Part and Whole

Help Questions

SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Part and Whole

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy:

Wolf is to pack as __________.

geese is to gaggle

herd is to reptiles

farm is to pig

wolf is to dog

child is to school

Explanation

A group of wolves is called a pack. Similarly, a group of geese is called a gaggle.

None of the other analogies have this specific relationship.

Groups of children are not called a school, although groups of children do go to school.

Wolf and dog are related, but the analogy does not fit the relationship of single animal to group of that animal.

Groups of pigs do live on farms, but the order of the words is incorrect: a group of farms is not called a pig.

A group of reptiles is not called a herd; a herd typically refers to a group of hoofed animals.

2

Complete this analogy:

Triangle is to pyramid as circle is to __________.

sphere

oval

round

cube

globe

Explanation

A pyramid is a three-dimensional version of the triangle. Similarly, a sphere is the three-dimensional version of the circle.

None of the other analogies have this relationship.

Globes are spherical, but refer specifically to spheres upon which three-dimensional maps of the Earth are depicted.

An oval is simply an elongated circle, also known as an ellipse.

Round is the quality of being non-linear, for either three-dimensional or two dimensional.

Cube is the three-dimensional version of the square.

3

Complete this analogy.

Singer is to choir as player is to ____________.

team

uniform

bar

shoe

bat

Explanation

This analogy shows a part to whole relationship.

A singer is part of a larger unit (the choir).

The correct answer is "player is to team." A player is part of a team (the team being the whole).

4

Complete this analogy.

Puzzle is to piece as couch is to _________.

cushion

drawer

brown

comfy

seat

Explanation

The relationship in "puzzle is to piece" is whole to part. The best choice is "cushion," as a cushion is a part of a couch. Both "brown" and "comfy" are possible characteristics of couches. The choice "seat" would make the relationship categorical because a couch is a type of seat. The choice "drawer" is unrelated to the word "couch."

5

Complete this analogy.

Link is to chain as __________.

stitch is to fabric

metal is to armor

point is to spear

hilt is to sword

handle is to bag

Explanation

“Link” is a word that when used as a noun, can mean a ring that helps to make up a chain, so a link is the individual unit that makes up a chain, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is the individual unit that makes up the second word. “Hilt is to sword” and “handle is to bag” may each look like a potentially correct answer, but because swords are made of more than hilts and bags more than handles, neither answer can be the correct one. “Metal is to armor” and “stitch is to fabric” may both look like appealing answer choices because metal makes up armor and stitches make up fabric, but because “stitch” is a repeated unit that makes up fabric whereas “metal” just describes the substance that armor is often made of (and is not a repeating unit), “stitch is to fabric” is the correct answer.

6

Complete this analogy.

Splinter is to wood as shard is to __________.

glass

snow

fire

wool

leather

Explanation

“Splinter” is a word that when used as a noun means a tiny, sharp piece of wood or glass. So, a splinter is a small piece of wood, and we need to pick out an answer choice that conveys the material that a shard can be made of. While “glass,” “wool,” and “leather” may each look like a potentially correct answer choice, because each refers to a tangible material, “shard” is defined as a small piece of broken glass or ceramic with sharp edges , and because “glass” is the only material mentioned in the definition of “shard,” “glass” is the correct answer.

7

Complete this analogy.

Museum is to __________ as orchard is to trees.

artifacts

pestilence

sailors

weapons

vocations

Explanation

An "orchard" is a group of "trees," particularly fruit "trees." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is found in a "museum." The correct answer is "artifacts." A collection of "artifacts" is known as a "museum." An "artifact" is a man-made object of historical of cultural interest. Additionally, "pestilence" is disease; a "vocation" is an occupation, a job.

8

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Sleeve is to shirt as __________.

branch is to tree

car is to wheel

human is to mammal

spark is to fire

ugly is to hideous

Explanation

The relationship in "sleeve is to shirt" is part to whole. The best choice is "branch is to tree" because a branch is a part of a tree. The choice "car is to wheel" demonstrates the same relationship, but the words are in the reverse order of whole to part rather than in the order of part to whole as the question is worded. As such, it is an inappropriate answer. Remember, the order of the words in the answer must appear in the same way as the question. Considering the other choices, "human is to mammal" has a categorical relationship in which humans are a type of mammal. "Spark is to fire" holds a cause and effect relationship and "ugly is to hideous" represents an increase in degree.

9

Chapter is to book as __________.

week is to month

day is to hour

tube is to toothpaste

sweep is to broom

celebrate is to holiday

Explanation

A chapter is a subdivision of a book, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a subdivision of the second. While “week is to month” and “day is to hour” might each look like a potentially correct answer, a day is not a subdivision of an hour, so “day is to hour” cannot be the correct answer. A week is a subdivision of a month, however, just as a chapter is a subdivision of a book, so “week is to month” is the correct answer.

10

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Bishop is to church as baron is to __________.

aristocracy

media

oligarchy

democracy

tenure

Explanation

A bishop is a ranking member of the church, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is an organization that includes barons amongst its members. The correct answer is “aristocracy,” which is the name given to an entrenched upper class system, like the royalty or nobility in England. For clarification, "oligarchy" is the name of the government ruled by a few, and "tenure" is the status of guaranteed employment achieved by faculty members, usually after a number of years.

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