User and Tool

Help Questions

SSAT Middle Level Verbal › User and Tool

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy.

Clippers is to barber as _______________.

paintbrush is to artist

mattress is to bed

computer is to student

picture is to wall

flash is to camera

Explanation

The correct answer is "paintbrush is to artist."

This analogy explores the relationship of a tool and the user of the tool. Clippers are used by a barber to perform the task of cutting hair; likewise, a paintbrush is used by an artist to paint.

2

Complete this analogy:

Carpenter is to hammer as __________.

metalworker is to welding torch

chef is to food

baton is to policeman

bird is to egg

captain is to boat

Explanation

A carpenter uses a hammerto build wooden objects, so we need to find a similar relationship in the analogies. A "metalworker" uses a "welding torch" to build metal objects. "Metalworker" and "welding torch" have the same relationship as carpenter and hammer.

A captain uses a boat, but the boat is not simply a tool for the captain, it is the captain's home.

Birds hatch from eggs, there is no user or tool in this analogy.

Chefs make food, but food is not the tool of the chef.

The policeman is not the tool of the baton, but vice versa. Analogies must match conceptually, so if you have a user paired with a tool, you need to find an answer that also has a user and a tool.

3

Complete this analogy.

Pen is to author as __________.

chalk is to teacher

mother is to baby

hotdog is to bun

ornament is to Christmas

plant is to garden

Explanation

The correct answer is "chalk is to teacher."

This analogy expresses a user and tool relationship.

A pen is a tool that an author uses to do his or her job. Therefore, we need to find an identical relationship for the second half of the analogy.

A teacher uses chalk to perform (specific tasks) his or her job.

4

Complete this analogy.

Statistician is to __________ as geologist is to rocks.

data

romance

literature

history

geography

Explanation

A "geologist" is someone who studies rocks, someone who examines rocks. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is studied or examined by a "statistician." A "statistician" is primarily concerned with statistics, or "data." To provide extra help, "data" is facts collected and analyzed.

5

Complete this analogy.

Chiropractic is to __________ as acupuncturist is to needles.

massage

hospital

sorcery

vaccination

surgeon

Explanation

An "acupuncturist" is someone who uses "needles" to treat a patient. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something at a "chiropractor" might use. Well, a "chiropractor" is someone who treats back problems. So, the correct answer is "massage." Additionally, a "surgeon" is a doctor operates on people; "sorcery" is magic; "vaccination" is inoculation, treating someone with a small amount of a disease to prevent them from contracting a more serious version of the disease.

6

Complete this analogy.

Mason is to __________ as grocer is to food.

stone

iron

wood

money

water

Explanation

A "grocer" is someone who sells food, and other household products for a living. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a product made or sold by a "mason." The correct answer is "stone." A "mason" is someone who cuts and shapes stone and marble for a living.

7

Complete the analogy:

Chauffeur is to car as __________.

pilot is to plane

oarsman is to steamship

runner is to race

painter is to photography

lawyer is to court

Explanation

"Chauffeurs" drive "cars" as their occupation. Similarly, "pilots" fly "planes" as their occupation.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

A lawyer works in the court, but does not operate the court in the same way that a pilot or a chauffeur operate a plane or a car. Painters paints pictures, while photography is the art of taking pictures with a camera. Runners run races; there are no tools in this analogy. An oarsman rows a boat, but a steamship has no oarsmen as it is steam-powered, thus the oarsman does not operate the steamship as his profession.

8

Complete the analogy.

Doctor is to thermometer as __________.

actor is to script

singer is to sing

wind is to blow

lion is to prey

screwdriver is to repair

Explanation

The correct answer is "actor is to script."

This analogy expresses a user/tool relationship. A doctor uses a thermometer to perform his or her job. An actor uses a script to perform his or her job.

9

Complete this analogy.

Sculptor is to clay as __________.

painter is to paint

paint is to canvas

water is to watercolor

melody is to musician

writer is to typewriter

Explanation

Since a sculptor creates works of art out of clay, we need to pick out another set of words in which the first word describes someone who creates art using the second word as their medium. While "painter is to paint" and "writer is to typewriter" may both look like good answers, a typewriter is not a writer's medium, but the tool they use to write. (Words or text would be a writer's medium.) "Painter is to paint" is the correct answer because a painter creates works of art out of paint (and canvas), just like a sculptor creates works of art out of clay.

10

Complete the analogy:

Mechanic is to car as __________.

plumber is to toilet

salesman is to car

cowboy is to horses

filmmaker is to movies

driver is to limo

Explanation

Mechanics repair cars. Similarly, "plumbers" fix "toilets."

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Drivers drive limos but typically do not repair them. Filmmakers make movies. Cowboys ride horses. A salesman sells cars.

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