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

Polemical is a synonym of argumentative so to solve this analogy you need to find the best available synonym for serene. Serene means quiet and peaceful.

Convivial and gregarious both mean friendly and sociable. You therefore need to identify which of the answer choices is the best available synonym for amiable. Amiable means pleasant and friendly so the correct answer is affable.

A "philanderer" is a man who has many illicit sexual affairs with various women. So, a quality of a "philanderer" is to be "licentious," which means dissolute, promiscuous, depraved, prone to having many sexual encounters. To solve this analogy then you need to determine which of these is a quality associated with a "shark." The correct answer is to be "predatory," which means of a hunting nature. Additionally, "celibate" means abstinent, to be abstaining from sexual encounters; "equitable" means fair, honest, unbiased; "homely" means plain in appearance, unattractive; "quiescent" means at rest, inactive.

"Tropical" is a type of climate that would generally be very hot, and frigid means very cold; to solve this analogy you are looking for the opposite of the type of temperatures that would be associated with a polar climate. A polar climate would likely be very cold, so the correct answer is the antonym of cold, “hot.”

"Doleful" means very sad, and "jubilant" means very happy, so to solve this analogy you know you must identify the best available antonym for "tentative," which means to be unsure and careful as a result of that uncertainty.

Corpulent is a synonym for fat, so to solve this analogy you need to find the best possible synonym for diminutive. Since diminutive means tiny the best possible answer choice is small.

"Consecrate" means make holy, make sacred and "desecrate" means to take something holy and make it no longer, to destroy or besmirch something holy. So, these two words are antonyms, which of these words has the opposite meaning to "demonize." Well, "demonize" means "vilify," to make someone out as a villain, to portray someone or something as evil. The best available antonym is therefore "deify," which means to make someone out as holy, to praise someone to the extent of making them seem like a God. Additionally, "solidify" means harden, become or make solid; "netherworld" means hell; "penitentiary" means prison, particularly a prison for felons who have committed serious crimes.

"Temporal" means of or related to "time." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is described by the word "simian." Well, "simian" means of or related to "apes."

"Superficial" means not having much depth, focused only on surface issues, not "methodical." "Methodical" means done in such a manner as to be considered deep and complete, orderly and systematic. These two words are therefore antonyms. To solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is an antonym of "depressed." The correct answer is "jovial," which means cheerful. Additionally, "collision" means accident, a moment when a crash or impact occurs; "pugilist" means fighter, boxer; "funereal" means having the somber and serious atmosphere of a funeral; "frivolous" means pointless, having little value or purpose.

"Inimical" means harmful, likely to cause trouble, disadvantageous. It is therefore an antonym of "advantageous" (favorable, working to one's advantage). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words has the opposite meaning to "limpid" (clear, allowing light to pass through). The correct answer is "opaque," which means not allowing light to pass through, not clear. Additionally, "ebullient" means enthusiastic and excited; "synthetic" means chemically produced to mimic something natural; "homely" means plain, unattractive.

"Pejorative" means having a disparaging, prejudiced, or insulting effect. It is therefore an antonym of "complimentary" (praising, flattering). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words is an antonym of "exorbitant." Well, "exorbitant" means (of a price) unreasonably expensive. So, the correct answer is "moderate." Additionally, all the other answer choices are loosely synonyms of "exorbitant," although they have somewhat different meanings - "extortionate" means exorbitant; "prohibitive" means so expensive or abstruse as to prohibit most people from being included; "excessive" means unreasonably large or intense; "unconscionable" means immoral and completely unreasonable.

An "allergy" is a notable cause of "sneezing," or, in other words, sneezing can be a symptom of allergies. There is a direct cause and effect relationship in this case. So, to solve this question you must figure out what a symptom of an injury would be. Injuries to the leg aerate main cause of a person "limping" or walking with an impeded gait.

Mortar is the sticky mixture that is used to individual bricks together. The equivalent substance for paper is glue. You can hold boards together with screws, but screws aren't sticky and gooey like mortar and glue.

"Cartography" is the science of map-making, the art of making maps. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices "seismology" is concerned with. The correct answer is "earthquakes."

A "plutocrat" is a wealthy person who holds power within society. A quality of a "plutocrat" is to be "moneyed" (wealthy, affluent, rich). So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of an "optimist." Well, an "optimist" is someone who believes the best case scenario is likely to happen, someone who feels good about the future. A quality of an "optimist" is to be "sanguine," which means positive, optimistic even in the face of stress or calamity. Additionally, "pusillanimous" means cowardly; "craven" means cowardly, pathetic, and wicked; "extenuating" means (of circumstances) excusable; "obfuscating" means confusing.

Tenuous and precarious are synonyms that both mean unstable or insecure. So to solve this analogy you have to find the best available synonym for malign. To malign someone is to slander them. For clarification, something that is docile is calm and obedient.

A "serpent" is a snake. One quality of a "serpent" is to be "sibilant," which means to speak with a hissing sound, to have the qualities of a snake. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of a "rhapsody." Well, a "rhapsody" is a highly passionate, poetic, or "emotional" phrase or expression.

A "stoic" is a person who can endure difficulty, boredom, or suffering without complaint. A quality of a "stoic" is to be "placid," which means even-tempered, not easily disturbed or angered. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of an "eyesore." Well, an "eyesore" is something that is unattractive to look at, a building or feature of the land that is unattractive. So, a quality of an "eyesore" is to be "unattractive," which means ugly and offensive. Additionally, "abstruse" means (of knowledge) hard to understand and known by a privileged few, esoteric; "circumspect" means thoughtful; "supercilious" means arrogant, disdainful, acting as if you are better than other people; "pernicious" means harmful, having a negative impact over time.

A "killjoy" is someone who is always negative and says things that take away from the fun of others. A quality of a "killjoy" is to "complain," which means express discontent with, worry about. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a quality of the "Sabbath." Well, the "Sabbath" is a day reserved for religious observance. So, the correct answer is "holy." Additionally, "irate" means very angry, furious; "docile" means tame, easily controlled , obedient; "quaint" means cute and attractive in an old-fashioned way.

The best choice is "mean." The relationship between "grandiloquent" and "simple" is that they are antonyms. The word "grandiloquent" means speaking in a lofty or pompous style. Grandiloquence typically involves complex language. "Simple" is the opposite of "complex." Likewise, "mean" is the opposite of "nice."