All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Specific Terminology
Dog is to wolf as cat is to __________.
gorilla
lion
shark
giraffe
kangaroo
lion
A dog is a domesticated canine, while a wolf is a wild canine. So, because a cat is a domesticated feline, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes an animal that is a wild feline. “Lion” is the only answer choice that refers to a wild feline, so “lion” is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Specific Terminology
Hound is to bay as __________.
ground is to bar
cat is to purr
dog is to peninsula
wolf is to howl
snake is to hiss
wolf is to howl
Hound dogs bay; it is a very specific sound associated strongly with this type of dog (canine). A howl is a specific sound associated strongly with a wolf (also a canine). "Cat is to purr" and "Snake is to hiss" also make some sense, but the BEST fit is "wolf is to howl" as both animals are canines.
Example Question #3 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Calf is to fledgling as cow is to __________.
Dog
Lion
Bird
Monkey
Horse
Bird
A calf is a young cow, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these animals is an adult version of a fledgling. "Fledgling" can be used in two ways (as an adjective it means youthful or inexperienced), when used in this context, as a noun, it means young bird. So the correct answer is “bird.”
Example Question #4 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Cow is to beef as deer is to __________.
veal
stag
mare
pork
venison
venison
"Beef" is the name given to the meat product derived from a cow, so to solve this analogy, you need to determine the name of the meat product that is derived from a deer. This should lead you to the correct answer, "venison."
Example Question #5 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Bee is to hive as rabbit is to __________.
nest
fur
warren
apiary
cocoon
warren
“Hive” means beehive, so it is a place where bees live. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that is a term for where rabbits live. “Warren" is a noun that means a group of connected rabbit burrows and because rabbits live in a warren like bees live in a hive, “warren” is the correct answer.
Example Question #6 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Bird is to avian as __________.
person is to humane
bear is to mammalian
moth is to nocturnal
horse is to equine
lizard is to reptilian
horse is to equine
"Avian" is an adjective that means having to do with birds, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun and the second an adjective specifically meaning having to do with [the first word]. While "person is to humane" may look like a potentially correct answer, "humane" does not mean having to do with humans, but rather compassionate, so it cannot be the correct answer. While "lizard is to reptilian" "horse is to equine," and "bear is to mammalian" may each look correct, more things are reptilian than just lizards, and more things are mammals than just bears; however, just as only birds are avian, only horses are equine, so "horse is to equine" is the correct answer.
Example Question #7 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Aviary is to bird as apiary is to _________.
shark
bee
whale
dolphin
monkey
bee
An "aviary" is a place for housing birds, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which animal is typically housed in an "apiary." Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to guess this answer unless you have some very specific Latin language experience, but that is why we are here. An "apiary" is a collection of beehives where bees are raised for honey.
Example Question #1 : Animal Related Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Gander is to goose as stallion is to __________.
gelding
foal
gallop
mare
colt
mare
"Gander" and "goose" are terms for male and female geese, respectively. "Stallion" and "mare" are terms for male and female horses. (While "goose" is also the term for the entire species of bird, this relationship would require the word for the blank to be "horse," which isn't an available option; so, "gander is to goose" needs to be interpreted as terms for male and female birds of the species.)
Example Question #9 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Cow is to swan as calf is to __________.
swoon
bull
nestling
leg
cygnet
cygnet
A calf is a young cow, and a cygnet is a young swan.
Example Question #10 : Specific Terminology
Complete this analogy.
Dog is to shed as bird is to __________.
Mollify
Espy
Defy
Molt
Assuage
Molt
When a dog loses its outer fur this process is called shedding, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what the process by which birds lose their feathers is called. The correct answer is “molt” which means to lose feathers or hair. For clarification, mollify and assuage are synonyms that both mean to alleviate; defy means resist; espy means to notice.
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