SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Part to Whole or Whole to Part

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dictionary is to words as magazine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

books

colors

photography

bookmarks

articles

Correct answer:

articles

Explanation:

A dictionary is a book that contains words, so you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what material a magazine consists of. Magazines are made up of articles, so "articles" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Minute is to hour as __________.

Possible Answers:

millisecond is to acrosecond

year is to month

century is to millennium

week is to day

weekend is to weekday

Correct answer:

century is to millennium

Explanation:

Both minutes and hours are units of time, with a minute being shorter than an hour. So, we need to look for an answer choice in which the first word depicts a shorter length of time than the second word. Thus, the best answer choice is "century is to millennium" because there are multiple centuries in one millennium!

Example Question #3 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Bicycle is to handlebars as car is to __________.

Possible Answers:

wheels

cup holder

brakes

steering wheel

radio

Correct answer:

steering wheel

Explanation:

Since handlebars are the part of a bicycle which one uses to steer it, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes the part of a car used to steer it. While all the answer choices are nouns that represent parts of a car, "steering wheel" is the correct answer because one uses a car's steering wheel to steer it, just like one uses a bicycle's handlebars to steer it.

Example Question #4 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Month is to year as __________.

Possible Answers:

sage is to page

cow is to calf

second is to minute

noise is to silence

child is to adult

Correct answer:

second is to minute

Explanation:

Months are smaller divisions of a year, so to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice in which the first answer is a smaller division of the second answer. Seconds are smaller divisions of a minute just as months are smaller divisions of a year, so "second is to minute" is the correct answer. Considering the other answer choices, a baby "cow" is called a "calf" and "cows" give birth to "calves," a "child" develops into an "adult," "sage" and "page" are words that rhyme, and "noise" and "silence" are opposites, so none of the other answer choices are related in the same way that "month" is related to "year."

Example Question #5 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Bicycle is to handlebars as car is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dashboard

radio

steering wheel

brakes

windows

Correct answer:

steering wheel

Explanation:

When riding a bicycle, one uses the handlebars to steer, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes which part of a car one uses to steer when driving it. One uses the steering wheel of a car to steer it, just as one uses the handlebars of a bicycle to steer it, so “steering wheel” is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Snake is to scales as tree is to __________.

Possible Answers:

grass

fur

flower

bark

nest

Correct answer:

bark

Explanation:

Snakes are covered by scales, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what covers trees. Many trees are covered by bark, so "bark" is the correct answer.

Example Question #7 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

The following questions ask you to find relationships between words. For each question, select the answer choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.

Bear is to claw as

Possible Answers:

water is to pool

big is to small

glass is to lens

high is to low

man is to nail

Correct answer:

man is to nail

Explanation:

"Claws" grow from the digits of a "bear," just as "nails" grow from the fingers of a "man."

Example Question #8 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Guitar is to strings as piano is to ___________.

Possible Answers:

fingers 

keys 

music 

sound 

percussion 

Correct answer:

keys 

Explanation:

A “guitar” is an instrument, and to play a guitar, you use its “strings." To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is something you use to play music on a “piano.” The correct answer is therefore “keys,” since the little black and white rectangles you press on to play notes on a piano are called “keys.” To provide further help, “percussion” is another name for the group of instruments played with sticks or by shaking them in a band or orchestra.

Example Question #9 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Door knob is to door as __________.

Possible Answers:

water is to glass

pane is to window

key is to lock

chair is to table

rain is to rainbow

Correct answer:

key is to lock

Explanation:

Door knobs help us to open doors, just like keys help us to open locks, so "key is to lock" is the correct answer.

Example Question #10 : Part To Whole Or Whole To Part

Complete this analogy.

Wave is to ocean as __________.

Possible Answers:

ground is to dirt

bird is to nest

branch is to tree

fly is to bird

kettle is to tea

Correct answer:

branch is to tree

Explanation:

Since waves are part of oceans, we need to pick out an answer in which the first thing is part of the second thing. While "birds are to nests" might seem like a good answer, because birds are found in nests, birds are not a part of nests, so "birds are to nests" can't be the right answer. "Branch is to tree" is the correct answer because a branch is a part of a tree, like waves are a part of an ocean.

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