CCAT Vocabulary Practice – Grades 4 – 5
- Posted by Brian Stocker
- Date September 11, 2024
- Comments 0 comment
Mastering Verbal Analogies: The “Bridge Sentence” Technique
Many students lose marks on the Verbal Analogy section because they just look for words that “sound right” together. To score high in Level 10 & 11, your child needs a strategy. The best method is the Bridge Sentence.
How it Works: Don’t just look at the words. Instead, create a simple sentence that describes the relationship between the first pair of words. Then, use that exact same sentence to solve the second pair.
Example Question:
Accelerator is to Speed as Brake is to:
A. Car
B. Stop
C. Slow
D. Road
Step 1: Build the Bridge Look at the first pair: Accelerator and Speed.
Incorrect: “They are both car parts.” (Too vague).
Correct: “An Accelerator is used to increase Speed.”
Step 2: Cross the Bridge Now apply that sentence to the second word: Brake.
“A Brake is used to increase… Stop?” (No, that doesn’t make sense).
“A Brake is used to increase… Slow?” (Grammatically awkward, but close).
Wait, let’s refine the bridge: “An Accelerator controls Speed.”
“A Brake controls… Stopping?”
Actually, let’s try: “An accelerator makes you go faster. A brake makes you go slower.”
This is where students get stuck! The relationships can be tricky.
Let’s try a clearer Bridge: “Using the Accelerator results in more Speed.” “Using the Brake results in less speed, or it results in a Stop?”
See how tricky it can be? Let’s look at the standard “Function” bridge: “The function of the Accelerator is to increase speed. The function of the Brake is to reduce speed.”
The Golden Rule: If you can’t make a clear sentence that fits both pairs, you haven’t found the right relationship yet.
Common relationships on the CCAT Level 10 include:
- Opposites: (Hot is to Cold)
- Part to Whole: (Finger is to Hand)
- Function: (Knife is to Cut)
- Category: (Ant is to Insect)
Want to practice these strategies?
Get 100+ Verbal Reasoning questions with detailed answer keys in our Full CCAT Level 10 Practice Workbook. [Download the PDF Now]
Verbal Classification – Labe First Strategy
The common mistake here is falling into “association traps” (picking a word just because it reminds them of the group).
Cracking Verbal Classification: The “Label First” Strategy
In Verbal Classification questions, your child is given three words and must choose a fourth word that belongs to the same group.
The Trap: Students often pick a word that is related to the others but doesn’t fit the category.
Example Group: Saw, Hammer, Screwdriver.
Trap Answer: Wood. (Wood goes with tools, but it isn’t a tool).
Correct Answer: Drill. (It is another tool).
The Solution: “Label First, Look Second” Teach your child to cover the answers with their hand and define the group first.
Step 1: Find the Link Look at the three words: Robin, Eagle, Ostrich.
Ask: “What are all of these?”
Label: “They are all Birds.”
Step 2: Test the Answers Now look at the choices:
A. Nest (Related to birds, but not a bird).
B. Bat (Flies, but is a mammal).
C. Penguin (It is a bird).
D. Fly (It flies, but is an insect).
Step 3: Match the Label The only word that fits the label “Bird” is Penguin.
Common Categories to Practice: To prepare for Level 10 & 11, practice classifying words into these groups:
- Measurements: (Inches, Meters, Liters) vs. Tools (Ruler, Scale).
- Emotions: (Happy, Sad, Angry) vs. Actions (Laugh, Cry).
- Materials: (Wood, Steel, Plastic) vs. Objects (Chair, Table).
Want to practice these strategies?
Get 100+ Verbal Reasoning questions with detailed answer keys in our Full CCAT Level 10 Practice Workbook. [Download the PDF Now]
CCAT 4 Vocabulary – Practice Questions
CCAT Vocabulary Questions – Grade 4 & 5
1. What is a “polygon”?
A) A three-dimensional shape
B) A figure with multiple angles and sides
C) A type of line segment
D) A type of angle
2. What does the word “represent” mean?
A) To take away something
B) To stand for or symbolize something
C) To oppose something
D) To create something new
3. What does it mean to “predict” something?
A) To guess without any information
B) To remember something from the past
C) To say what will happen in the future based on information
D) To change an outcome
4. What is a “cause”?
A) The result of an action
B) A reason something happens
C) A random event
D) A solution to a problem
5. What does it mean to “infer” something?
A) To state something directly
B) To guess without evidence
C) To understand something indirectly based on evidence
D) To ask for clarification
6. What does it mean to “conclude” something?
A) To start a process
B) To decide or determine something after considering the information
C) To repeat an action
D) To describe something in detail
7. What does the word “estimate” mean?
A) To find the exact value
B) To make an educated guess about the quantity or value of something
C) To forget something important
D) To increase in size
8. What does it mean to “recognize” something?
A) To invent something new
B) To identify something or someone you have seen before
C) To ignore something
D) To eliminate something
9. What is an “adaptation”?
A) A type of story
B) A change made to fit a new environment or situation
C) A form of measurement
D) A mistake in a process
10. What is an “atlas”?
A) A collection of maps
B) A type of plant
C) A scientific instrument
D) A historical event
Vocabulary Answer Key
1. B) A figure with multiple angles and sides
A polygon is a flat shape with at least three straight sides and angles, such as a triangle or square.
2. B) To stand for or symbolize something
“Represent” means to act or speak on behalf of someone or something, or to be a symbol of something.
3. C) To say what will happen in the future based on information
“Predict” means to make an educated guess about what will happen in the future based on current knowledge or evidence.
4. B) A reason something happens
A “cause” is the reason why something happens, which leads to an effect or outcome.
5. C) To understand something indirectly based on evidence
“Infer” means to draw a conclusion from the information that is not directly stated, but implied by evidence or reasoning.
6. B) To decide or determine something after considering the information
“Conclude” means to arrive at a decision or judgment after considering all the evidence or facts.
7. B) To make an educated guess about the quantity or value of something
“Estimate” refers to an approximation or a rough calculation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
8. B) To identify something or someone you have seen before
“Recognize” means to know or identify something or someone from previous experience or knowledge.
9. B) A change made to fit a new environment or situation
“Adaptation” refers to a change or adjustment in structure, function, or behavior that helps an organism or object survive and thrive in its environment.
10. A) A collection of maps
An “atlas” is a book or collection of maps, typically used to find geographic information.
Published: Wednesday, September 11th, 2024
Created by Brian Stocker and the team in Victoria, BC.
Helping students succeed since 2005
Got a Question? Email me anytime - Brian@test-preparation.ca
You may also like
Police Problem Solving for SSPO and OACP Test
Police Problem Solving: Rule Application (Deductive Logic) This section of the SSPO (Sigma Survey for Police Officers) and OACP certificate process measures your ability to apply a general rule or a policy to a specific real-world situation or scenario. This …
Toolbox Math – Basic Math for Trades
Basic Math Practice Questions for Canadian Trades Trades Entrance Canada Trades Alberta Trades Skilled Trades Readiness
CELPIP Writing Prompts
The CELPIP writing evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in written English different tasks. Here are some sample CELPIP Writing prompts for writing an exmail. You are given a prompt and a scenario. Your email may be formal or informal, …