SSAT Analogy Worksheet 20

The following questions ask you to find relationships between words. For each question, select the answer choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.

In this example, the relationship between kitten and cat is that a kitten is a young cat. A puppy is a young dog, so puppy is to dog is the best answer.

1. Scalpel is to surgeon as

1. stethoscope is to patient
2. gavel is to judge
3. blueprint is to architect
4. microscope is to scientist
5. book is to librarian

2. Ephemeral is to permanence as

1. brief is to duration
2. arid is to moisture
3. transparent is to clarity
4. heavy is to weight
5. fragile is to glass

3. Tadpole is to frog as

1. snake is to reptile
2. caterpillar is to butterfly
3. fish is to ocean
4. egg is to bird
5. infant is to adult

4. Conciliatory is to appease as

1. belligerent is to fight
2. friendly is to enemy
3. hostile is to welcome
4. peaceful is to war
5. angry is to calm

5. Lexicon is to words as

1. atlas is to maps
2. library is to books
3. encyclopedia is to knowledge
4. dictionary is to definitions
5. catalog is to products

6. Famished is to hungry as

1. thirsty is to parched
2. exhausted is to tired
3. cold is to freezing
4. angry is to peaceful
5. happy is to content

7. Composer is to symphony as

1. conductor is to orchestra
2. playwright is to drama
3. director is to film
4. actor is to theater
5. musician is to instrument

8. Quell is to uprising as

1. suppress is to rebellion
2. start is to revolution
3. encourage is to protest
4. ignore is to conflict
5. report is to incident

9. Thermostat is to temperature as

1. thermometer is to heat
2. barometer is to pressure
3. clock is to time
4. ruler is to length
5. scale is to weight

10. Oak is to tree as

1. rose is to flower
2. forest is to woods
3. leaf is to branch
4. root is to soil
5. pine is to cone

11. Drought is to famine as

1. rain is to flood
2. heat is to summer
3. cold is to winter
4. wind is to storm
5. snow is to ice

12. Meticulous is to careless as

1. careful is to cautious
2. diligent is to lazy
3. thorough is to complete
4. precise is to accurate
5. detailed is to specific

13. Chisel is to sculptor as

1. paint is to canvas
2. easel is to artist
3. lathe is to carpenter
4. museum is to curator
5. clay is to pottery

14. Prologue is to novel as

1. preface is to book
2. chapter is to story
3. conclusion is to essay
4. paragraph is to sentence
5. title is to page

15. Vindictive is to forgiveness as

1. generous is to charity
2. vengeful is to mercy
3. hostile is to anger
4. kind is to cruelty
5. compassionate is to sympathy

16. Entomologist is to insects as

1. biologist is to life
2. ornithologist is to birds
3. zoologist is to animals
4. botanist is to plants
5. geologist is to rocks

17. Placid is to turbulent as

1. calm is to stormy
2. peaceful is to serene
3. quiet is to silent
4. gentle is to soft
5. smooth is to rough

18. Calf is to cow as

1. puppy is to dog
2. foal is to horse
3. kitten is to cat
4. chick is to hen
5. lamb is to sheep

19. Admonish is to rebuke as

1. praise is to criticize
2. caution is to warn
3. encourage is to support
4. punish is to reward
5. scold is to compliment

20. Loom is to weaver as

1. thread is to fabric
2. kiln is to potter
3. textile is to factory
4. needle is to seamstress
5. cloth is to tailor

21. Cacophony is to harmony as

1. noise is to sound
2. discord is to melody
3. music is to song
4. silence is to quiet
5. rhythm is to beat

22. Photosynthesis is to oxygen as

1. respiration is to carbon dioxide
2. digestion is to energy
3. breathing is to air
4. circulation is to blood
5. metabolism is to food

23. Apathetic is to enthusiasm as

1. excited is to energy
2. indifferent is to passion
3. bored is to interest
4. tired is to sleep
5. lethargic is to movement

24. Chapter is to book as

1. verse is to poem
2. sentence is to paragraph
3. page is to novel
4. word is to dictionary
5. scene is to play

25. Obfuscate is to clarify as

1. confuse is to perplex
2. obscure is to reveal
3. hide is to conceal
4. explain is to describe
5. complicate is to simplify

26. Novelist is to fiction as

1. journalist is to article
2. historian is to chronicle
3. poet is to verse
4. editor is to manuscript
5. reader is to book

27. Inundate is to flood as

1. drown is to water
2. drench is to rain
3. deluge is to overwhelm
4. sprinkle is to dampen
5. overflow is to spill

28. Petal is to flower as

1. leaf is to tree
2. stem is to plant
3. scale is to fish
4. seed is to fruit
5. root is to vegetable

29. Gregarious is to sociable as

1. reclusive is to outgoing
2. reserved is to shy
3. loquacious is to talkative
4. friendly is to hostile
5. introverted is to extroverted

30. Friction is to heat as

1. cold is to ice
2. pressure is to stress
3. combustion is to fire
4. gravity is to weight
5. motion is to energy

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) - gavel is to judge
Explanation: This is a tool/user relationship. A scalpel is a specialized tool used by a surgeon. A gavel is a specialized tool used by a judge. (A) is incorrect because a stethoscope is used on a patient, not by a patient. (C) is incorrect because while architects use blueprints, a scalpel is a more specific, defining tool for surgeons than a blueprint is for architects.

2. Ans: (B) - arid is to moisture
Explanation: This is a lack of quality relationship. Something ephemeral lacks permanence. Something arid lacks moisture. (A) is incorrect because brief describes a short duration rather than lacking it. (C) is incorrect because transparent possesses clarity rather than lacking it.

3. Ans: (B) - caterpillar is to butterfly
Explanation: This is a young/adult or immature/mature form relationship. A tadpole is the immature form that develops into a frog. A caterpillar is the immature form that develops into a butterfly. (D) is incorrect because an egg is not a living developmental stage in the same way. (E) is too general and doesn't specify the same type of biological metamorphosis.

4. Ans: (A) - belligerent is to fight
Explanation: This is an adjective/verb relationship showing characteristic behavior. Someone conciliatory seeks to appease. Someone belligerent seeks to fight. (C) is incorrect because it shows an antonym relationship rather than matching the adjective-to-action pattern. (B) is incorrect because friendly doesn't lead to enemy.

5. Ans: (A) - atlas is to maps
Explanation: This is a collection/element relationship. A lexicon is a collection of words. An atlas is a collection of maps. (B) is incorrect because a library stores books but isn't defined primarily as a bound collection in the same way. (D) is close but a dictionary contains definitions of words, not just words themselves.

6. Ans: (B) - exhausted is to tired
Explanation: This is a degree of intensity relationship. Famished means extremely hungry. Exhausted means extremely tired. (A) reverses the order of intensity. (C) also reverses the order, as freezing is more intense than cold.

7. Ans: (B) - playwright is to drama
Explanation: This is a creator/creation or specialist/work product relationship. A composer creates a symphony. A playwright creates a drama. (A) is incorrect because a conductor performs but doesn't create the orchestra. (C) is incorrect because while a director oversees a film, the creator is typically the screenwriter or filmmaker.

8. Ans: (A) - suppress is to rebellion
Explanation: This is an action/object or synonymous action relationship. To quell an uprising means to put it down or stop it. To suppress a rebellion means the same thing. (B) is incorrect because it shows an opposite action. (C) is also an opposite action.

9. Ans: (B) - barometer is to pressure
Explanation: This is an instrument/what it regulates or controls relationship. A thermostat regulates temperature. A barometer measures pressure (and in some contexts, regulates systems based on pressure). (C) and (D) are measuring instruments but don't regulate in the same active way. (A) measures but doesn't regulate.

10. Ans: (A) - rose is to flower
Explanation: This is a type/category or specific/general relationship. An oak is a type of tree. A rose is a type of flower. (C) is incorrect because it shows a part/whole relationship. (E) is incorrect because it shows a tree/seed-bearing structure relationship.

11. Ans: (A) - rain is to flood
Explanation: This is a cause/effect relationship. A drought (lack of water) can cause a famine (lack of food). Rain (excess water) can cause a flood (excess water overflow). (B), (C), and (D) show associations but not clear cause-and-effect relationships.

12. Ans: (B) - diligent is to lazy
Explanation: This is an antonym relationship. Meticulous (extremely careful and precise) is the opposite of careless. Diligent is the opposite of lazy. (A) shows synonyms rather than antonyms. (C) and (D) also show synonyms.

13. Ans: (C) - lathe is to carpenter
Explanation: This is a tool/user relationship. A chisel is a specialized tool used by a sculptor. A lathe is a specialized tool used by a carpenter. (B) is incorrect because an easel is used by a painter, not by all artists, and is less defining. (D) is incorrect because it shows a place/worker relationship.

14. Ans: (A) - preface is to book
Explanation: This is a part/whole relationship, specifically an introductory part to the whole. A prologue is the introduction to a novel. A preface is the introduction to a book. (B) is incorrect because a chapter is a main part, not an introductory part. (C) is incorrect because a conclusion comes at the end, not the beginning.

15. Ans: (B) - vengeful is to mercy
Explanation: This is a lack of quality relationship. Someone vindictive lacks forgiveness. Someone vengeful lacks mercy. (D) is reversed, showing kind lacking cruelty. (A) is incorrect because generous possesses rather than lacks the quality of charity.

16. Ans: (B) - ornithologist is to birds
Explanation: This is a specialist/subject of study relationship. An entomologist studies insects. An ornithologist studies birds. (A), (C), (D), and (E) all show valid specialist relationships, but (B) is the best answer because it matches the specificity level-both are specialists in particular animal groups.

17. Ans: (A) - calm is to stormy
Explanation: This is an antonym relationship. Placid (calm and peaceful) is the opposite of turbulent (violently disturbed). Calm is the opposite of stormy. (B) shows synonyms. (C) and (D) also show synonyms rather than antonyms.

18. Ans: (B) - foal is to horse
Explanation: This is a young/adult animal relationship. A calf is a young cow. A foal is a young horse. While (A), (C), (D), and (E) all show valid young/adult relationships, (B) best matches because both calf and foal are terms for large farm/domesticated animals.

19. Ans: (B) - caution is to warn
Explanation: This is a synonym relationship. To admonish means to rebuke or scold. To caution means to warn. Both pairs show similar meanings with slightly different intensities. (A) shows antonyms. (D) also shows antonyms.

20. Ans: (B) - kiln is to potter
Explanation: This is a tool/user relationship. A loom is a large tool used by a weaver. A kiln is a large tool used by a potter. (A) is incorrect because it shows a material/product relationship. (D) is close but a needle is a much smaller, less defining tool than a loom or kiln.

21. Ans: (B) - discord is to melody
Explanation: This is an antonym relationship. Cacophony (harsh, discordant mixture of sounds) is the opposite of harmony. Discord is the opposite of melody. (A) is incorrect because noise and sound are related but not true opposites. (C) shows related concepts rather than opposites.

22. Ans: (A) - respiration is to carbon dioxide
Explanation: This is a process/product relationship. Photosynthesis produces oxygen as a byproduct. Respiration produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct. (B) is less specific-digestion produces nutrients/energy but in a different way. (C) is incorrect because breathing uses air rather than producing it.

23. Ans: (B) - indifferent is to passion
Explanation: This is a lack of quality relationship. Someone apathetic lacks enthusiasm. Someone indifferent lacks passion. (C) is close but doesn't match as precisely-bored suggests a temporary state. (E) is incorrect because lethargic describes lack of energy, not necessarily lack of movement itself.

24. Ans: (E) - scene is to play
Explanation: This is a part/whole relationship. A chapter is a major division of a book. A scene is a major division of a play. (A) is incorrect because a verse is more like a line or stanza, not a major division. (B) is reversed in scale-sentences make up paragraphs.

25. Ans: (B) - obscure is to reveal
Explanation: This is an antonym relationship. To obfuscate means to make unclear or confusing; to clarify means to make clear. To obscure means to make unclear; to reveal means to make clear. (A) shows synonyms for confuse. (E) is close but complicate/simplify relates to complexity rather than clarity.

26. Ans: (B) - historian is to chronicle
Explanation: This is a specialist/work product relationship. A novelist creates fiction. A historian creates a chronicle (historical account). (A) is incorrect because it's less specific-journalists write articles but that's not their defining product. (C) is very close but (B) better matches the specificity and nature of the work.

27. Ans: (C) - deluge is to overwhelm
Explanation: This is a synonym relationship with similar intensity. To inundate means to flood or overwhelm with water. To deluge means to overwhelm with a flood. Both pairs use water-related terms in similar ways. (B) is incorrect because drench and rain don't have the same synonymous relationship. (D) shows opposite intensity.

28. Ans: (C) - scale is to fish
Explanation: This is a part/whole relationship, specifically a covering part. A petal is one of the outer parts that make up a flower. A scale is one of the outer parts that covers a fish. (A) is less specific as leaves serve a different function. (B) is a structural part but not a covering.

29. Ans: (C) - loquacious is to talkative
Explanation: This is a synonym relationship. Gregarious means sociable or enjoying company. Loquacious means talkative or chatty. (A) shows antonyms. (B) shows synonyms but with less precise matching of intensity and connotation.

30. Ans: (C) - combustion is to fire
Explanation: This is a cause/effect or process/result relationship. Friction produces heat. Combustion produces fire. (D) is close but shows a force/effect rather than a process/product. (E) is too general-motion can produce energy but in many different ways.