SSAT Elementary Level Verbal › Material Composition
Complete this analogy.
Star is to constellation as _______________ is to class.
student
principal
teacher
chalkboard
parent
Since a star is a single unit that, when combined with other stars, forms a constellation, we need to find a single unit that, when combined with others, creates a whole class. Since many students make up a class, the correct answer would be "student." At first glance, the answer may appear to be teacher, as every class is led by a teacher, but a class is made up by a body of students and has only one or two teachers. In addition, a teacher is the head of the class but is not part of the class itself.
Complete the analogy.
Ceramic is to mug as glass is to ________________.
window
car
sidewalk
hosue
table
Since a mug is typically made of ceramic material, we need to find an object that is typically made of glass material. Windows are primarily made of glass, therefore the correct answer is "window."
Complete the analogy.
Sweater is to wool as _____________ .
shoe is to leather.
bat is to ball.
eye is to face.
boat is to sea.
table is to food.
Sweaters are often made of wool. Therefore, we must look for the answer that shows a relationship between a product and the material from which it is made. Shoes are often made of leather, so the correct answer is "shoe is to leather."
Complete this analogy.
Wind is to tornado as __________.
snow is to snowstorm
rain is to rainbow
mile is to distance
parrot is to talk
wriggle is to worm
"Tornado" is a noun that means "a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system." So, because a tornado is a natural disaster that consists of wind, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word represents a natural disaster caused by or composed of the first word. "Rain is to rainbow" might look like a potentially correct answer, but since a "rainbow" is not a natural disaster, it cannot be the correct answer. However, because a snowstorm is a natural disaster created by snow, just like a tornado is a natural disaster created by wind, "snow is to snowstorm" is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Galaxy is to stars as __________ is to books.
library
reading
space
planet
universe
A "galaxy" is the name given to a collection of "stars." Our galaxy is called "the Milky Way." To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a name given to a collection of "books." The correct answer is a "library."
Complete this analogy.
Skeleton is to bones as __________.
log cabin is to logs
thread is to cloth
dirt is to worm
sky is to sunset
sharpen is to pencil
A skeleton is comprised of bones, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is made up of the thing the second word refers to. While "thread is to cloth" might look like a good answer choice because cloth is made up of thread, it can't be the correct answer because the two words are in the incorrect order—skeletons are made of bones, but thread is not made of cloth. Log cabins are made up of logs, however, so "log cabin is to logs" is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Snowflake is to snowdrift as raindrop is to __________.
downpour
desert
sky
leaf
fruit
Since a snowflake is a single unit of snow, and a snowdrift is composed of a lot of snowflakes, we need to pick out a word that describes something that is composed of a lot of water drops. Since "downpour" is the only answer choice that is made up of lots of raindrops, "downpour" is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Omelet is to egg as __________ is to flour.
cake
chicken
baking
oven
plant
An "omelet" is made using "eggs." So, which of these is something that is made using "flour?" The correct answer is a "cake."
Complete the analogy.
Hay is to haystack as _______________ is to igloo.
ice
eskimo
lake
fire
building
Since hay is the material that comprises a haystack, we must find that material that comprises an igloo. Since igloos are made of ice, the correct answer is "ice."
Complete this analogy.
Jam is to fruit as cheese is to __________.
milk
food
toast
grilled
banana
"Jam" is usually made from "fruit," so to solve this analogy you need to figure out which of these answer choices "cheese" is usually made from. The correct answer is that "milk" is used to make "cheese."