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 #1 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

__________ is to serve as sovereign is to rule.

Possible Answers:

Journalist

Clergyman

Monarch

Peon

Oligarch

Correct answer:

Peon

Explanation:

A "sovereign" is a monarch, someone who "rules." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these is someone who "serves." The correct answer is "peon" which means servant, slave, someone who serves a ruler. Additionally, a "monarch" is a king or queen; an "oligarch" is someone wealthy who has political power in a country; a "clergyman" is a member of the clergy, a member of the church; a "journalist" is someone who reports the news.

Example Question #4 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Despot is to tyranny as ______________.

Possible Answers:

ruler is to evil

guardian is to youth

oracle is to prophecy

potentate is to deceit

criminal is to jail

Correct answer:

oracle is to prophecy

Explanation:

A "despot" by definition engages in tyranny. A "despot" is a person who has absolute power and uses it in a cruel or evil way. "Tyranny" is cruel and oppressive authority. So by definition, a despot is one who engages in tyranny.

Is an "oracle" one who engages in prophecy? By definition, yes. An "oracle" was a person who acted as a messenger between the gods and mortals, telling the future often in hard to understand riddles. And "prophecy" is simply prediction about the future.

Is a "potentate" one who engages in deceit? Not necessarily. A "potentate" is a ruler who holds all or most of the power. This is a distracting answer choice, because there is a similarity between a despot and a potentate, and both tyranny and deceit are negative words, so you might be tempted to think this is the answer. You also might think that "ruler is to evil" is the answer because of the similarities of the words to those in the question, but a "ruler" is a neutral word, neither good nor bad by definition.  

Does a "criminal" engage in jail? Not exactly. A "criminal" may go to jail, but the connection isn’t the same, and the definition of a "criminal" is one who breaks a law, not one who goes to jail, that would be a "prisoner" or "convict."

Does a guardian engage in youth? No. A "guardian" is a protector, defender, or supervisor. A youth (meaning a person under the age of 18) may be placed in the care of a guardian, but youth isn’t a defining characteristic of a guardian in the way a despot is defined by tyranny. 

Example Question #2 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Heart is to palpitate as scalpel is to ____________.

Possible Answers:

incise

provoke

allure

stymie

fetter

Correct answer:

incise

Explanation:

"Palpitate" means to beat rapidly or intensely. An action done by a "heart" is to "palpitate," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an action done by a "scalpel." Well, a "scalpel" is a medical instrument used for cutting. So, the correct answer is "incise." Additionally, "allure" means attract, tempt; "stymie" means hinder, obstruct, prevent; "provoke" means cause a reaction, cause to take action; "fetter" means shackle, tie up

Example Question #3 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Overseer is to supervise as pedagogue is to ______________.

Possible Answers:

bequeath

extol

supplant

edify

juxtapose

Correct answer:

edify

Explanation:

An "overseer" is a supervisor, a watchman, someone who observes and watches over the behavior of others. So, the role of an "overseer" is to "supervise." What is the role of a "pedagogue?" Well, a "pedagogue" is a teacher. So, the correct answer is "edify," which means teach, build, instruct. Additionally, "supplant" means replace; "extol" means praise; "bequeath" means leave to, give to following one's death; "juxtapose" means compare side-by-side

Example Question #7 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Parson is to preach as spelunker is to ______________.

Possible Answers:

write

discuss

deserve

berate

explore

Correct answer:

explore

Explanation:

A "parson" is a vicar, a clergyman. An action undertaken by a "parson" is "preaching." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that a "spelunker" might do. Well, a "spelunker" is a cave-diver, someone who "explores" caves. Additionally, "berate" means scold, yell at for a long time

Example Question #4 : Actor And Action

Complete this analogy.

Raconteur is to __________ as cataract is to cascade.

Possible Answers:

elongate

disparage

narrate

reprimand

covet

Correct answer:

narrate

Explanation:

A "cataract" is another name for a waterfall. Waterfall's "cascade," which means (of water) to fall and flow rapidly. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what action is undertaken by a "raconteur." Well, a "raconteur" is a storyteller, someone who "narrates." Additionally, "elongate" means make longer; "reprimand" means yell at, punish; "disparage" means mock, make fun of in a mean way; "covet" means envy and desire, to want something someone else has.

Example Question #61 : Tool/Use, User/Tool, Actor/Action, Product/Producer, And Subject/Object

Complete this analogy.

Interlocutor is to talk as __________ is to peregrinate.

Possible Answers:

mendicant

wanderer

neophyte

conspirator

sorcerer

Correct answer:

wanderer

Explanation:

An "interlocutor" is a person involved in a conversation. So, an action undertaken by a "interlocutor" is to "talk." To solve this analogy then you have to determine which of these would be likely to "peregrinate." Well, "peregrinate" means to wander or travel around. So, the correct answer is "wanderer." Additionally, a "neophyte" is a beginner; a "conspirator" is someone who participates in a plot or scheme with others; a "sorcerer" is a magician, a wizard, someone who does magic; a "mendicant" is a beggar, especially one of religious persuasion.

Example Question #608 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Founder is to __________ as permute is to computer.

Possible Answers:

phone 

zoo 

ship

watch 

pencil 

Correct answer:

ship

Explanation:

"Permute" means to calculate, to take many variables and come to a calculation. Something that "permutes" is a "computer," so to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these might "founder." Well, "founder" means (of a "ship) to fill with water and subsequently sink

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