HSPT Verbal : Analogies: Roots from Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Roots
Sweet is to cloying as good is to __________.
horrible
stellar
enjoyable
acceptable
facetious
stellar
When something is "cloying," it is excessively sweet. Therefore, our analogy is one of intensification. As something cloying is excessively sweet, so too is something "stellar" very good—exceedingly good. It comes from the Latin word for "star," as though the goodness of the thing in question were "as high as the stars."
Example Question #2 : Analogies: Roots
Contrary is to uncooperative as senile is to __________.
expiring
archaic
foolish
infirm
deathly
infirm
The prefix "contra-" or "contr-" generally means against. "Contra dancing" is a kind of dancing in two lines that face each other, and "counterpoint" is a kind of music that has two musical lines that run "against" each other, weaving together melodies and harmonies. When someone is "contrary," he or she acts in a way that is always against other people's opinions. He or she generally is a troublesome personality and is thus someone who is uncooperative. Thus, we are looking for a descriptive word for "senile." While we often use this word to describe people who are losing their memories, the word can describe the more general condition of someone who is becoming aged. Someone who is senile is becoming infirm and weak with age. The word "senator" comes from a similar root, meaning old man.
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