Cause-and-Effect
Analogies
Master the art of identifying causal relationships between paired terms: the key to unlocking one of the most common SSAT analogy patterns.
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 are given one pair and must find a second pair that mirrors the relationship exactly.
Defining Cause-and-Effect
In a cause-and-effect analogy, the first word produces, triggers, or leads to the second word. One term is the origin; the other is its natural consequence.
Why It Matters on the SSAT
Cause-and-effect is one of the most frequently tested analogy types on the SSAT Upper Level Verbal section. Recognizing this pattern quickly gives you a major advantage.
The Bridge Sentence Rule
The core technique for solving any analogy is to build a bridge sentence: a short, precise sentence that defines how the two words relate. For cause-and-effect, your bridge always follows a specific template.
Direction Matters
Cause-and-effect flows in one direction. The SSAT tests whether you can distinguish the cause from the effect and keep them in the correct order.
Cause-Effect vs. Association
The trickiest SSAT trap is confusing words that often appear together with words that have a true causal link. Here is how they differ:
| Cause-and-Effect | Association | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A directly produces B | A and B often occur together |
| Direction | One-way (A → B) | No fixed direction |
| Example | Exercise : Fatigue | Beach : Sunscreen |
| Bridge test | "A causes B" works | "A causes B" fails |
How to Solve Step by Step
Example 1: Straightforward
Example 2: Moderate
Example 3: Challenging
Subtle Variations of Cause-Effect
Not all cause-and-effect analogies use the word "causes." The SSAT tests several shades of causal relationships:
Abstract Cause-and-Effect
Some SSAT analogies use abstract or emotional cause-effect pairs, where the link is psychological rather than physical. These require careful thinking.
Common Mistakes
Summary of Analogy Types
| Type | Bridge Template | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cause → Effect | "A directly produces B" | Spark : Fire |
| Effect → Cause | "A is the result of B" (reversed) | Rash : Allergy |
| Preventive | "A prevents B from occurring" | Vaccine : Disease |
| Association | "A and B appear together" | Beach : Sand |
| Synonym | "A means the same as B" | Swift : Fast |
Question 1 of 5
Infection is to Fever as Exhaustion is to ___
Question 2 of 5
Deforestation is to Erosion as Pollution is to ___
Question 3 of 5
Generosity is to Gratitude as Betrayal is to ___
Question 4 of 5
Which pair demonstrates the same type of cause-and-effect relationship as Neglect : Decay?
Question 5 of 5
Friction is to Heat as Compression is to ___