SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Synonyms, Antonyms, and Changes in Intensity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #233 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dead is to alive as awake is to __________.

Possible Answers:

daytime 

lonely 

asleep 

awaken 

nighttime 

Correct answer:

asleep 

Explanation:

"Dead" is the opposite of "alive," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out which of these answer choices is an opposite of "awake." The opposite of awake is “asleep," so "asleep" is the correct answer. For clarification, "lonely" is a feeling of sadness caused by being alone and desiring to be around other people.

Example Question #131 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Wet is to dry as hot is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cold 

warm 

wetter

temperature

boiling 

Correct answer:

cold 

Explanation:

"Wet" is the opposite of "dry," so "wet" and "dry" are antonyms. So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "hot." "Cold" is the answer choice that is the best opposite of "hot, "so "cold" is the correct answer. To help you, "warm" means slightly elevated in temperature, and "boiling" means very hot.

Example Question #133 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Easy is to difficult as attack is to __________.

Possible Answers:

prohibit 

pursue 

allow 

permit 

protect 

Correct answer:

protect 

Explanation:

"Easy" is an opposite, or antonym, of "difficult," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "attack." The answer is “protect.” To help you, "pursue" means to chase after, "permit" means allow, and "prohibit" means forbid or outlaw and is an antonym, or opposite, of "permit."

Example Question #134 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Up is to down as __________.

Possible Answers:

cloud is to water

legend is to map

ground is to sky

left is to right

music is to headphones

Correct answer:

left is to right

Explanation:

Up and down are polar opposite directions, just like left and right are, so "left is to right" is the correct answer.

Example Question #221 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Certain is to unsure as pointless is to __________.

Possible Answers:

crucial

hopeless 

futile 

despondent 

insignificant 

Correct answer:

crucial

Explanation:

If you are "certain" of something, you are sure of it, while if you are "unsure" about something, you are not sure or not certain about it. So, "certain" and "unsure" are antonyms of one another, and to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym, or opposite, of "pointless." Something "pointless" is futilehopeless, or purposeless, so the answer choice that is opposite in meaning to "pointless" is "crucial," which means very important or necessary. To help you, "insignificant" and "futile" are both loose synonyms of "pointless," and "despondent" is a synonym of "hopeless."

Example Question #13 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Native is to foreign as distant is to __________.

Possible Answers:

attached 

aloof 

separate 

distinct 

nearby 

Correct answer:

nearby 

Explanation:

Someone who is "native" to a place was born there; on the other hand, "foreign" means from another country. They are antonyms, or opposites, of one another, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best antonym of "distant." "Distant" means far away, so the best antonym is “nearby,” which means close by. To help you, "aloof" means distant; "attached" means connected to something; and "distinct" is a synonym of "separate."

Example Question #14 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Gorgeous is to unattractive as excellent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fragile 

terrible 

unusual 

perfect 

weird 

Correct answer:

terrible 

Explanation:

"Gorgeous" is an antonym, or opposite, of "unattractive," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym of "excellent." Something that is "excellent" is really great, so the best antonym is “terrible," which means very bad. To help you, "unusual" means weird, and "fragile" means easily broken.

Example Question #15 : Antonyms

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Heavy is to light as dangerous is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hopeless 

persistent

harmful 

harmless 

hopeful 

Correct answer:

harmless 

Explanation:

"Heavy" is an antonym, or opposite, of "light," so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym, or opposite, or "dangerous." "Harmless" is an opposite of "dangerous," so "harmless" is the correct answer.

Example Question #138 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Satisfied is to dissatisfied as tall is to __________.

Possible Answers:

towering

taller

ruler

short

height

Correct answer:

short

Explanation:

"Satisfied" means happy with something, and "dissatisfied" means unhappy with something, so the two words are antonyms, or opposites. To solve this analogy, you have to find the best antonym of "tall." "Short" is an opposite of "tall," so "short" is the correct answer.

Example Question #131 : Synonyms, Antonyms, And Changes In Intensity

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Useless is to useful as common is to __________.

Possible Answers:

miserable 

frequent

mediocre

acceptable 

infrequent 

Correct answer:

infrequent 

Explanation:

"Useless" is an opposite of "useful," so the two words are antonyms of one another. So, to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an antonym, or opposite, of "common." "Common" can mean occurring often, so the best antonym is “infrequent," which means not often occurring To help you, "mediocre" means average when better quality is expected.

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