Determining Meaning or Part of Speech from Context - SSAT Middle Level Verbal

One might participate in a tournament by competing in it, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb describing what one might do in a play. While “game” might look like a potentially correct answer because one might play in a game, we need to consider “play” as the noun, because it is the first word in the sequence, like “tournament,” a noun. So, “game” cannot be the correct answer, because one does not “game” in a play. “Play” as a noun can mean a drama and one might “act” (perform a role) in a play, just as one might compete in a tournament, so “act” is the correct answer.

The word "arrest" most commonly means catch a criminal and charge him or her with a crime; however, in this instance, you have to know the secondary meaning of "arrest," which is stop something. “Arrest” can mean stop whilst “begin” means start, so you need to pick out an answer choice that is an opposite of “virtue.” “Virtue” is a morally good character trait whereas “vice” is a morally bad character trait. To help, “disbelief” is mental rejection of something as untrue;“prosperity” is the state of being successful; “sacrifice” is the act of giving up something you want to keep; and “merit” is excellence or worth.

A rose typically has or consists of many petals, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a noun which typically has or consists of many teeth. “Dentistry” and “toothbrush” might each look like potentially correct answers because “teeth” can mean the bony, enamel-covered units in contained in the mouth and used for chewing. However, neither “dentistry” nor “toothbrush” are things that consist of many teeth, so neither can be the correct answer; however, “teeth” can also mean individual parts that project on a comb, gear, or saw. Considering it as falling under this definition, “zipper” makes sense as an answer, because the individual bits of a zipper that interlock are called "teeth." So, just as a rose consists of petals, a zipper consists of teeth, so “zipper” is the correct answer.

Since tango is a style or form of dance, we need to pick out an answer in which the first word is a style or form of the second word. While "painting is to impressionism" and "poem is to sonnet" may both look like correct answers, the words in these answers appear in the wrong order; instead of having the style come first and the category come second, they have the category come first and the style come second. "Jazz is to music," however, has its words in the correct order (style is to category), and since jazz is a style or kind of music, "jazz is to music" is the correct answer.

Since one meaning of "carp" is complain in an annoying way, "carp" and "complain" are synonyms. We thus need to pick out another answer choice in which the two words are synonyms. While "trout is to fish" may look like a potentially correct answer choice because "carp" as a noun refers to a type of fish and "trout" is also a type of fish, "trout is to fisherman" cannot be the correct answer because "trout" and "fisherman" are not synonyms. "Speak" and "utter" are synonyms, though, so the correct answer is "speak is to utter."

One could read "cork" as a verb, as one can "cork a bottle," to shut it, but in that case, none of the answer choices would work as verbs meaning close a jar. "Cork" can also be read as a noun meaning the small stopper that closes up a bottle. Using this definition, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what closes up a jar. While "jam" might look like a good answer choice because a jar may be filled with jam, jam does not close up a jar, but instead represents potential contents of a jar. Since a lid closes up a jar just like a cork closes up a bottle, "lid" is the correct answer.

"Bestow" is a verb that means confer, and "award" is either the thing bestowed on something, or a synonym of "bestow" if it is used as a verb meaning give an award . We need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word either describes what one typically does with the second word, a noun, or is a synonym of the second word, a verb. Since none of the potential answer choices are pairs of synonyms, we will need to look for an answer choice in which the first word describes what one typically does with the second, a noun. While "type is to keyboard" might look like a potentially correct answer, one uses a keyboard to type—one does not "type a keyboard." So, "type is to keyboard" cannot be the correct answer. One does climb a mountain just like one bestows an award, however, so the correct answer is "climb is to mountain."

Pins are stored in pincushions, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what objects are stored in a quiver. “Quiver” can be used as a verb that means tremble , so “shake” might look like a potentially correct answer, but because “pincushion” and “pin” are not synonyms, we are not looking for an answer choice that is a synonym of “quiver,” so “shake” cannot be the correct answer. When “quiver” is used as a noun, as in this case, it means the storage case for arrows used by archers, so because a quiver holds arrows just like a pincushion holds pins, “arrow” is the correct answer.

“Whisper” is a word that as a verb means speak very softly and as a noun means a very quiet act of speaking. So, if one whispers, one is being quiet, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a manner of speaking and the second word an adjective describing that manner of speaking. While “holler is to loud” and “murmur is to blaring” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “murmur” is a word that when used as a verb means say something in a quiet, almost indistinct voice while “blaring” is an adjective that means loud. So, because “murmur” is not accurately described by “blaring,” “murmur is to blaring” cannot be the correct answer. “Holler,” however, when used as a verb, is used of a person and means shout, so “loud” is an accurate descriptor of “holler” just like “quiet” is an accurate descriptor of “whisper.” So, “holler is to loud” is the correct answer.

In this analogy, you need to know two secondary definitions of words. If "weather" is read as a noun meaning atmospheric phenomena like rain and snow, a storm is a type of weather, but none of the answer choices present a type of champion. "Weather" is here being used as a verb instead; to "weather" something means to endure it, as in the phrase "weather a storm." Similarly, "champion" is being used as a verb meaning promote. Just as you "weather" (endure) a storm, you promote a cause, so the correct answer is “cause.”

While at first glance you might assume that "pen" is being used in the sense of a writing instrument that uses ink, that would mean that the model relationship is one of action to object you use to do that action. However, none of the answer choices are objects that one might use to "prohibit," something, so that can't be the correct model relationship. "Pen" can also be used as a verb that means write, so "write" and "pen" are synonyms. That means that to solve this analogy, you have to find the best synonym of "prohibit." "Prohibit" means ban or forbid, so "forbid" is the correct answer.

A "die" is the singular form of a six-sided cube with a different number of dots on each side used in games. The plural of "die" is "dice." "Fish" is the plural form of "fish," so "fish" is the right answer. This is confusing though, because "die" and "dice" both have multiple meanings. "Die" could mean stop being alive, and dice could mean chop or slice. Hopefully, you figured out that "die" is also the singular form of "dice."

"Frighten" and "scare" are synonyms, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a synonym of "sink." “Founder” has many meanings, but in this case its meaning of sink makes it the correct answer. If you chose"bowl," you may have been thinking of "sink" in the sense of a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture. However, "bowl" and "sink" have different meaningsand are not synonyms. The incorrect answer choice “flounder” means struggle to move or obtain footing.

“Summon” and “dismiss” are opposites of each other. If you “summon” someone, you ask him or her to come to your location, whereas if you “dismiss” someone, you tell them that they are free to leave your location. “Well” has many meanings, such as a pit that you get water from. To solve the analogy, we need to find a word that is the opposite of one of the meanings of “well.” One meaning of “well” is in good health or in a state in which everything is all right. An opposite of this meaning of “well” is “amiss.” If there is something “amiss,” there is something wrong or not all right. The other words are not opposites of any of the meanings of "well."

To “wend” is to move from one place to another,whereas “stationary” is the opposite: staying in one place or position. To “dock” is to haul or guide into or alongside a usually wooden pier used as a landing place or moorage for boats;the opposite of this is to “depart” or to set sail. An “enclosure” is like a fence, something used to contain something else. A “pier” is another work for “dock.”

Since tango is a style or form of dance, we need to pick out an answer in which the first word is a style or form of the second word. While "painting is to impressionism" and "poem is to sonnet" may both look like correct answers, the words in these answers appear in the wrong order; instead of having the style come first and the category come second, they have the category come first and the style come second. "Jazz is to music," however, has its words in the correct order (style is to category), and since jazz is a style or kind of music, "jazz is to music" is the correct answer.

Since one meaning of "carp" is complain in an annoying way, "carp" and "complain" are synonyms. We thus need to pick out another answer choice in which the two words are synonyms. While "trout is to fish" may look like a potentially correct answer choice because "carp" as a noun refers to a type of fish and "trout" is also a type of fish, "trout is to fisherman" cannot be the correct answer because "trout" and "fisherman" are not synonyms. "Speak" and "utter" are synonyms, though, so the correct answer is "speak is to utter."

One could read "cork" as a verb, as one can "cork a bottle," to shut it, but in that case, none of the answer choices would work as verbs meaning close a jar. "Cork" can also be read as a noun meaning the small stopper that closes up a bottle. Using this definition, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what closes up a jar. While "jam" might look like a good answer choice because a jar may be filled with jam, jam does not close up a jar, but instead represents potential contents of a jar. Since a lid closes up a jar just like a cork closes up a bottle, "lid" is the correct answer.

"Bestow" is a verb that means confer, and "award" is either the thing bestowed on something, or a synonym of "bestow" if it is used as a verb meaning give an award . We need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word either describes what one typically does with the second word, a noun, or is a synonym of the second word, a verb. Since none of the potential answer choices are pairs of synonyms, we will need to look for an answer choice in which the first word describes what one typically does with the second, a noun. While "type is to keyboard" might look like a potentially correct answer, one uses a keyboard to type—one does not "type a keyboard." So, "type is to keyboard" cannot be the correct answer. One does climb a mountain just like one bestows an award, however, so the correct answer is "climb is to mountain."

Pins are stored in pincushions, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what objects are stored in a quiver. “Quiver” can be used as a verb that means tremble , so “shake” might look like a potentially correct answer, but because “pincushion” and “pin” are not synonyms, we are not looking for an answer choice that is a synonym of “quiver,” so “shake” cannot be the correct answer. When “quiver” is used as a noun, as in this case, it means the storage case for arrows used by archers, so because a quiver holds arrows just like a pincushion holds pins, “arrow” is the correct answer.