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Container & Contents
Analogies

Master the relationship between what holds something and what goes inside to ace SSAT verbal analogy questions.

SSAT Middle Level: Verbal

What Is an Analogy?

An analogy is a comparison between two pairs of words that share the same type of relationship. On the SSAT, you will see a pair of words and must find the answer choice whose pair mirrors that relationship.

Think of it like a puzzle: if you can name the connection between the first pair, you can find a matching connection in the second pair.

The Container-Contents Relationship

A container-contents analogy pairs something that holds or stores items with the items it typically holds. The container is designed or commonly used to hold that specific content.

Container
The object that holds, stores, or encloses something
Contents
What is typically found inside or held by the container

Visualizing the Connection

Bookshelf CONTAINER holds Books = Aquarium CONTAINER holds Fish Bridge Sentence "A ___ is used to hold ___."

Both pairs follow the same bridge sentence: "A container is used to hold contents." If you can plug both pairs into the same sentence, the analogy works.

The Core Rule

Container is designed to hold Contents

Key test: Ask yourself, "Is this container specifically made for holding these contents?" A jar holds jam. A suitcase holds clothes. A garage holds cars. Each is a typical, expected pairing.

Direction Matters

On the SSAT, the analogy can be written in either direction. You must identify which word is the container and which is the contents, then match that same order in your answer.

Container → Contents
Vase is to flowers
Wallet is to money
Cage is to bird
Contents → Container
Flowers is to vase
Money is to wallet
Bird is to cage

Close vs. Perfect Matches

Some answer choices might have a loose connection, but the SSAT rewards the most specific and typical relationship. Always pick the tightest match.

Weak Match Strong Match
Closet is to ___ wood clothes
Bowl is to ___ table soup
Envelope is to ___ stamp letter

How to Solve It

1
Read the pair. Identify which word is the container and which is the contents.
2
Build a bridge sentence. "A ___ is designed to hold ___" or "___ is typically found inside a ___."
3
Check direction. Is it container → contents, or contents → container? Note the order.
4
Test each choice. Plug the answer pair into your bridge sentence. The one that fits best is your answer.
5
Eliminate distractors. Reject pairs with a different relationship type (part-whole, cause-effect, material, etc.).

Worked Example 1

Basket CONTAINER holds Fruit CONTENTS = Pitcher CONTAINER holds Water

Worked Example 2

Notice the direction: contents comes first, then container. Our bridge sentence reverses: "Coins are held in a purse."

A) Bow
A bow shoots arrows: that is a tool-action relationship, not container-contents.
B) Quiver ✓
A quiver is designed to hold arrows: container-contents match in the correct direction.
C) Target
A target is where arrows land: that is a different relationship altogether.

Worked Example 3: Tricky One

A hangar is a large building that houses an airplane. A stable is a building that houses what?

A) Hay
Hay is found in a stable, but the stable is not designed primarily to store hay.
B) Saddle
A saddle is equipment used with horses: tool relationship, not container-contents.
C) Horse ✓
A stable is specifically designed to house horses: perfect container-contents match.

Building Your Pattern Library

The more container-contents pairs you recognize, the faster you will solve these on test day. Study these common patterns:

Container Contents Bridge Sentence
Coop Chickens A coop houses chickens
Silo Grain A silo stores grain
Vault Treasure A vault secures treasure
Envelope Letter An envelope holds a letter
Gallery Paintings A gallery displays paintings

Common Mistakes

✕ Confusing Relationships
Picking a pair with a different relationship type (e.g., tool-use, part-whole, or cause-effect) instead of container-contents.
✕ Ignoring Direction
Selecting a pair where the container and contents are in the wrong order compared to the question pair.
✕ Choosing a Loose Fit
Picking a container that can hold the item but is not its primary purpose (e.g., "room" for "books" vs. "bookshelf" for "books").

Container-Contents vs. Other Types

Analogy Type Example How It Differs
Container : Contents Jar : Jam Jar holds jam inside it
Part : Whole Wheel : Car Wheel is part of a car
Object : Material Shirt : Cotton Shirt is made of cotton
Object : Location Teacher : School Teacher works at a school
Tool : User Brush : Painter Painter uses a brush

Summary Checklist

1
Identify the relationship: Is one word a container and the other its typical contents?
2
Create a bridge sentence: "A ___ is designed to hold ___."
3
Check direction: Match the order (container first or contents first).
4
Pick the most specific pair: Reject loose fits and different relationship types.
5
Verify: Both pairs must fit the same bridge sentence with equal precision.

Question 1 of 5

VASE is to flowers as CRATE is to ___?

Question 2 of 5

Milk is to carton as cereal is to ___?

Question 3 of 5

KENNEL is to dog as BARN is to ___?

Question 4 of 5

TREASURE is to chest as TOOLS is to ___?

Question 5 of 5

AQUARIUM is to fish as TERRARIUM is to ___?