Analogies - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

"Sail" is an action undertaken on the ocean, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine where it is that someone is likely to drive. So, the answer is “highway.”

"Metropolitan" means related to the city, urban. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words means related to the countryside, rural. The correct answer is "agrarian."

"Anorexia" is a medical condition that arises from a lack of food. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "insomnia" arises from a lack of. The correct answer is "sleep."

“Pungent” means strong-smelling and “olfactory” means related to the sense of smell. So something that is "pungent" is detected by your "olfactory" sense. Similarly, something that is “bright” is detected by your “visual” sense.

A “waltz” is a type of “dance,” just as "jazz" is a type of "music." To clarify the other terms, “repetition” is the act of doing things over and over again; a "symphony" is a long musical composition.

This analogy shows a part to whole relationship.

A singer is part of a larger unit (the choir).

The correct answer is "player is to team." A player is part of a team (the team being the whole).

A "maestro" is the conductor of an orchestra. Just as a director organizes and directs actors in a production, a maestro directs an orchestra. The rest of the answer options refer to groups, but not the leaders of those groups.

A grimace is most similar to a frown, but indicates a high level of distaste or disgust. As one smiles or grins when he/she feels happiness, one might grimace when he/she feels disgust. Delight is another emotion that would be signaled facially with a grin. All the other emotions could be signaled with facial expressions, but they would not be a grimace.

"Congenial" means agreeable, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best available antonym of "debilitating." "Debilitating" means greatly weakening, so the best antonym is “strengthening.” For clarification, "diabolical" means evil.

A "pilot" is someone who operates a piece of machinery, (usually) someone who flies a plane. So, an action undertaken by a "pilot" is to "fly," which of these is an action undertaken by a "mariner"? Well, a "mariner" is a sailor, so the correct answer is "sail."

A phone allows one to communicate, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine what it is that a car allows one to do. The correct answer is "travel."

"Merge" and "blend" are synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available synonym for condone. To "condone" something means to allow it. For clarification, "despise" means hate; "remedy" means to fix; "allude" means to hint at something.

Abominable and offensive are synonyms, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is the best synonym for contradict. "Contradict" means to argue with, to oppose. For clarification, "pacify" means to make calm or better; "admonish" means to criticize or rebuke.

"Languid" is a synonym of "slow," so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best available synonym for choleric. To be "choleric" is to be bad-tempered or easily irritated, so the correct answer is “irritable.”

"Argue" and "debate" are synonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best synonym for candid. "Candid" means frank or honest.

If a leader is “draconian,” his laws and rules are “severe.” The meanings of the words are the same, so they are synonyms. Your “preference” can be described as your "taste" in something, so we can also say that "preference" and "taste" are synonyms.

"Voracious" means greedy, having a large appetite. "Voracious" and "greedy" are synonyms, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is a synonym of "slovenly." The correct answer is "messy." "Slovenly" means having a messy and dirty appearance.

"Pristine" means completely spotless, immaculate, totally clean without any mess. So, "pristine" and "clean" are synonyms. Which of these words is a synonym of "parched?" The correct answer is "dry," because "parched" means dried out due to heat and lack of water.

"Molten" means turned into "liquid" using heat. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that "evaporation" does. The correct answer is that to be "evaporated" is to be turned into "gas" using heat. Additionally, "fluid" is another word for "liquid"; an "atom" is a basic unit of matter, what everything is made of.

It is a quality of "failure" that it is "displeasing" (upsetting, not pleasing). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of "affection" (love, fondness, caring and liking). The correct answer is that it would usually be "comforting."