Location, Time, or Context - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

Since a shuttle takes off from a launch pad, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun indicating the location from which where the second word begins traveling. While "flame is to hot air balloon" might look like a good answer choice because hot air balloons can get nowhere without a flame, "dock is to boat" is the better answer because both launch pads and docks are locations, while a flame is not. Similarly, a flame is a component part of a hot air balloon that is present when the balloon is in motion, but launch pads are not part of shuttles after they are launched and boats do not bring their docks with them. Since boats embark from docks just like shuttles embark from launch pads, "dock is to boat" is the correct answer.

Since law is practiced in courts, we need to pick out an answer that describes a kind of building in which medicine is practiced. While "hospital," "doctor," and "medication" all have to do with medicine, only "hospital" refers to a building in which medicine is practiced, so "hospital" is the correct answer.

A brochure is something you use to guide you when you go to a museum; similarly, a map is something you use to guide you when you go on a vacation.

When you go bowling, the pins are your target. When you play darts, the board is your target.

One scores points in basketball by making successful free throws, so we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a noun conveying a sport and the second word a noun conveying the way one might score points or win when playing that sport. While “baseball is to inning” and “football is to touchdown” might each look like a potentially correct answer, “inning” is defined as “a single turn at bat for a team until three outs are made” in the context of baseball, so a baseball game is divided into innings, but one does not necessarily score points by completing innings. So, “baseball is to inning” cannot be the correct answer. “Touchdown,” however, is a noun that means “a six-point score made by carrying or passing the ball into the end zone of the opposing side” in the context of football, so one scores points in football by completing touchdowns, just as one scores points in basketball by completing free throws, making “football is to touchdown” the correct answer.

Guilt is something you might experience after an event, so to solve this analogy, you have to identify a negative feeling of concern before an event. This should lead you to the correct answer, “misgivings,” which describes concerns about not wanting to do something or participate in an approaching event. For clarification, "confounded" means puzzled, and "complicit" means involved in something bad.

A skyscraper is something that one would expect to find in a city, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a location in which one would expect to find a wharf. “Wharf” is a noun defined as “a dock; a level quayside area to which a ship may be moored,” so the correct answer is “seaside,” because it is the only answer choice which is located on the border between water and land.

“Prognosticate” is a verb that means foretell. So, “prognosticate” is a verb that is associated with knowing information that has to do with the future, and we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that is associated with knowing information that has to do with the past. While “forget” and “remember” might each look like potentially correct answer choices, only “remember” has to do with obtaining information about the past, so “remember” is the correct answer.

"Nocturnal" means (of an animal) awake at night, asleep during the day. So, to solve this analogy you are looking for the answer choice that means (of an animal) awake during the day, asleep at night. The correct answer is therefore "diurnal." Additionally, "eternal" means lasting forever; "rural" means related to the countryside; "urban" means related to the city; "cosmopolitan" means worldly, sophisticated.

A "convict" is a prisoner. So, if a "convict" lives in a prison, which of these answer choices might live in an "abbey?" Well, an "abbey" is like a monastery, so the correct answer is a "monk." Additionally, an "essayist" is a writer of essay's; a "demigod" is a lower tier God.

One generally "studies" to prepare for an "exam." So, which of these is something that one might "till" in preparation for? Well, to "till" is to cultivate the land, to plant crops that will one day need to be "harvested." The correct answer is thus, of course, "harvest." Additionally, a "strut" is an exaggerated and cocky walk; "bereavement" is a period of mourning after a loss; a "sinecure" is an easy job; "aesthetic" means related to beauty.

A "barracks" is a place where soldiers are housed. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these answer choices is a place where "babies" might be found. The correct answer is a "nursery." Additionally, a "dormitory" is a place where people, usually students, sleep; a "commode" is a room, usually a bathroom; a "monastery" is a place where monks or other religious adherents live.

"Foresight" is the ability to see or predict future developments. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these words relates to the past in the same way that "foresight" relates to the future. The correct answer is therefore "hindsight" which means an understanding of something that emerges after it has happened. Additionally, "insight" means understanding about the present; "forethought" and "prudence" are synonyms of "foresight"; a "descendant" is someone in one's family who comes after oneself, like a grandson.

A pool is the location in which a swimmer performs his/her sport. Similarly, a ring is where a boxer fights, so that is the correct answer.

A "tithe" is money given to the "church." So, to solve this analogy you merely need to determine who is given money through "alms." The correct answer is that "alms" is money given to the "poor."

"Aesthetics" is the study of "beauty." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "botany" is the study of. Well, the correct answer is that "botany" is the study of plants.

An "admiral" is a high-ranking commander in the navy. So, to solve this analogy, you need to determine the organization in which an "abbot" has authority. The correct answer is that an "abbot" has authority over a "monastery."To provide further help, a "monastery" is a place where monks live, pray, and study.

An "actuary" is someone who assesses "risk" for a living. So, an "actuary" is someone who is concerned with "risk." To solve this analogy, you need to determine what it is that a "bursar" is associated with. A "banker" is someone who works for a bank managing finances, so "finances" is the correct answer.

"Ostracize" means to banish from "society," to exclude from "society." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what it is that you are banished and excluded from if you are "excommunicated." Well, "excommunicate" means exclude from participation in the Christian "church." So, the correct answer is "church." Additionally, "deity" means God; "convict" means prisoner.