SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, and Subject/Object

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Teacher is to students as __________.

Possible Answers:

principal is to classroom

salesperson is to cars

ocean is to water

chef is to food

manager is to employees

Correct answer:

manager is to employees

Explanation:

A teacher leads and directs the activities of his or her students. In the same way, a manager leads and directs the activities of his or her employees. The two relationships are analogous.

Example Question #52 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Massacre is to human as __________ is to animal.

Possible Answers:

cull

autopsy

cadaver

carrion

genocide

Correct answer:

cull

Explanation:

A deliberate killing of a group of humans is known as a "massacre," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words refers to a deliberate and organized killing of animals. The correct answer is "cull." Additionally, "genocide" is the deliberate and premeditated killing of an ethnic group; "carrion" is dead animal flesh; a "cadaver" is a corpse; an "autopsy" is an investigation into the medical cause of someone's death.

Example Question #53 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Epithet is to describe as libel is to _________________.

Possible Answers:

defame

accrue

jettison

prune

imbue

Correct answer:

defame

Explanation:

An "epithet" is a word or phrase used to "describe" a group of people, usually in a negative way. So, the purpose of an "epithet" is to "describe." To solve this analogy you need to determine what the purpose of "libel" is. Well, "libel" is false information published with the intent of damaging the reputation of someone. The purpose of "libel" is to "defame" (ruin the reputation of). Additionally, "imbue" means fill with; "prune" means trim, cut; "accrue" means accumulate, gather money through interest or investment, grow in wealth or value; "jettison" means discard, get rid of unwanted waste.

Example Question #54 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Coroner is to death as pilgrim is to __________.

Possible Answers:

worship

ownership

truth

emotion

loyalty

Correct answer:

worship

Explanation:

A "coroner" is someone who investigates the causes of a "death." So, a "coroner" is concerned with "death," what is a "pilgrim" concerned with? Well, a "pilgrim" is someone who goes on a journey for religious purposes. So, a "pilgrim" is concerned with "worship."

Example Question #55 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Excavate is to fossil as cauterize is to __________.

Possible Answers:

cathedral

fabric

song

sibling

wound

Correct answer:

wound

Explanation:

"Excavate" means to dig a hole for the purposes of removing something. So, one can "excavate" a "fossil." To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something that one might "cauterize." Well, "cauterize" means to burn the skin to help a "wound" to heal.

Example Question #56 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Lactate is to milk as ovulate is to _____________.

Possible Answers:

solutions

sperm

eggs

hair

currency

Correct answer:

eggs

Explanation:

To "lactate" means to produce "milk," usually for the purposes of sustaining one's offspring. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is produced by someone who is "ovulating." Well, to "ovulate" means (of a female) to produce "eggs" for reproduction.

Example Question #1 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Pendulum is to oscillate as satellite is to __________.

Possible Answers:

communicate

technology

break

orbit

space

Correct answer:

orbit

Explanation:

"Oscillate" is a verb meaning swing back and forth at a constant pace. Since "oscillate" describes the nature of a pendulum's movement, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that describes the nature of a satellite's movement. Of the three answer choices which are verbs ("communicate," "break," and "orbit"), only "orbit" describes a type of movement, and specifically the movement of a satellite. Since a satellite orbits just as a pendulum oscillates, "orbit" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Seamstress is to sewing as __________.

Possible Answers:

captain is to sailing

egg is to hatching

dog is to fetching

fighting is to wrestler

mother is to caring

Correct answer:

captain is to sailing

Explanation:

Sewing is the task of a seamstress. Similarly, sailing is the task of a captain.

Example Question #57 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete the analogy.

Betray is to comrade as _____________ is to behavior.

Possible Answers:

etiquette

purgatory

demeanor

penalty

condone

Correct answer:

condone

Explanation:

A "comrade" is an ally or fellow worker. To fight or turn against them is to "betray them." The relationship is an action (betray) that can be done to a noun (comrade). Behavior is also a noun, so the answer will be a verb that can be done to or with it.

The answer is "condone" (verb), a reaction to behavior, generally with a negative connotation, such as allowing bad behavior. Prefix "con" = with, root "don" give.

"Demeanor" (noun), prefix "de" = of/away, root "mien" = face or action. It refers to the appearance someone shows to others. This is similar to behavior, but not an action.

"Penalty" (noun), root "penal" = punishment. This is a possible reaction to poor decisions, but not to behavior in general, and it is not an action.

"Purgatory" (noun), root "purg" = to clean, make pure. This is the place your spirit may go based on the decisions made in life. This is a possible consequence, but not an action.

"Etiquette" (noun) means proper and polite behavior.

Example Question #3 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to thief as construct is to builder.

Possible Answers:

Tantalize

Relegate

Implicate

Impute

Purloin

Correct answer:

Purloin

Explanation:

Constructing things is something that a "builder" would do, so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is something a thief might do. "Thieves" tends to steal, so the correct answer is "purloin." Additionally, "impute" means attribute to; "tantalize" means tease; "relegate" means demote to an inferior position; "implicate" means suggest is guilty or responsible.

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