SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Analogies: Determining Meaning from Type of Relationship
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
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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ADEPT
Adroit
Peachy
Dire
Magnanimous
Leery
"Adept" means "adroit." 'Peachy" means fine, and "leery' means cautious. "Magnanimous" means generous. "Dire" means urgent.
Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters
MUNIFICENT.
Generous
Prodigal
Ostentatious
Jubilant
Miserly
“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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
TACIT
Unspoken
Eligible
Jubilant
Ecstatic
Explicit
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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CENSORIOUS
Hypercritical
Facile
Fatuous
Dulcet
Academic
"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.
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
“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.
Complete this analogy.
Painter is to portrait as composer is to __________.
symphony
instrument
euphonious
trumpets
musician
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.
Choose the best synonym for the word in capital letters.
ICONIC
representational
famous
political
charismatic
flat
"Iconic" describes something that is a representational symbol.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CAPRICIOUS
Fickle
Avid
Dulcet
Irascible
Petulant
"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.
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
GLIB
Flippant
Silly
Unsure
Weak
Fortified
"Glib"means speaking a lot but in an insincere and flippant way, so "flippant," meaning facetious and rude, is the correct answer.