All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Blasphemy is to religion as adultery is to__________.
Marriage
Divinity
The state
Professionalism
Friendship
Marriage
To blaspheme meansto speak ill or mockingly of God. So blasphemy is an offense against religion. To solve this analogy you have to identify what adultery is an offense against. "Adultery" meansto engage in physical intimacy with someone other than your spouseso it is an offense against “marriage.”
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Creation is to destruction as implacable is to__________.
Pitiless
Callous
Cruel
Merciless
Yielding
Yielding
Creation and destruction are antonyms of one another, so to solve this analogy you have to determine the best antonym for implacable. "Implacable" meansrelentlessso the best antonym is “yielding.” For clarification, "cruel," "merciless," "pitiless" and "callous" are all synonyms for implacable.
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Tedium is to enthusiasm as susceptible is to__________.
Callousness
Infamy
Notoriety
Resistant
Generosity
Resistant
"Tedium" meansextreme boredomand is an antonym of enthusiasm. So to solve this analogy you need to determine the best antonym for susceptible. "Susceptible" meansvulnerableso the best antonym is “resistant.” For clarification, "callousness" meansmercilessness;"notoriety" and "infamy" are synonyms that both describebeing famous for the wrong reasons.
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Languid is to energetic as miserly is to__________.
Famous
Generous
Discreet
Fair
Cantankerous
Generous
"Languid" meansunenergeticso to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available antonym for miserly. "Miserly" meansnot generousso the best answer is “generous.” For clarification, "discreet" meanssneaky;"cantankerous" meansquick to anger, bad-tempered.
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Wanton is to random as forceful is to__________.
Vigorous
Weak
Menacing
Unimposing
Frightening
Vigorous
"Wanton" is a synonym forrandomas in “the wanton destruction caused by the hurricane.” So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available answer choice for forceful. As "forceful" meansstrong, powerful and able to inflict ones will on anotherthe correct answer is “vigorous.” For clarification, "weak" and "unimposing" are synonyms, as are "frightening" and "menacing."
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Sinister is to menacing as effusive is to__________.
Forlorn
Frigid
Frequent
Fulsome
Foolish
Fulsome
"Sinister" and "menacing" are synonyms that both describe thescary and ominous quality of something. So to solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for effusive. "Effusive" meansnot restrained in expressing feelings, demonstrative and emotive. The correct answer is therefore “fulsome” which meansexcessively complimentary. For clarification, "frigid" describes somethingvery cold;"forlorn" meansvery sad.
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Labyrinth is to confusing as rollercoaster is to_________.
Exhilarating
Mundane
Whimsical
Quirky
Tedious
Exhilarating
A "labyrinth" is another name for amaze. A quality of a maze or labyrinth is to be confusing so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of the answer choices is a quality of a rollercoaster. This should lead you to the correct answer which is “exhilarating” which meansstimulating and exciting. For clarification, "mundane" and "tedious" both meanboring;“whimsical" and "quirky" both meansilly.
Example Question #2 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Haughty is to conceited as vain is to__________.
Futile
Important
Heavy
Nostalgic
Harrowing
Futile
"Haughty" and conceited are synonyms that both meanproud and arrogant. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of these answer choices is the best synonym for vain. Vain meansuseless or ineffectiveso the correct answer is “futile” which meansuseless effort. For clarification, to feel "nostalgic" meansto positively remember the past;something that is "harrowing" ishorrifying.
Example Question #1 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Ameliorate is to improve as cogent is to_________.
Catastrophic
Implausible
Primary
Viable
Unlikely
Viable
Ameliorate and improve are synonyms that both meanto make a situation better. So to solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for cogent. "Cogent" meansintelligently thought out and viable.For clarification, "implausible" is a synonym forunlikely;"catastrophic" meansdisastrous.
Example Question #2 :Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Nomenclature is to classification as calculus is to__________.
Mathematics
Assistance
Assistance
Impossible
Scientific observation
Mathematics
Nomenclature is a type of classification based onassigning names. So to solve this analogy you have to determine what calculus is a type of, this should lead you to the correct answer which is “mathematics.”
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