How Does the SSAT Measure Verbal Ability?

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The SSAT measures your verbal ability with two question types:

1. Synonyms

2. Analogies

A verbal section consists of 60 questions; 30 of these questions are synonyms and 30 are analogies.

Synonym Questions

A synonym is a word with the same meaning or nearly the same meaning as another word. SSAT synonym questions ask you to choose the best synonym for a question word that is written in capital letters.

The directions for SSAT synonym questions look something like this:

Directions: Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is most similar to the meaning of the word in CAPITAL letters.

Here are two sample SSAT synonym questions. Try each one on your own; then read the explanation that accompanies it.

1. NOVICE

(A) competitive

(B) clumsy

(C) aged

(D) beginner

(E) impulsive

The correct answer is (D). A NOVICE is a beginner, someone without experience. You may recognize the root of novel, meaning new, a clue to the definition.

2. CONVOY

(A) hearse

(B) thunderstorm

(C) group

(D) jeep

(E) journey

The correct answer is (C). A CONVOY is a group traveling together for protection or convenience. You have probably seen convoys of military vehicles traveling single file along the highway toward summer reserve camp.

Analogy Questions

Analogy questions ask you to match up pairs of words that are related in the same way. Each question starts with a word pair. Your job is to find or create another pair of words that is related in the same way as the first pair.

The directions for SSAT analogy questions look similar to this:

Directions: Find the relationship between the words. Read each question and then choose the answer that best completes the meaning of the sentence.

Here are two sample SSAT analogy questions. Try each one on your own before reading the explanation that accompanies it.

3. Lid is to box as cork is to

(A) float

(B) bottle

(C) wine

(D) blacken

(E) stopper

The correct answer is (B). The relationship is one of purpose. The purpose of a lid is to close a box; the purpose of a cork is to close a bottle. Cork is easily associated with all the choices, so you must recognize the purposeful relationship of the initial pair to choose the correct answer.

4. Poison is to death as

(A) book is to pages

(B) music is to violin

(C) kindness is to cooperation

(D) life is to famine

(E) nothing is to something

The correct answer is (C). This is a cause-and-effect relationship. Poison may lead to death; kindness may lead to cooperation. Neither outcome is a foregone conclusion, but both are equally likely, so the parallel is maintained. Choice (B) offers a reversed relationship.

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