fur

cocoon

warren

apiary

nest

Correct answer:

warren

Explanation:

“Hive” means beehive, so it is a place where bees live. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that is a term for where rabbits live. “Warren" is a noun that means a group of connected rabbit burrows and because rabbits live in a warren like bees live in a hive, “warren” is the correct answer.

Example Question #3 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Bird is to avian as __________.

Possible Answers:

bear is to mammalian

horse is to equine

lizard is to reptilian

moth is to nocturnal

person is to humane

Correct answer:

horse is to equine

Explanation:

"Avian" is an adjective that means having to do with birds, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun and the second an adjective specifically meaning having to do with [the first word]. While "person is to humane" may look like a potentially correct answer, "humane" does not mean having to do with humans, but rather compassionate, so it cannot be the correct answer. While "lizard is to reptilian" "horse is to equine," and "bear is to mammalian" may each look correct, more things are reptilian than just lizards, and more things are mammals than just bears; however, just as only birds are avian, only horses are equine, so "horse is to equine" is the correct answer.

Example Question #4 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Aviary is to bird as apiary is to _________.

Possible Answers:

shark 

dolphin 

bee

whale 

monkey 

Correct answer:

bee

Explanation:

An "aviary" is a place for housing birds, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which animal is typically housed in an "apiary." Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to guess this answer unless you have some very specific Latin language experience, but that is why we are here. An "apiary" is a collection of beehives where bees are raised for honey.

Example Question #5 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Gander is to goose as stallion is to __________.

Possible Answers:

gallop

mare

foal

gelding

colt

Correct answer:

mare

Explanation:

"Gander" and "goose" are terms for male and female geese, respectively. "Stallion" and "mare" are terms for male and female horses. (While "goose" is also the term for the entire species of bird, this relationship would require the word for the blank to be "horse," which isn't an available option; so, "gander is to goose" needs to be interpreted as terms for male and female birds of the species.)

Example Question #6 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Cow is to swan as calf is to __________.

Possible Answers:

swoon

cygnet

bull

leg

nestling

Correct answer:

cygnet

Explanation:

A calf is a young cow, and a cygnet is a young swan.

Example Question #7 : Specific Terminology

Complete this analogy.

Dog is to shed as bird is to ­­­__________.

Possible Answers:

Assuage 

Espy 

Defy 

Molt

Mollify 

Correct answer:

Molt

Explanation:

When a dog loses its outer fur this process is called shedding, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what the process by which birds lose their feathers is called. The correct answer is “molt” which means to lose feathers or hair. For clarification, mollify and assuage are synonyms that both mean to alleviate; defy means resist; espy means to notice.

Example Question #471 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Fox is to paws as dolphin is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mammal

flippers

intelligent

marine

blowhole

Correct answer:

flippers

Explanation:

“Paw” is a noun that means “an animal’s foot having claws and pads.” So, because a fox’s paws are its feet, we need to pick out a word that describes the equivalent body part that a dolphin would have. While “flippers” and “blowhole” each refer to a part of a dolphin’s body, a “flipper” is specifically “a broad flat limb without fingers, used for swimming by various sea animals such as seals, whales, and turtles.” So, because a dolphin has flippers where a fox has paws, “flippers” is the correct answer.

Example Question #472 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Horse is to equine as __________.

Possible Answers:

sleep is to pillow

bear is to ursine

miser is to money

water is to liquid

feline is to cat

Correct answer:

bear is to ursine

Explanation:

Since "equine" is an adjective that specifically means "of, relating to, or resembling horses," we need to find another word where the first word is a noun and the second is an adjective that means "relating to [that noun]." While "feline is to cat" might look like a good answer choice initially, since "feline" is an adjective that means "of, relating to, or resembling cats," the words appear in the wrong order in the answer; we need the noun to come before the adjective, and in "feline is to cat," the adjective comes before the noun, so it can't be the right answer. Both "bear is to ursine" and "water is to liquid" appear to be good answers, so we need to pick between them. "Bear is to ursine" is the better answer because bears and horses are both animals. Also, "equine" and "ursine" are each specific words referring to a single type of animal, while "liquid" is broader since it can refer to substances other than water. So, the correct answer is "bear is to ursine."

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