Part and Whole - SSAT Upper Level: Verbal

The outer "framework" of an animal's body is its skin, which protects its insides. A similar relationship exists between an orange and its peel, since the peel is the outer part of the fruit which protects the inside.

Since a ceiling represents the topmost part or upper boundary of a room, we're looking for a pair of words in which the first word describes the upper boundary or the topmost part of the second. "Leaves are to trees" may seem like a good answer initially, but leaves are only part of trees—while they can be found at the top of trees, they don't necessarily have to. Similarly, stalactites are found on the ceilings of caves, but they represent only a feature of the ceiling, not the entire boundary. The best answer is "canopy to forest," as the forest represents the topmost part or upper boundary of a forest.

Since kernels are the edible seeds of corn, we need to pick out another set of words in which the second word describes the edible seeds of the plant the first word represents. While many of the answers have to do with vegetables, "sunflower is to sunflower seed" is the best answer, because sunflower seeds are the edible seeds of sunflowers.

Since a keyboard is part of a computer on which letters are printed and people use to write messages, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is part of the second word, and more specifically, a part that involves letters or writing. "Paper is to pen" might be correct if the words were reversed, but as it stands, they are in the wrong order, and while a pen is used to write messages on paper, it is not specifically part of paper; however, since moveable type refers to the part of a printing press on which letters are carved and a printing press can be used to print written works, "moveable type is to printing press" is the correct answer.

Since a yolk is part of an egg, we need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word describes a part of the second word. Either "page is to book" or "finger is to hand" could be the correct answer. Since a yolk is contained within an egg and a page is contained within a book, but a finger is not contained within a hand, "page is to book" is the better answer of the two choices and the correct answer.

The hinge is the part of the door that lets it swing. Similarly, the fulcrum is the part of the lever that lets the lever arm swing.

“Dregs” are defined as either “the remnants of a liquid left in a container; sediment, grounds” or “the most worthless parts of something.” So, the bits left in the bottom of a glass after one drinks tea are called “dregs,” and we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun conveying what might be left in the bottom of a glass after drinking coffee. While “grounds” and “beans” are both words associated with coffee, coffee is made from beans, but one does not find “beans” in the bottom of one’s empty coffee mug, so “beans” cannot be the correct answer. “Grounds,” however, is a noun that can mean “solid particles, especially of ground coffee, that form a residue; sediment.” So, because tea might leave dregs in the bottom of a glass while coffee might leave grounds in the bottom of a glass, “grounds” is the correct answer.

Sometimes an analogy can be so simple that you will overanalyze it. Do not do so with this question. Icing is merely meant here as the top layer on the cake—nothing further. Thus, the bridge sentence for this analogy could be written, “Just as icing is the top layer on a cake, so froth is the top layer of X.” Froth is the top layer of liquid caused by it being disturbed or sometimes by something like the fermentation of yeast in the liquid.

The wrapper on a piece of candy protects its exterior, so we need to pick out an answer choice that describes what protects the exterior of an orange. While “rind” and “pulp” might each look like a potentially correct answer because each word is associated with oranges, “pulp” means the soft part of a fruit, so it cannot be the correct answer because an orange’s pulp does not protect its exterior; however, “rind” can mean the tough exterior of a fruit. Because orange rind protects its exterior just as a candy’s wrapper protects its exterior, “rind” is the correct answer.

The ingredients of a recipe are the parts of which it is comprised; therefore, one could fairly write the bridge sentence, “Just as ingredients are the parts of a recipe, so are bristles part of a X.” Now, “bristle” can mean to become angry, but this comes from the description of an animal that is “bristling,” that is, having its hair stand up out of anger or fear. Bristles are a type of stiff hair that are used in brushes, which would be the best option for the “larger thing” of which the bristles are a part.

A knob is a part of a door; therefore, you could translate this analogy as, “Just as a knob is part of a door, so is a burner a part of a X.” A burner is the heating surface on a stove. This is the only option that functions as a whole of which the burner is a part.

This analogy is relatively simple. A pocket is part of a shirt, so you are looking for the that of which a lace is part. While lace can be a type of plaited fabric, here, the best option is to understand it as meaning the long string used in things like shoes. The lace is part of a shoe as a pocket is part of a shirt.

A district is a part of a given city. For instance, a city might have a “market district” in which a number of food salespeople have shops for selling bulk quantities to potential restaurants in town. There might be an “Italian district” in which a number of Italians live and have set up shops and restaurants, giving the area a distinctive Italian appearance and character. The analogy could thus be rewritten, “As a district is part of a city, so too is an hour part of X.” An hour is part of a day. While it is a period of time, a measure of time, a moment (in the grand scheme, at least), and even “a portion” (of a longer time), it is only part of a day. The analogy requires a part-whole relationship.

An atom is the basic part from which molecules are constructed; therefore, this is a part-whole analogy. A minute is part of a larger measure of time. Here, you have to be careful. Two options are justifiably tempting, namely “hour” and “century.” Now, “molecules” are the “first rung” of combined atoms. We could, of course, say that organs are made up of atoms; however, this could be stated as “organs are made up of tissues, which are made up of cells, which are made up of molecules, which are made up of atoms.” Notice that “molecule” is the immediate product of atoms, not a distant one (as in the case of organs in relation to elements). This means that “hour” is a better option than “century.”

A "link" is one of the small metal pieces in a longer chain. It also can mean any portion of a long “chain” of things (understood metaphorically). Hence, we speak of the “missing link” between apes and men—that is, the missing intermediary stage / being in the great chain of beings. The analogy could be written, “As a link is part of a chain, so is a chapter a part of X.” “Book” is the only option of something of which a chapter is a portion. (A chapter, of course, could be a part of a thesis, a novel, a report, etc.).

A sector is a portion of a circle—think of a “pie piece” or something of the like. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as a sector is part of a circle, so is a segment part of X.” In general, a segment is any potential divided part of an object—in segmented worms, segments of cars, etc. Among the options provided, only “line” provides a suitable “whole,” to which the “part” that is a segment can be compared. All of the other options are broadly related but insufficient.

A "jogger" is one part of a marathon, indicating a part to whole relationship. Both words are also nouns. "Religion" is also a noun, meaning the missing word is a noun and part of religion as a whole.

"Creed" (noun) is the correct answer, root word "cred" = believe. It is a set of beliefs that are part of a religion.

"Polytheistic" (adj) prefix "poly" = many, root "theo" = r_eligion, gods_. This is a type of religion, not a part of religion itself.

"Cult" (noun), a group of people sharing (usually fringe) beliefs. This is related to the definition of religion, but not part of one.

"Pious" (adj) someone who is highly religious. People are parts of religion, but this word describes a particular individual, not an object or part.

"Immoral" (adj) prefix "im" = not, root "mor" life. This word also describes someone or something as being not right or ethical, and it is not an object or part.

A "compass" is used to find direction in the act of navigation (the plotting or directing of a course for a ship or vessel). While this may seem like a tool-user relationship, it is not. The compass is part of the whole subject of navigation. Likewise, the answer will be part of a gemstone. As all the words in the analogy set have been nouns, the answer should also be a noun.

The correct choice is "facet" (noun), which is one side of a multi-sided thing. Think of it as one of the flat sides of a jewel. Its root "face" literally means face, appearance, or side. This is similar to how sides of 3D geometric shapes are often called "faces."

"Bauble" (noun) is a trinket or piece of jewelry, which makes it more a synonym of a gemstone.

"Peridot" (noun) is a type of gemstone, olive-green colored.

"Scarce" (adj) means uncommon, special, or rare. This describes the gemstone, rather than relating a part of one.

"Entombed" (adj) means buried, generally with a body, like in a grave or tomb. It was a common practice to bury wealth and treasures with someone of importance, but again, the word does not relate an example of a part of a gem.

A "battalion" is a group of soldiers within a larger army, something like a "regiment" or a "corps." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a group of individuals who are collectively a part of a "company." The correct answer is a "branch" which means a regional department of a large company.