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 #15 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Hail is to rain as spring is to __________.

Possible Answers:

thunder

flowers

None of the other answer choices

fall

snow

Correct answer:

fall

Explanation:

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

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

Complete this analogy.

Side is to front as __________.

Possible Answers:

top is to bottom

bold is to shy

sad is to happy

engine is to stern

deck is to chair

Correct answer:

top is to bottom

Explanation:

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

Example Question #17 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Hoof is to mane as __________.

Possible Answers:

whiskers are to paws

dairy is to cows

ear is to hear

wings are to fly

horse is to saddle

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 #18 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Leaf is to flower as beak is to __________.

Possible Answers:

teeth

horns

flying

feathers

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

Complete the analogy.

Shirt is to shorts as _____________.

Possible Answers:

sweater is to pants

tomato is to fruit

running is to shoes

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 #3 : Part/Whole, Example/Category, And Cause/Effect

Complete the analogy.

Floor is to ceiling as __________.

Possible Answers:

stove is to kitchen

roof is to bed

dresser is to wall

carpet is to rug

basement is to attic

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 #3 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete the analogy.

Pillow is to blanket as __________.

Possible Answers:

bed is to room

bracelet is to wrist

hat is to coat

painter is to baker

toothbrush is to teeth

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 : Example To Category Or Category To Example

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Shark is to fish as owl is to __________.

Possible Answers:

animal 

ocean 

fly 

land 

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 : Example To Category Or Category To Example

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Apple is to fruit as beef is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cook 

cow 

cafe 

horse 

meat 

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 #6 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bread is to food as coffee is to __________.

Possible Answers:

black 

kitchen 

cup

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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