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

Being "cunning" is a characteristic commonly attributed to "foxes" in contemporary society. Which of these is a characteristic commonly attributed to "cats?" The correct answer is "curiosity." Additionally, "veneration" means deep respect for, worship.

Undulation describes the movement of a wave so to solve this analogy you have to identify what the word meander is typically used to describe the movement of. Meander means to follow an indirect route with a series of twists and turns. This most accurately describes the movement of a river.

Edible means able to be consumed as food, and food is what is eaten. We're looking to recreate this same relationship between "legible," which means able to be read, and another word. We know that word will be a noun, since it needs to represent what is read, and "food" is a noun. So, we can ignore "write," a verb. While "newsprint" seems like a good choice, it is the material upon which words are printed, and is not itself read, so it's not the best answer. Considering the remaining nouns, "text" is the best answer choice as text is the thing that is read, just as food is the thing that is eaten.

Since someone who is "deaf" is unable to hear, we need to pick out a word that describes what someone who is "illiterate" is unable to do. Since "illiterate" means unable to read or write due to not knowing how, "read" is the correct answer.

The stomach is a bodily organ that engages in digestion, and the lung is an organ that engages in respiration.

"Ambulatory" is an adjective that means either having to do with walking or physically able to walk. So, someone or something who is ambulatory is able to walk, and we need to pick out an answer choice in which the second word is an adjective that means one is able to do what the first word describes. While "protect is to defensible" might look like a potentially correct answer, something that can protect is not necessarily itself defensible (able to be defended). So, "protect is to defensible" cannot be the correct answer. "Feel is to sentient" is the best answer choice because just as someone or something ambulatory is able to walk, something that is sentient is able to feel, as "sentient" means able to feel things.

"Blindness" is t_he lack of ability to see_, thus this analogy is merely looking for that which is lacking to one who is mute. Used as a noun, a “mute” is a person who is unable to speak. Even if used as an adjective, “mute” can describe someone who is not speaking at a given time: “He remained mute, refusing to speak a word while his ‘friend’ screamed at him.” The mute setting on a television is so called because it stifles the sound.

The verb "elongate" means to make longer, so which of these answer choices means to make smaller? The correct answer is "abbreviate." Additionally, "consume" means use completely, eat; "imbibe" means drink; "galvanize" means motivate, inspire to action; "burgeon" means blossom, grow, flourish.

An "oxymoron" is a phrase or word which contains apparently contradictory language. So, "bittersweet" is an "oxymoron" because it contains "bitter" and "sweet" which are two words that mean roughly the opposite of one another. Another example of an "oxymoron" is "open secret" or "sweet sorrow." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "palindrome." Well, a "palindrome" is a word that reads the same backwards as forwards. So, an example of a "palindrome" is "noon" or "eye." The correct answer is therefore "radar."

A "purveyor" is someone who sells luxury products. Another word for "sell" is "vend." So, if a "purveyor" "vends," what does a "bacchanalian" do? Well, a "bacchanalian" is a merrymaker, someone who is given over to drinking too much and partying. So, the correct answer is "carouse," which means to greatly enjoy getting drunk, imbibe. Additionally, "retrogress" means move backwards; "admonish" means scold, yell at, punish; "stymie" means obstruct, hinder, prevent the progress of; "solicit" means ask for, request, seek help or finance.

A "polymath" is someone who understands many things and has a wide-ranging "knowledge." So, if a "polymath" has lots of "knowledge," what does a "yahoo" have a lot of? Well, a "yahoo" is a poorly-educated person, who is rude and "ignorant." Additionally, "compassion" is kindness and generosity, particularly when directed at those who have less than you; "temerity" is audacity, nerve, arrogance and 'cheek'; "majesty" is splendor, dignity, stateliness.

"Morphine" is a type of drug used to alleviate pain. One property of "morphine" is that it is highly "addictive." So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these could be described as "coastal" (next to the ocean). The correct answer is "riviera." A "riviera" is a coastal part of a tropical or warm country. Additionally, a "hospice" is a home where sick or elderly people are cared for; a "summit" is a peak, the top of something like a mountain; "hubris" is excessive pride and arrogance; a "chapel" is a small church.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

This is a word game analogy. The second word is an anagram of the first. Fire anagrams to rife and arm anagrams to ram.

January is either two months after November or ten months before it. The only answer choice that has two months with the same relationship, in the correct order, is "May is to July."