SSAT Elementary Level Verbal › Example to Category or Category to Example
Complete this analogy.
Crocodile is to reptile as penguin is to __________.
bird
bird of prey
egg
arctic
fish
A crocodile is a kind of reptile, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a category that a penguin would fall into. While “bird” and “bird of prey” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “bird of prey” specifically means “a predatory bird; a raptor,” and because a penguin does not fall into this specific category of birds, but is still a bird, “bird” is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Copper is to __________ as denim is to fabric.
metal
liquid
animal
university
book
"Denim" is a type of "fabric," so to solve this analogy you need to determine what "copper" is a type of. The correct answer is that "copper" is a type of "metal."
Complete this analogy.
Cougar is to cat as __________ is to dog.
hyena
giraffe
shark
bark
loyal
A "cougar" is an example of a big "cat." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an example of a "dog." The correct answer is "hyena." "Hyenas" are pack animals that live in Africa.
Complete this analogy.
Color is to pink as __________.
emotion is to happiness
squirrel is to animal
dream is to nightmare
fish is to scale
quiet is to loud
Pink is an example of a color, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is an example of the first. While “squirrel is to animal” and “emotion is to love” might each look like a potentially correct answer, an animal is not an example of a squirrel, so “squirrel is to animal” cannot be the correct answer. Happiness is an example of an emotion, however, just as pink is an example of a color, so “emotion is to happiness” is the correct answer.
Complete the analogy.
Sheep is to animal as ____________.
banana is to fruit
chair is to house
leaf is to tree
flock is to bird
wool is to sheep
To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. A "sheep" is an example of an animal. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'example' is to 'category.'" A "banana" is an example of "a fruit," so that must be the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Dinosaur is to brontosaurus as cat is to __________.
leopard
tyrannosaurus
nocturnal
aquatic
zoo
Since a brontosaurus is a kind of dinosaur, we need to pick out an answer choice which is a kind of cat. Of the answer choices that are nouns ("leopard," "tyrannosaurus," and "zoo"), only two are animals ("leopard" and "tyrannosaurus") and only "leopard" is a kind of cat. Because a leopard is a type of cat, just like a brontosaurus is a type of dinosaur, "leopard" is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Vegetable is to corn as __________.
insect is to bumblebee
apple is to fruit
core is to apple
tree is to leaf
canoe is to paddle
Corn is an example of a vegetable, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a category and the second word an example of something that falls into that category. While “insect is to bumblebee” and “apple is to fruit” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “apple is to fruit” cannot be the correct answer because a fruit is not an example of an apple; however, a bumblebee is an example of an insect, just as corn is an example of a vegetable, so “insect is to bumblebee” is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Venus is to planet as soda is to __________.
beverage
food
fizz
cup
carbonated
Since Venus is a planet (it fits into the category of "planet"), we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a category into which "soda" fits. Of the three answer choices which are nouns ("food," "beverage," and "cup"), soda is not a kind of food or cup, but it is a kind of beverage, so "beverage" is the correct answer.
Complete the analogy.
Country is to United States as __________.
capital is to Washington, D.C
Los Angeles is to New York
Mexico is to Canada
town is to city
ocean is to continent
To complete the analogy, you first need to determine the relationship between the initial pairing. The "United States" is an example of a country. Therefore the answer must be in the form of "'category' is to 'example.'" "Washington, D.C." is an example of a "capital," so that must be the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Baseball is to sport as __________ is to story.
fable
writing
author
bat
pitcher
"Baseball" is an example of a "sport." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an example of a "story." The correct answer is a "fable." A "fable" is a short story meant to teach some important lesson about how to behave. Additionally, an "author" is someone who writes a book or story, a writer.