Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship

Questions 1 - 10
1

Complete this analogy.

Justice is to scales as __________.

peace is to dove

war is to gunfire

power is to socks

crown is to royalty

sunglasses are to sun

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.

2

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ADEPT

Adroit

Peachy

Dire

Magnanimous

Leery

Explanation

"Adept" means "adroit." 'Peachy" means fine, and "leery' means cautious. "Magnanimous" means generous. "Dire" means urgent.

3

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters

MUNIFICENT.

Generous

Prodigal

Ostentatious

Jubilant

Miserly

Explanation

“Munificent” describes someone who is very generous, particularly with regards to money. For clarification prodigal means extravagant or wasteful; ostentatious means luxurious; jubilant means very happy; miserly means not generous or very stingy.

4

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

TACIT

Unspoken

Eligible

Jubilant

Ecstatic

Explicit

Explanation

Something "tacit" is understood without being spoken, implicit. This is an antonym for "explicit." "Ecstatic" means euphoric, and "jubilant" means overjoyed. "Eligible" and "qualified" are synonyms.

5

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CENSORIOUS

Hypercritical

Facile

Fatuous

Dulcet

Academic

Explanation

"Censorious" means overly critical. "Academic" describes institutionalized study, usually at a university. "Dulcet" means mellifluous or sweet sounding. "Fatuous" is another word for "silly," and "facile" is a synonym for "simplistic" or superficial.

6

Complete this analogy.

Vintner is to wine as __________.

cooper is to barrels

librarian is to books

baker is to meat

butcher is to candles

carpenter is to bread

Explanation

“Vintner” is a noun that means someone who makes or sells wine. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun conveying an occupation, and the second word a noun conveying the item that someone who has that occupation either makes or sells. So, while “baker is to meat,” “butcher is to candles,” and “carpenter is to bread” might each in turn look like a potentially correct answer, bakers do not make or sell meat, butchers do not make or sell candles, and carpenters do not make or sell bread, so none of the three can be the correct answer. While “librarian is to books” might look like a potentially correct answer as well because librarians work with books, librarians do not necessarily make or sell books, so “librarian is to books” cannot be the correct answer either. “Cooper,” however, is a noun that means someone who makes or repairs barrels, so just as vintner makes wine, a cooper makes barrels, making “cooper is to barrels” the correct answer.

7

Complete this analogy.

Painter is to portrait as composer is to __________.

symphony

instrument

euphonious

trumpets

musician

Explanation

In days past, a portrait would be painted by a painter. It was the thing created by the painter; therefore, this analogy is one of “maker to thing made,” as though to say, “As the painter makes a portrait, so a composer makes X.” Among the options provided, only “symphony” describes what a composer would make. He would write the musical score for the symphony, which can just be called “a symphony” indicating the musical score itself.

8

Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.

ICONIC

representational

famous

political

charismatic

flat

Explanation

"Iconic" describes something that is a representational symbol.

9

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CAPRICIOUS

Fickle

Avid

Dulcet

Irascible

Petulant

Explanation

"Capricious" means unpredictable or "fickle." "Petulant" and "irascible" both mean irritable, peevish. "Dulcet" is used to describe sweet, pleasant sounds. "Avid" means keen and eager.

10

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

GLIB

Flippant

Silly

Unsure

Weak

Fortified

Explanation

"Glib"means speaking a lot but in an insincere and flippant way, so "flippant," meaning facetious and rude, is the correct answer.

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