Actor and Action

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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Actor and Action

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy.

Despot is to tyranny as ______________.

oracle is to prophecy

potentate is to deceit

criminal is to jail

guardian is to youth

ruler is to evil

Explanation

A "despot" by definition engages in tyranny. A "despot" is a person who has absolute power and uses it in a cruel or evil way. "Tyranny" is cruel and oppressive authority. So by definition, a despot is one who engages in tyranny.

Is an "oracle" one who engages in prophecy? By definition, yes. An "oracle" was a person who acted as a messenger between the gods and mortals, telling the future often in hard to understand riddles. And "prophecy" is simply prediction about the future.

Is a "potentate" one who engages in deceit? Not necessarily. A "potentate" is a ruler who holds all or most of the power. This is a distracting answer choice, because there is a similarity between a despot and a potentate, and both tyranny and deceit are negative words, so you might be tempted to think this is the answer. You also might think that "ruler is to evil" is the answer because of the similarities of the words to those in the question, but a "ruler" is a neutral word, neither good nor bad by definition.

Does a "criminal" engage in jail? Not exactly. A "criminal" may go to jail, but the connection isn’t the same, and the definition of a "criminal" is one who breaks a law, not one who goes to jail, that would be a "prisoner" or "convict."

Does a guardian engage in youth? No. A "guardian" is a protector, defender, or supervisor. A youth (meaning a person under the age of 18) may be placed in the care of a guardian, but youth isn’t a defining characteristic of a guardian in the way a despot is defined by tyranny.

2

Complete this analogy.

Raconteur is to __________ as cataract is to cascade.

narrate

elongate

reprimand

disparage

covet

Explanation

A "cataract" is another name for a waterfall. Waterfall's "cascade," which means (of water) to fall and flow rapidly. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what action is undertaken by a "raconteur." Well, a "raconteur" is a storyteller, someone who "narrates." Additionally, "elongate" means make longer; "reprimand" means yell at, punish; "disparage" means mock, make fun of in a mean way; "covet" means envy and desire, to want something someone else has.

3

Complete this analogy.

Founder is to __________ as permute is to computer.

ship

phone

pencil

watch

zoo

Explanation

"Permute" means to calculate, to take many variables and come to a calculation. Something that "permutes" is a "computer," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these might "founder." Well, "founder" means (of a "ship) to fill with water and subsequently sink.

4

Complete the analogy.

Betray is to comrade as _____________ is to behavior.

condone

demeanor

penalty

purgatory

etiquette

Explanation

A "comrade" is an ally or fellow worker. T_o fight or turn against them_ is to "betray them." The relationship is an action (betray) that can be done to a noun (comrade). Behavior is also a noun, so the answer will be a verb that can be done to or with it.

The answer is "condone" (verb), a reaction to behavior, generally with a negative connotation, such as allowing bad behavior. Prefix "con" = with, root "don" give.

"Demeanor" (noun), prefix "de" = of/away, root "mien" = face or action. It refers to the appearance someone shows to others. This is similar to behavior, but not an action.

"Penalty" (noun), root "penal" = punishment. This is a possible reaction to poor decisions, but not to behavior in general, and it is not an action.

"Purgatory" (noun), root "purg" = to clean, make pure. This is the place your spirit may go based on the decisions made in life. This is a possible consequence, but not an action.

"Etiquette" (noun) means proper and polite behavior.

5

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to thief as construct is to builder.

Purloin

Tantalize

Relegate

Implicate

Impute

Explanation

Constructing things is something that a "builder" would do, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something a thief might do. "Thieves" tends to steal, so the correct answer is "purloin." Additionally, "impute" means attribute to; "tantalize" means tease; "relegate" means demote to an inferior position; "implicate" means suggest is guilty or responsible.

6

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to serve as sovereign is to rule.

Peon

Clergyman

Journalist

Monarch

Oligarch

Explanation

A "sovereign" is a monarch, someone who "rules." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these is someone who "serves." The correct answer is "peon" which means servant, slave, someone who serves a ruler. Additionally, a "monarch" is a king or queen; an "oligarch" is someone wealthy who has political power in a country; a "clergyman" is a member of the clergy, a member of the church; a "journalist" is someone who reports the news.

7

Complete this analogy.

Parson is to preach as spelunker is to ______________.

explore

write

deserve

discuss

berate

Explanation

A "parson" is a vicar, a clergyman. An action undertaken by a "parson" is "preaching." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that a "spelunker" might do. Well, a "spelunker" is a cave-diver, someone who "explores" caves. Additionally, "berate" means scold, yell at for a long time.

8

Complete this analogy.

Interlocutor is to talk as __________ is to peregrinate.

wanderer

conspirator

mendicant

sorcerer

neophyte

Explanation

An "interlocutor" is a person involved in a conversation. So, an action undertaken by a "interlocutor" is to "talk." To solve this analogy then you have to determine which of these would be likely to "peregrinate." Well, "peregrinate" means to wander or travel around. So, the correct answer is "wanderer." Additionally, a "neophyte" is a beginner; a "conspirator" is someone who participates in a plot or scheme with others; a "sorcerer" is a magician, a wizard, someone who does magic; a "mendicant" is a beggar, especially one of religious persuasion.

9

Complete this analogy.

Heart is to palpitate as scalpel is to ____________.

incise

allure

stymie

provoke

fetter

Explanation

"Palpitate" means to beat rapidly or intensely. An action done by a "heart" is to "palpitate," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action done by a "scalpel." Well, a "scalpel" is a medical instrument used for cutting. So, the correct answer is "incise." Additionally, "allure" means attract, tempt; "stymie" means hinder, obstruct, prevent; "provoke" means cause a reaction, cause to take action; "fetter" means shackle, tie up.

10

Complete this analogy.

Seamstress is to sewing as __________.

captain is to sailing

fighting is to wrestler

mother is to caring

dog is to fetching

egg is to hatching

Explanation

Sewing is the task of a seamstress. Similarly, sailing is the task of a captain.

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