All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features
Perilous is to danger as jocular is to . . .
silence
platitudes
humor
athleticism
fervor
humor
Since "perilous" means "full of danger; dangerous," we need to pick out a word which describes what someone "jocular" is full of or characterized by. Since "jocular" means "fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful," "humor" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy
Warlock is to magical as gymnast is to __________.
notorious
intelligent
laughable
flexible
indolent
flexible
A characteristic commonly associated with a warlock is to be magical, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a common characteristic of a gymnast. Gymnasts are usually "flexible," so that is the correct answer. For clarification, "notorious" means to be famous for the wrong reasons; "indolent" means lazy or lethargic.
Example Question #2 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Cigarette is to detrimental as apple is to _________.
hurtful
harmful
injurious
deleterious
helpful
helpful
A quality associated with cigarettes is that they are “detrimental” to your health. "Detrimental" means not helpful, causing negative consequences. To solve this analogy you have to determine what impact an apple would likely have on someone’s health. The correct answer is that an apple is “helpful.” For clarification, the other four answer choices are synonyms of one another and of detrimental.
Example Question #2 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Funeral is to somber as wedding is to __________.
jubilant
impertinent
gloomy
depressing
despondent
jubilant
A "funeral" is a somber occasion, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices best captures the occasion of a wedding. A "wedding" is generally a jubilant time, so the correct answer is “jubilant,” which means celebratory and happy. For clarification, "despondent," "depressing," and "gloomy" are all synonyms of one another; "impertinent" means rude and impudent.
Example Question #3 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Glutton is to greedy as philanthropist is to __________.
selfish
miserly
penurious
parsimonious
charitable
charitable
A characteristic of a glutton is to be greedy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is a characteristic commonly associated with a philanthropist. A "philanthropist" is someone who gives to charity, so the correct answer is “charitable.” For clarification, "penurious" means destitute, or very poor; "selfish," "miserly," and "parsimonious" are all synonyms that mean not generous, particularly with money.
Example Question #2 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Stubborn is to mule as sly is to __________.
lizard
dog
shark
fox
elephant
fox
A common saying in English is “as stubborn as a mule.” As such obstinacy has come to be associated with mules. Another common saying is “as sly as a fox.” To solve this analogy you had to determine which animal is generally associated with slyness. The correct answer is “fox.”
Example Question #2 : Qualities And Features
Complete this analogy.
Orator is to eloquent as priest is to __________.
Pious
Remorseful
Despondent
Forlorn
Miserable
Pious
An orator is a public speaker and someone who is eloquent is adept at speaking. A characteristic associated with an orator is eloquence, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a characteristic associated with priests. Priests are generally pious, as pious means deeply religious. For clarification, remorseful means full of guilt and regret; forlorn, despondent and miserable are all loosely synonyms that mean to be sad and without hope.
Example Question #1 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Strong is to ox as quiet is to __________.
Mouse
Parrot
Lion
Woodpecker
Seagull
Mouse
“As strong as an ox” is a famous English expression. However, even if you have never heard of this expression, you can still solve the analogy by realizing that "strong" is an adjective that someone might use to describe an ox. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices' words is an animal that is quiet. A "mouse" is a quiet animal, so "mouse" is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Skyscraper is to tall as elephant is to ___________.
small
Africa
tusk
ivory
large
large
The relationship between "skyscraper" and "tall" is that "tall" is a common characteristic of skyscrapers. The best choice is "large," as an elephant's size is a characteristic that is commonly associated with these animals. "Small" does not apply, as elephants are not typically thought of as small creatures. A "tusk" is a part of an elephant and "ivory" is the name of the material that the tusk is made out of. "Africa" is where many elephants live. The most appropriate chioce is "large."
Example Question #1 : Qualities And Features
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Analog is to digital as pocket-watch is to __________.
knife
computer
climate
time
computer
Something that is “analog” is of or relating to a device or process in which data is represented by physical quantities that change continuously. Something which is “digital” is of, relating to, or being data in the form of especially binary digits. So a “pocket-watch” can be seen as “analog,” whereas a computer is “digital.” The key to this question is your understanding of the word “digital” and that you relate it to “computers.” To clarify, a “climate” is the weather of an area of the world, so India has a hot and tropical “climate,” while New Jersey has a mild and temperate “climate.”
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