SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Qualities, Features, Abilities, and Other Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #736 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Water is to ice as magma is to __________.

Possible Answers:

molten

subterranean

circulating

stone

crust

Correct answer:

stone

Explanation:

When water cools, it becomes ice; therefore, this analogy requires that which magma becomes when it cools. Magma is the liquid stone that flows under the earth’s crust. When this cools, it becomes stone again. This is the only option that fits among those provided.

Example Question #21 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Justice is to scales as __________.

Possible Answers:

peace is to dove

crown is to royalty

war is to gunfire

power is to socks

sunglasses are to sun

Correct answer:

peace is to dove

Explanation:

Since scales are a symbol of the abstract concept of justice, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is a concrete symbol of the abstract concept that the first word represents. While "crown is to royalty" may look like an appealing answer, its words are in the incorrect order (royalty doesn't symbolize a crown—a crown symbolizes royalty), so it can't be the correct answer. A dove is a symbol of peace, however, so "peace is to dove" is the correct answer.

Example Question #22 : Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Mourn is to deceased as __________.

Possible Answers:

congratulate is to winner

concrete is to sidewalk

dance is to ballerina 

leaf is to tree

dust is to duster

Correct answer:

congratulate is to winner

Explanation:

Since one mourns someone who is deceased, we need to pick out a pair of words in which the first word represents something you do to/for the second word. While "dance is to ballerina" and "congratulate is to winner" may both look like potentially correct answers, "dance is to ballerina" cannot be correct because you do not "dance ballerinas," but just as you mourn someone who is deceased, you congratulate someone who is a winner. So, "congratulate is to winner" is the correct answer.

Example Question #103 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Generous is to donation as ancillary is to __________.

Possible Answers:

servile

amenable

amiable

audacious

aid

Correct answer:

aid

Explanation:

A person who is generous is likely to give a donation to some cause. Thus, the analogy could be read as, “As a generous person is likely to give a donation, so something that is ancillary is likely to provide or give X.” The word “ancillary” comes from the Latin “ancilla,” meaning female servant. In English, something "ancillary" is something that provides secondary support or aid to an operation or undertaking. Thus, among the options provided, “aid” is the best.

Example Question #739 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Tactile is to touch as olfactory is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sound

smell

taste

idea

sight

Correct answer:

smell

Explanation:

“Tactile” is an adjective that means “dealing with the sense of touch” or “perceptible by touch.” So, something that is perceptible via the sense of touch is tactile, and we need to pick out an answer choice that describes with what sense something “olfactory” is perceptible. While all of the potential answer choices except for “idea” are connected with specific senses, “olfactory” is an adjective that means “relating to the sense of smell,” so “smell” is the correct answer.

Example Question #105 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Lottery is to ticket as __________.

Possible Answers:

poker is to ante

vote is to ballot

money is to gamble

travel is to voucher

scratch is to card

Correct answer:

vote is to ballot

Explanation:

You need a ticket to engage in the lottery, and a ballot to make a vote. The second item is the piece of paper that lets you take part in the activity.

Example Question #106 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Telephone is to voice as __________.

Possible Answers:

television is to movie

letter is to writing

stroller is to walking

walk signal is to button

flashlight is to bright

Correct answer:

letter is to writing

Explanation:

When we use a telephone, we communicate using our voice. Similarly, when we write a letter, we communicate using our writing.

Example Question #107 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Yellow is to caution as red is to __________.

Possible Answers:

read

green

deer

tops

stop

Correct answer:

stop

Explanation:

Yellow is the color of signs that mean caution, and red is the color of signs that mean stop. 

Example Question #108 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Spa is to asp as stink is to __________.

Possible Answers:

kinks

snake

smell

knits

skink

Correct answer:

knits

Explanation:

This is a word game analogy. The second word in each pair is an anagram of the first. Spa anagrams to asp and stink anagrams to knits.

Example Question #109 : Qualities, Features, Abilities, And Other Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Flora is to plants as __________ is to animals.

Possible Answers:

nature

fauna

evolved

mammals

extinct

Correct answer:

fauna

Explanation:

"Flora" and "fauna" are the scientific names for plants and animals, respectively. So, "flora" are plants and "fauna" are animals. This is the only information you need to solve this analogy.

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