All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #191 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Gerrymander is to divide as filibuster is to __________.
Campaign
Holdup
Establish
Determine
Solidify
Holdup
Gerrymandering is the process by which electoral areas are divided to manipulate the political process; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to determine what purpose a filibuster serves in the political process. A filibuster is an extended speech given to delay, or holdup, the passage of a bill.
Example Question #71 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Censor is to obscene as __________.
book is to text
type is to mendacious
raze is to build
hardware is to software
retract is to incorrect
retract is to incorrect
"Obscene" is an adjective that means offensive and indecent. "Censor," when used as a verb, means officially suppress aspects of a text or work of art for being perceived as offensive. So, something that is obscene has a high likelihood of being censored, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is an adjective, and the first word is a verb describing what would likely be done to something that adjective describes. Only two answer choices include a verb followed by an adjective: "retract is to incorrect" and "type is to mendacious." While "type is to mendacious" might look like a potentially correct answer, "mendacious" means lying or not truthful. Since there is no clear connection between typing something and the thing typed being untrue, "type is to mendacious" cannot be not the correct answer. "Retract is to incorrect" is the correct answer because just as if something is obscene it is likely to be censored, if something is incorrect it is likely to be retracted, or withdrawn due to it being untrue.
Example Question #72 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Accolade is to proud as __________.
limber is to stretch
dinner is to hungry
melody is to song
threat is to afraid
car is to automotive
threat is to afraid
"Accolade" is a noun that means an earned award of merit, so one is likely to be proud when one receives an accolade. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word describes an emotion one might feel when experiencing or receiving what the first word describes. "Dinner is to hungry" might look like a potentially correct answer because like "accolade to proud," it consists of a noun followed by an adjective describing an emotion. However, one would not expect to feel hungry after receiving a dinner, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Threat is to afraid" is the best answer choice because just as one might be expected to feel proud after receiving an accolade, one might expect to feel afraid when receiving a threat.
Example Question #73 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Sleepwalk is to asleep as __________.
eat is to thirsty
rest is to exhausted
give up is to optimistic
clumsy is to stumble
fly is to wings
rest is to exhausted
“Sleepwalk” is a verb that means walk around while sleeping, so someone who is asleep might sleepwalk. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a verb, and the second word an adjective describing a condition under which someone might perform the verb’s action. While “rest is to exhausted,” “give up is to optimistic,” and “eat is to thirsty” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “eat is to thirsty” cannot be the correct answer because “thirsty” means needing to drink something, so we would not necessarily expect someone who is thirsty to eat anything. Similarly, “give up is to optimistic” cannot be the correct answer either, because “optimistic” means hopeful, so we would not expect someone who is optimistic to give up. However, we could logically expect someone who is exhausted (drained of energy) to rest, just as we might expect someone who is asleep to sleepwalk, so “rest is to exhausted” is the correct answer.
Example Question #74 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Flammable is to burnt as frangible is to __________.
delicious
shattered
shards
justified
vase
shattered
An object that is "flammable" can catch on fire, and if something catches on fire, a result is that it becomes burnt afterwards. Since "frangible" means able to be broken, we need to select an answer choice that describes the state of an object after it breaks. We know we need an adjective, which eliminates "shards" and "vase" as possibilities, and of "shattered," "delicious," and "justified," "shattered" is the only option that has anything to do with breaking, so it is the correct answer, since breaking something can result in it being shattered.
Example Question #75 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Inflame is to angry as mortify is to __________.
calm
embarassed
tired
sad
happy
embarassed
“Inflame” is a verb that means provoke someone, often making them angry, so inflaming someone could logically make them angry. We need to pick out an answer that describes how someone might feel after being mortified. “Mortify” is a verb that means embarass someone greatly, so “embarrassed” is the correct answer.
Example Question #76 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Drowsy is to sedative as energetic is to __________.
tranquilizer
soporific
medicine
lethargic
stimulant
stimulant
A sedative is something you might use in order to make you feel "drowsy," or tired; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you must find which answer choice would most likely be used to make someone feel energetic. The correct answer is "stimulant," which is something that provides energy. A "tranquilizer" would have the same affect as a sedative; "soporific "means causing sleepiness; and "lethargic" means lacking energy.
Example Question #77 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship
Complete this analogy.
Pleasure is to beam as pain is to __________.
expression
grimace
smile
scream
discomfort
grimace
A "beam" can be defined as to smile or a smile, with a smile being an expression of pleasure. To solve this analogy, you must therefore identify which answer choice is an expression of pain. This should lead you to the correct answer, “grimace,” which means a contorted facial expression expressing disgust or pain.
Example Question #1 : Cause And Effect
Complete this analogy.
Study is to erudite as __________.
electricity is to lightning
plains are to gazelle
glasses are to sight
exercise is to fit
sleep is to tired
exercise is to fit
"Erudite" is an adjective that means knowledgeable and learned. If one studies, one can become erudite, so we're looking for an answer in which the first word is a verb that describes what one can do to have the second word, an adjective, describe them. While "sleep is to tired" may look like a possible answer because you sleep when you are tired, one does not sleep to become tired, so it can't be the right answer. "Exercise is to fit," on the other hand, fits the pattern we're looking for, because if one exercises, one can become fit. Because of this, "exercise is to fit" is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : Cause And Effect
Complete this analogy.
Coffee is to lethargy as __________.
deodorant is to body odor
tea is to headaches
fasting is to hunger
exercise is to strength
medicine is to a cold
deodorant is to body odor
The relationship here is of cure to malady. Coffee is a cure for lethargy. Fasting is not a cure for hunger, so we can rule that one out. Exercise is not a cure for strength. If anything, it is probably a cure for weakness, so we can rule that one out, too. We can also rule out the answer choice, "Tea is to headaches," because tea is not necessarily a cure for headaches. That leaves us with two choices. The best one is "Deoderant is to body odor," because deoderant is always a cure for body odor. Medicine is only occasionally a cure for a cold.