Analogies
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SSAT Middle Level Verbal › Analogies
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DOTING
Indulgent
Hateful
Adorable
Envious
Content
Explanation
"Doting" means indulgent, affectionate or loving.
"Content" means happy or satisfied.
"Envious" means having envy, or desiring a trait possessed by someone else.
"Adorable" means sweet and cute or lovable.
"Hateful" means nasty, cruel or despicable.
Complete this analogy.
Bog is to as perfume is to cologne.
swamp
rivulet
islet
estuary
peak
Explanation
"Perfume" and "cologne" are synonyms of one another, both words mean something sprayed onto one's body to make one smell nicer. Although colloquially "perfume" is used for women and "cologne" for men. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a synonym of "bog." Well, a "bog" is wet, muddy ground that is difficult to traverse. This is very similar in meaning to "swamp." Additionally, a "rivulet" is a small river, a tributary or offshoot of a river; an "islet" is a small island; an "estuary" is the mouth of a river, where the river meets the ocean; "peak" means summit, the top of a mountain.
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
FELICITY
Happiness
Misery
Jealousy
Despondency
Fortune
Explanation
"Felicity" is a noun used to describe happiness and contentment or something that creates happiness and contentment. For clarification, "despondency" is a feeling of hopelessness.
Complete this analogy:
Wolf is to pack as .
geese is to gaggle
herd is to reptiles
farm is to pig
wolf is to dog
child is to school
Explanation
A group of wolves is called a pack. Similarly, a group of geese is called a gaggle.
None of the other analogies have this specific relationship.
Groups of children are not called a school, although groups of children do go to school.
Wolf and dog are related, but the analogy does not fit the relationship of single animal to group of that animal.
Groups of pigs do live on farms, but the order of the words is incorrect: a group of farms is not called a pig.
A group of reptiles is not called a herd; a herd typically refers to a group of hoofed animals.
Complete this analogy:
Wolf is to pack as .
geese is to gaggle
herd is to reptiles
farm is to pig
wolf is to dog
child is to school
Explanation
A group of wolves is called a pack. Similarly, a group of geese is called a gaggle.
None of the other analogies have this specific relationship.
Groups of children are not called a school, although groups of children do go to school.
Wolf and dog are related, but the analogy does not fit the relationship of single animal to group of that animal.
Groups of pigs do live on farms, but the order of the words is incorrect: a group of farms is not called a pig.
A group of reptiles is not called a herd; a herd typically refers to a group of hoofed animals.
Complete this analogy.
Furnace is to heat as generator is to .
electricity
water
cold
guidance
narratives
Explanation
The purpose of a "furnace" is to provide "heat." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what the purpose of a "generator" is. Well, a "generator" generates "electricity," so this is the correct answer.
Complete this analogy.
Fruitless is to successful as is to forgiving.
vindictive
flippant
tenacious
opulent
reckless
Explanation
"Fruitless" means not achieving the desire result, unsuccessful. It is an antonym of "successful," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "forgiving." The correct answer is "vindictive," which means having a strong desire to enact cruel revenge. Additionally, "opulent" means luxurious, lavish, grand, magnificent; "reckless" means acting rashly, doing something without considering the consequences; "flippant" means acting disrespectful; "tenacious" means determined, hard-working.
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Undulating is to wavy as fatigued is to .
tired
night
awake
starved
breakfast
Explanation
If something is “undulating,” it is wavy. If someone is “fatigued,” they are tired. To clarify, “starved” means very hungry.
Xylophone is to instrument as .
pear is to fruit
game is to chess
wax is to candle
lock is to key
cloud is to sky
Explanation
A xylophone is an example of an instrument, so we need to pick out an answer choice that consists of two nouns, where the first is an example of the second. While “pear is to fruit” and “game is to chess” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “game” is not an example of a “chess,” so “game is to chess” cannot be the correct answer. A pear is an example of a fruit, however, just as a xylophone is an example of an instrument, so “pear is to fruit” is the correct answer.
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.