Material Composition

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SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Material Composition

Questions 1 - 9
1

Complete this analogy.

Cashmere is to clothing as __________ is to building.

marble

edifice

architecture

loom

weave

Explanation

"Cashmere" is a material used in "clothing." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a material used for "building." The correct answer is "marble." Additionally, "architecture" refers to the art of designing buildings; a "loom" is a machine used to "weave" fabric; an "edifice" is another name for a building.

2

Complete this analogy.

Arsenal is to weapon as foliage is to __________.

leaf

brick

sand

pet

child

Explanation

A collection of "weapons" is known as an "arsenal." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something that when taken collectively is called "foliage." The correct answer is "leaf." "Foliage" is a collection of plant leaves.

3

Complete this analogy.

Lagoon is to water as __________ is to grass.

knoll

cow

green

plant

seed

Explanation

A "lagoon" is a pool of "water." A "lagoon" is made of "water," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is made of "grass." The correct answer is "knoll." A "knoll" is a small, grassy hill.

4

Complete this analogy.

Thicket is to bushes as __________ is to trees.

grove

harbor

stream

aqueduct

plateau

Explanation

A "thicket" is a collection of bushes growing together. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words means a collection of trees growing together. The correct answer is a "grove." Additionally, a "plateau" is a flat area of elevated land; an "aqueduct" is a pipe that transfers water; a "stream" is a small river.

5

Complete this analogy.

Caffeine is to coffee as __________ is to cigarettes.

nicotine

smoking

drinking

iodine

carcinogenic

Explanation

"Caffeine" is found in abundance in "coffee," it is what causes "coffee" to give you energy. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is found in "cigarettes." The correct answer is "nicotine." "Nicotine" is what makes "cigarettes" highly addictive. Additionally, "carcinogenic" means cancer causing. There are many "carcinogens" in "cigarettes" and some too in "coffee."

6

Complete this analogy.

Glacier is to ice as orchestra is to __________.

musicians

athletes

brick

water

practice

Explanation

A "glacier" is a slow moving large object comprised of "ice." To solve this analogy you therefore need to determine what it is that "comprises" (makes up, constitutes) an "orchestra." An "orchestra" is an arrangement of classical "musicians" who play songs together. So, the correct answer is "musicians."

7

Complete this analogy.

Bookshelf is to wood as window is to __________.

glass

curtain

sunlight

pane

sill

Explanation

A bookshelf might be made of wood, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a material that a window might be made of. The only answer choice that makes sense in this capacity is "glass," since windows are made of glass.

8

Complete this analogy.

Origami is to paper as tapestry is to __________.

cloth

clay

metal

dance

electricity

Explanation

“Origami” is defined as the Japanese art of paper folding, so a piece of origami would be made out of paper. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that describes the material out of which a tapestry is made. While “cloth,” “clay,” and “metal” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “tapestry” is defined as a thick piece of cloth with intricate illustrations woven into its design. Because a tapestry is made of cloth just as a piece of origami is made of paper, “tapestry” is the correct answer.

9

Complete this analogy.

Lightning is to electricity as tornado is to __________.

wind

dust

water

snow

fire

Explanation

Since lightning is a natural form of electricity that can be dangerous, we need to pick out of what a tornado is a natural, dangerous form. Since a "tornado" is a dangerous wind vortex, "wind" is the correct answer.

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