SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Action And Object Acted Upon

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mitigate is to dispute as alleviate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

display 

celebration

crisis 

meeting 

performance 

Correct answer:

crisis 

Explanation:

A "dispute" is a disagreement. To "mitigate" means to try and solve a disagreement between two or more parties. So, mitigate is an action taken when there is a dispute. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what situation is taking place if the action of alleviating occurs. "Alleviate" means to make better or to pacify, so it is an action that would be taken during a "crisis," a word which means emergency or disaster. So, "crisis" is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Action And Object Acted Upon

Complete this analogy.

Swing is to bat as dribble is to __________.

Possible Answers:

plate

basketball

baseball

kick

goal

Correct answer:

basketball

Explanation:

One uses a bat by swinging it, so we need to pick out an answer choice that conveys the object that one uses by dribbling it. While all of the answer choices might look like they could be potentially correct because each is a noun that relates to a sport, “dribble,” when used as a verb, can mean “to take a ball forward past opponents with slight touches,” usually when used to describe soccer, field hockey, and basketball. So, because “dribble” refers to how one might interact with a basketball, just as “swing” refers to how one might interact with a bat, “basketball” is the correct answer.

Example Question #6 : Action And Object Acted Upon

Complete this analogy:

Chainsaw is to tree as __________.

Possible Answers:

factory is to car

jackhammer is to cement

school is to education

saw is to chair

axe is to lumberjack

Correct answer:

jackhammer is to cement

Explanation:

A chainsaw is a tool primarily used to cut down or disassemble a tree. Similarly, a jackhammer is a tool primarily used to break (or disassemble) cement.

None of the other analogies have this relationship:

Lumberjacks use axes, an axe is not a tool used to disassemble a lumberjack. A lumberjack is the profession of cutting down trees for lumber. 

School is the location where education takes place. The relationship between school and education is different than chainsaw to tree.

Factories produce cars. While cars may be disassembled at factories, factories are not specifically tools to disassemble cars.

A saw can disassemble a chair, however a saw's primary purpose is not disassembling chairs. 

Example Question #671 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Inscribe is to book as __________ is to mural.

Possible Answers:

perform

mend

paint

demolish

replicate

Correct answer:

paint

Explanation:

To begin with "inscribe" means write, so one "inscribes" a "book." What does one do to a "mural?" Well, a "mural" is a large painting usually on a wall or the side of a building. So, the correct answer is "paint." Additionally, "mend" means fix; "demolish" means destroy, tear down; "replicate" means copy, reproduce.

Example Question #7 : Action And Object Acted Upon

Complete this analogy.

Annex is to land as __________ is to idea.

Possible Answers:

maim

surmount

resume

plagiarize

desist

Correct answer:

plagiarize

Explanation:

To take land from another country is to "annex" it. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is called when you take an "idea" from someone else. The correct answer is "plagiarize." To "plagiarize" is to steal someone else's idea or work and claim it as your own. Additionally, "surmount" means overcome, defeat; "maim" means cripple, injure, wound, cause to be wounded; "desist" means stop; "resume" means continue.

Example Question #672 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Temperance is to __________ as fast is to food.

Possible Answers:

football

books

music

gambling

alcohol

Correct answer:

alcohol

Explanation:

To go without "food" is to "fast." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is abstained from if one is practicing "temperance." The correct answer is "alcohol." "Temperance" is not partaking in alcohol, not allowing oneself to drink alcohol.

Example Question #673 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Boulevard is to __________ as canal is to sailing.

Possible Answers:

flying

laughing

playing

eating

driving

Correct answer:

driving

Explanation:

A "canal" is a man-made body of water that connects two or more natural bodies of water. "Canals" are used for "sailing." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that a "boulevard" is used for. A "boulevard" is a wide avenue in a city that is lined with trees. "Boulevards" are therefore used for "driving."

Example Question #674 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Coronation is to __________ as inauguration is to president.

Possible Answers:

despot

friend

pope

captain

king

Correct answer:

king

Explanation:

An "inauguration" is an event where the "president" is sworn into office. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these assumes power during a "coronation." Well, a "coronation" is when a "king" or queen is crowned. Additionally, a "despot" is an autocrat, a tyrant, a person who rules a country with absolute power.

Example Question #675 : Determining Meaning From Type Of Relationship

Complete this analogy.

Commute is to work as matriculate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

college

park

gym

beach

market

Correct answer:

college

Explanation:

"Commute" is a verb that means to go to "work," to journey to or from "work." So, which of these places do you go to if you are "matriculating?" The correct answer is that "matriculate" means go to college, enroll at college.

Example Question #801 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Barber is to hair as lumberjack is to __________________.

Possible Answers:

harvest

wetland

tree

axe

mill

Correct answer:

tree

Explanation:

A barber cuts hair, so the correct answer would demonstrate a similar relationship. Just as a barber cuts hair, a lumberjack cuts trees.

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