Cause and Effect

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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Cause and Effect

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy.

Gratuity is to beneficial as solace is to ______________.

comforting

frightening

condescending

invigorating

endangering

Explanation

A "gratuity" is a perk, some special right or advantage conveyed on someone. A "gratuity" is "beneficial" (helpful, useful), so to solve this analogy you need to determine what "solace" is. Well, "solace" is relief or consolation offered in a time of hardship or suffering. "Solace" is therefore "comforting." Additionally, "condescending" means rude and based on the premise that the speaker knows better than the person being spoken to; "invigorating" means energizing, giving vigor to.

2

Complete this analogy.

Study is to erudite as __________.

exercise is to fit

sleep is to tired

plains are to gazelle

glasses are to sight

electricity is to lightning

Explanation

"Erudite" is an adjective that means knowledgeable and learned. If one studies, one can become erudite, so we're looking for an answer in which the first word is a verb that describes what one can do to have the second word, an adjective, describe them. While "sleep is to tired" may look like a possible answer because you sleep when you are tired, one does not sleep to become tired, so it can't be the right answer. "Exercise is to fit," on the other hand, fits the pattern we're looking for, because if one exercises, one can become fit. Because of this, "exercise is to fit" is the correct answer.

3

Complete this analogy.

Err is to mistake as prognosticate is to _____________.

prediction

item

film

offering

child

Explanation

To "err" is to make a "mistake," to do something in error. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that you make if you "prognosticate." Well, to "prognosticate" is to make a "prediction" about the future.

4

Complete this analogy.

Gerrymander is to divide as filibuster is to __________.

Holdup

Establish

Solidify

Determine

Campaign

Explanation

Gerrymandering is the process by which electoral areas are divided to manipulate the political process; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to determine what purpose a filibuster serves in the political process. A filibuster is an extended speech given to delay, or holdup, the passage of a bill.

5

Complete this analogy.

Reify is to real as spay is to _______________.

sterile

soluble

poised

neuter

desiccated

Explanation

To "reify" is to make something "real" or more "real." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that you make happen by "spaying" something. Well, to "spay" means to "neuter," to make "sterile," to make no longer able to have babies. Additionally, "poised" means calm and under control in a stressful situation, dignified; "desiccated" means dry, made dry by excessive heat; "soluble" means able to be dissolved in water.

6

Complete this analogy.

Scurvy is to malnutrition as emphysema is to __________.

smoking

drinking

eating

running

swimming

Explanation

"Scurvy" is a disease caused by lack of vitamins and "malnutrition." "Malnutrition" is not having a sufficient supply of healthy or useful food. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these causes "emphysema." Well, "emphysema" is a lung disease marked by inability to breathe. It is primarily caused by "smoking."

7

Complete this analogy.

Hypothermia is to cold as __________ is to oxidation.

rust

mist

breeze

erosion

precipitation

Explanation

"Hypothermia" is an extremely dangerous medical condition resulting from prolonged exposure to the "cold." So, if "hypothermia" is caused by the "cold," what does "oxidation" cause? Well, "oxidation" is the process by which something is made "rusty," how "rust" is formed. Additionally, "erosion" is the process of reducing or moving something through prolonged exposure to wind or waves; "precipitation" is rainfall.

8

Complete this analogy.

Flammable is to burnt as frangible is to __________.

shattered

shards

delicious

justified

vase

Explanation

An object that is "flammable" can catch on fire, and if something catches on fire, a result is that it becomes burnt afterwards. Since "frangible" means able to be broken, we need to select an answer choice that describes the state of an object after it breaks. We know we need an adjective, which eliminates "shards" and "vase" as possibilities, and of "shattered," "delicious," and "justified," "shattered" is the only option that has anything to do with breaking, so it is the correct answer, since breaking something can result in it being shattered.

9

Complete this analogy.

Accolade is to proud as __________.

threat is to afraid

dinner is to hungry

limber is to stretch

melody is to song

car is to automotive

Explanation

"Accolade" is a noun that means an earned award of merit, so one is likely to be proud when one receives an accolade. So, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word describes an emotion one might feel when experiencing or receiving what the first word describes. "Dinner is to hungry" might look like a potentially correct answer because like "accolade to proud," it consists of a noun followed by an adjective describing an emotion. However, one would not expect to feel hungry after receiving a dinner, so it cannot be the correct answer. "Threat is to afraid" is the best answer choice because just as one might be expected to feel proud after receiving an accolade, one might expect to feel afraid when receiving a threat.

10

Complete this analogy.

Coffee is to lethargy as __________.

deodorant is to body odor

fasting is to hunger

exercise is to strength

tea is to headaches

medicine is to a cold

Explanation

The relationship here is of cure to malady. Coffee is a cure for lethargy. Fasting is not a cure for hunger, so we can rule that one out. Exercise is not a cure for strength. If anything, it is probably a cure for weakness, so we can rule that one out, too. We can also rule out the answer choice, "Tea is to headaches," because tea is not necessarily a cure for headaches. That leaves us with two choices. The best one is "Deoderant is to body odor," because deoderant is always a cure for body odor. Medicine is only occasionally a cure for a cold.

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