SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Part/Whole, Example/Category, and Cause/Effect

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Part To Part

Complete this analogy.

Hail is to rain as spring is to __________.

Possible Answers:

None of the other answer choices

flowers

fall

snow

thunder

Correct answer:

fall

Explanation:

Hail and rain are both weather related, while spring and fall relate to our seasons.  

Example Question #11 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Side is to front as __________.

Possible Answers:

engine is to stern

bold is to shy

deck is to chair

top is to bottom

sad is to happy

Correct answer:

top is to bottom

Explanation:

"Front" and "side" are alternate sides of an object, just as "top" and "bottom" are.

Example Question #13 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Hoof is to mane as __________.

Possible Answers:

ear is to hear

horse is to saddle

dairy is to cows

wings are to fly

whiskers are to paws

Correct answer:

whiskers are to paws

Explanation:

In this question, "hoof" and "mane" are both parts of a horse's body, so to solve the analogy, we need to pick out the answer choice which lists two nouns that are both part of a given animal's body. While "horse is to saddle" and "whiskers are to paws" may each look like potentially correct answers, saddles are put on horses so that people can more easily ride them; a saddle is not naturally part of a horse. "Whiskers" and "paws" are both parts of the bodies of various animals like cats and foxes just like hooves and manes are parts of horses' bodies, so "whiskers are to paws" is the correct answer.

Example Question #14 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Leaf is to flower as beak is to __________.

Possible Answers:

teeth

feathers

flying

horns

fish

Correct answer:

feathers

Explanation:

A leaf and flower are both parts of a plant. A beak is a part of a bird, therefore the answer must be another part of a bird. "Feathers" is the only possible option.

Example Question #21 : Analogies

Complete the analogy.

Shirt is to shorts as _____________.

Possible Answers:

sweater is to pants

running is to shoes

tomato is to fruit

hat is to outfit

sunshine is to sunglasses 

Correct answer:

sweater is to pants

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "shirt" and "shorts" are both parts of an outfit. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'part' is to 'part,'" where both parts are part of the same whole. A "sweater" and "pants" are also both parts of an outfit, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Part/Whole, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete the analogy.

Floor is to ceiling as __________.

Possible Answers:

basement is to attic

stove is to kitchen

carpet is to rug

dresser is to wall

roof is to bed

Correct answer:

basement is to attic

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. The floor and ceiling are both parts of a room. The floor is the bottommost part of the room and the ceiling is the topmost portion of the room. You are therefore looking for an answer in the form "part" is to "part," where both parts share the same whole. Therefore the answer must be "basement is to attic." They are both rooms a house. The basement is the bottommost room of the house and the attic is the topmost room of the house.

Example Question #5 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Pillow is to blanket as __________.

Possible Answers:

toothbrush is to teeth

hat is to coat

bed is to room

painter is to baker

bracelet is to wrist

Correct answer:

hat is to coat

Explanation:

To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "pillow" and "a blanket" are both parts of a bed. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'part' is to 'part,'" and the parts must share a common whole. A "hat" and a "coat" are both parts of an outfit, so that must be the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Part/Whole, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Shark is to fish as owl is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ocean 

fly 

land 

animal 

bird 

Correct answer:

bird 

Explanation:

A shark is a type of fish, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out what type of animal an owl is. An owl is a type of “bird," so "bird" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Part/Whole, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Apple is to fruit as beef is to __________.

Possible Answers:

meat 

cook 

cow 

horse 

cafe 

Correct answer:

meat 

Explanation:

An apple is a fruit, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these categories beef belongs in. The correct answer is that beef is a “meat."

Example Question #1 : Example To Category Or Category To Example

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bread is to food as coffee is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cup

kitchen 

black 

milk 

drink 

Correct answer:

drink 

Explanation:

Bread is a type of food, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a category into which coffee fits. Coffee is a type of drink, so "drink" is the correct answer. Solving these types of questions is all about determining the relationship between the first two words before doing anything else.

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