All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Blasphemy is to religion as adultery is to __________.
The state
Professionalism
Marriage
Friendship
Divinity
Marriage
To blaspheme means to speak ill or mockingly of God. So blasphemy is an offense against religion. To solve this analogy you have to identify what adultery is an offense against. "Adultery" means to engage in physical intimacy with someone other than your spouse so it is an offense against “marriage.”
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Creation is to destruction as implacable is to __________.
Cruel
Yielding
Callous
Pitiless
Merciless
Yielding
Creation and destruction are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for implacable. "Implacable" means relentless so the best antonym is “yielding.” For clarification, "cruel," "merciless," "pitiless" and "callous" are all synonyms for implacable.
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Tedium is to enthusiasm as susceptible is to __________.
Notoriety
Resistant
Infamy
Callousness
Generosity
Resistant
"Tedium" means extreme boredom and is an antonym of enthusiasm. So to solve this analogy you need to determine the best antonym for susceptible. "Susceptible" means vulnerable so the best antonym is “resistant.” For clarification, "callousness" means mercilessness; "notoriety" and "infamy" are synonyms that both describe being famous for the wrong reasons.
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Languid is to energetic as miserly is to __________.
Fair
Famous
Discreet
Generous
Cantankerous
Generous
"Languid" means unenergetic so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available antonym for miserly. "Miserly" means not generous so the best answer is “generous.” For clarification, "discreet" means sneaky; "cantankerous" means quick to anger, bad-tempered.
Example Question #2 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Wanton is to random as forceful is to __________.
Menacing
Frightening
Unimposing
Weak
Vigorous
Vigorous
"Wanton" is a synonym for random as in “the wanton destruction caused by the hurricane.” So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available answer choice for forceful. As "forceful" means strong, powerful and able to inflict ones will on another the correct answer is “vigorous.” For clarification, "weak" and "unimposing" are synonyms, as are "frightening" and "menacing."
Example Question #2 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Sinister is to menacing as effusive is to __________.
Frequent
Forlorn
Frigid
Fulsome
Foolish
Fulsome
"Sinister" and "menacing" are synonyms that both describe the scary and ominous quality of something. So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for effusive. "Effusive" means not restrained in expressing feelings, demonstrative and emotive. The correct answer is therefore “fulsome” which means excessively complimentary. For clarification, "frigid" describes something very cold; "forlorn" means very sad.
Example Question #2 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Labyrinth is to confusing as rollercoaster is to _________.
Exhilarating
Whimsical
Tedious
Mundane
Quirky
Exhilarating
A "labyrinth" is another name for a maze. A quality of a maze or labyrinth is to be confusing so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a quality of a rollercoaster. This should lead you to the correct answer which is “exhilarating” which means stimulating and exciting. For clarification, "mundane" and "tedious" both mean boring; "whimsical" and "quirky" both mean silly.
Example Question #1 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Haughty is to conceited as vain is to __________.
Heavy
Nostalgic
Harrowing
Important
Futile
Futile
"Haughty" and conceited are synonyms that both mean proud and arrogant. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these answer choices is the best synonym for vain. Vain means useless or ineffective so the correct answer is “futile” which means useless effort. For clarification, to feel "nostalgic" means to positively remember the past; something that is "harrowing" is horrifying.
Example Question #3 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Ameliorate is to improve as cogent is to _________.
Unlikely
Implausible
Catastrophic
Viable
Primary
Viable
Ameliorate and improve are synonyms that both mean to make a situation better. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for cogent. "Cogent" means intelligently thought out and viable. For clarification, "implausible" is a synonym for unlikely; "catastrophic" means disastrous.
Example Question #4 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Nomenclature is to classification as calculus is to __________.
Assistance
Assistance
Impossible
Mathematics
Scientific observation
Mathematics
Nomenclature is a type of classification based on assigning names. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what calculus is a type of, this should lead you to the correct answer which is “mathematics.”