All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Abilities
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Trickle is to stream as meander is to __________.
River
Water
Lake
Dam
Ocean
River
When used as a noun, "trickle" means a slowly moving stream of a small amount of liquid, or when used as a verb, "trickle" can also refer to a small quantity of liquid and mean to move slowly. "Trickle" describes the movement of a stream, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine what body of water might be said to "meander." The correct answer is “river,” because "meander" means to move indirectly, following a twisting route, like a river.
Example Question #2 : Abilities
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
King is to abdicate as army is to __________.
worship
tactic
surrender
skill
lose
surrender
“Abdicate” means give up a throne or position of power, so it is something a king could do. When an army does gives up power or withdraws from battle, it is said to "surrender," so "surrender" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, a “tactic” is an action or method used to achieve a goal, “lose” is to not win some competition or be defeated, a “skill” is an ability gained through training, and “worship” is the act of showing respect or admiration, especially to a deity in a religious context.
Example Question #1 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Tangible is to feel as __________.
see is to visible
odorous is to smell
snag is to rip
warn is to caution
audible is to see
odorous is to smell
“Tangible” is an adjective that can mean able to be physically touched, so if something is tangible, one can feel it. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is an adjective describing a quality, and the second word is a verb that conveys how one would experience that quality. “See is to visible” cannot be the correct answer, because “visible” would need to be the first word and “see” the second word to be correct. While “audible is to see” and “odorous is to smell” might each look like a potentially correct answer, one does not see things that are audible, one hears things that are audible, so “audible is to see” cannot be correct. One smells things that are odorous, however, just as one feels things that are tangible, so “odorous is to smell” is the correct answer.
Example Question #782 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Illegible is to read as incomprehensible is to __________.
smell
repeat
taste
hear
understand
understand
“Illegible” is an adjective that consists of the negative prefix “il-“ and “legible,” so one might infer that it means “not readable.” That inference would be correct, as “illegible” means “not clear enough to be read,” so we need to pick out a verb that describes what you can’t do to something that is “incomprehensible.” “Incomprehensible” is a word that also consists of the negative prefix “in-“ and “comprehensible,” and because “comprehensible” means “able to be understood,” one might infer that “incomprehensible” means “not able to be understood.” That inference would be correct, as “incomprehensible” means “not able to be understood; not intelligible.” So, just as one cannot read something that is illegible, one cannot understand something that is incomprehensible, so “understand” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Melt is to liquid as __________ is to gas.
prognosticate
evaporate
eradicate
truncate
fabricate
evaporate
The process by which something turns from a solid into a "liquid" is called "melting." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words means to turn something into a "gas." The correct answer is "evaporate." Additionally, "truncate" means shorten; "eradicate" means completely destroy; "fabricate" means fake, make up a story; "prognosticate" means make a prediction about the future.
Example Question #2 : Abilities
Complete this analogy.
Legible is to __________ as visible is to see.
talk
hear
find
read
catch
read
"Visible" means able to be "seen." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these actions is described by "legible." Well, "legible" means (of writing) able to be "read."
Example Question #62 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Doctor is to relief as _________________.
car is to transportation
wall is to separation
lotion is to moisture
sunlight is to sunshine
singer is to entertainment
singer is to entertainment
The correct answer is "singer is to entertainment."
This analogy explores the relationship of what an individual provides through his or her occupation.
A doctor provides relief (from pain). A singer provides entertainment (to the general public).
Example Question #61 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Singer is to cantata as driver is to __________.
motivation
breakneck
racecourse
steering wheel
tire
racecourse
A "cantata" is a piece of music for singers and instruments. A singer sings or navigates through a cantata. A driver navigates a racecourse. A driver controls an automobile, but not in the same way a singer sings a song. A singer sings a song, a driver drives a racecourse.
Example Question #61 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Escalator is to stairs as motorcycle is to __________.
carriage
car
running
bicycle
skateboard
bicycle
Since an escalator is an automated moving staircase powered by electricity, we can think of it as an automated, electric version of a staircase. So, we need to pick out an answer choice which describes something we could think of as being an un-electrified, un-automated motorcycle. Since both bicycles and motorcycles are two-wheeled vehicles, but motorcycles have motors whereas bicycles are propelled by the rider's pedaling, "bicycle" is the correct answer.
Example Question #61 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Sun is to eclipse as window is to __________.
breeze
curtains
shatter
scratch
glass
curtains
“Eclipse” is a word that when used as a noun can mean the passage of one celestial object in front of the sun, partially or completely blocking its light from reaching Earth. So, because an eclipse obscures the sun, we need to pick out an answer choice that represents something that obscures a window. While “glass” might look like a potentially correct answer because windows are often made of glass, glass does not obscure windows, so “glass” cannot be the correct answer. Curtains, however, obscure windows just as an eclipse obscures the sun, so “curtains” is the correct answer.
All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
