SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Prefixes

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy.

Moral is to amoral as active is to __________.

Possible Answers:

hopeful

followed

reclusive

passive

silent

Correct answer:

passive

Explanation:

The prefix "a-" adds the meaning of not, without, or opposite to. The opposite of “moral” is “amoral.” If you are “moral,” you base your actions on what you think is right and good; if you are “amoral,” you base your actions on what you think is bad or you just do whatever you like. The opposite of “active” is “passive,” where "active" means engaged or in action. If you are “passive” you do nothing or do very little. To further help you, “reclusive” means you prefer to be alone or you shy away from society; “hopeful” means full of hope; “silent” means quiet, without noise.

Example Question #49 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Unreal is to fake as uncertain is to __________.

Possible Answers:

caring

unknown

sure

knowing

uncaring

Correct answer:

unknown

Explanation:

The prefix "un-" means not. "Unreal" means not real, or "fake," so "unreal" and "fake" are synonyms because they have the same meaning. To solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "uncertain." "Uncertain" means not certain or unknown, so "unknown" is the correct answer.

Example Question #31 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy.

Credulous is to incredulous as credit is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Innate 

Impossible 

Card

Dismantle 

Discredit

Correct answer:

Discredit

Explanation:

The prefixes "in-," "im-," and "dis-" are all negationprefixes. This means they take the original meaning of the word and cause it to mean the opposite. “Credulous” means believing, naïve, gullible, so “incredulous” must mean disbelieving, skeptical, doubtful. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is the opposite of “credit,” which means to give recognition for some achievement. The correct antonym is “discredit,” which means harm the reputation of, prove wrong. To provide further help, “dismantle” means to take apart; “innate” means natural, inherent; “impossible” means not possible.

Example Question #51 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Tricycle is to three as unicycle is to __________

Possible Answers:

motorcycle

none

one

vehicle

bicycle

Correct answer:

one

Explanation:

The suffix "-cycle" suggests a wheeled vehicle and the prefixes tell you how many wheels that vehicle has. So a “tricycle” is a three-wheeled vehicle and a “unicycle” is a one-wheeled vehicle. Similarly, a "bicycle" is a two-wheeled vehicle.

Example Question #52 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Unicycle is to one as tricycle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

two 

car

three

ride 

bicycle 

Correct answer:

three

Explanation:

The prefix "uni-" means related to the number one, and the prefix ­"tri-" means related to the number three. So, for example, a “triangle” is so named because it has three sides and three angles, and a “tricycle” is called such because it has three wheels, as opposed to a "bicycle," which has two wheels and a “unicycle,” which has one wheel. In this example, "­uni-" is the prefix that tells you the word is related to the number one, and "cycle" tells you the word is related to something with wheels. Since a unicycle has one wheel and a tricycle has three wheels, "three" is the correct answer.

Example Question #53 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Uncommon is to rare as __________.

Possible Answers:

under is to over

unplanned is to spontaneous

undiscovered is to bleak

underhanded is to deliberate

ungrateful is to appreciative

Correct answer:

unplanned is to spontaneous

Explanation:

Here, the prefix "un-" applied to the word "common" results in the word "uncommon," which means the opposite of common. Something that is uncommon is therefore "rare." 

Given that "uncommon" and "rare" mean the same thing, the correct answer choice will be one in which the two words also mean the same thing. Something that is "spontaneous" is not planned. Therefore, the answer choice "unplanned is to spontaneous" is the correct answer.

Example Question #32 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy.

Telephone is to call as telescope is to __________

Possible Answers:

Taste

Hear

Answer 

Imagine 

See

Correct answer:

See

Explanation:

The prefix “tele-“ means over a long distance, so a “telephone” is a device that you use to call over a long distance and a “telescope” is a device that you used to see over a long distance. Notice how the root “phone” means having to do with a device that relates to sound, as in “megaphone” or “gramophone,” and the root “scope” means having to do with a device that relates to seeing, as in “microscope” or “periscope.”

Example Question #33 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy.

Unpleasant is to nice as dishonest is to __________.

Possible Answers:

terrifying

dangerous

serene

truthful

rested

Correct answer:

truthful

Explanation:

To solve this analogy, you have to understand the meaning of the prefixes "un-" and "dis-." Both prefixes are used to negate the meaning of a word. They take the original meaning and make it the opposite, so "unpleasant" means not pleasant. "Nice" is the opposite of "unpleasant," so to solve this analogy, you need to find the opposite of "dishonest." "Dishonest" means not honest, so the correct answer must mean something like "honest." The correct answer is therefore "truthful." To provide further help, "terrifying" means scary, and "serene" means peaceful.

Example Question #56 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Disconnected is to separated as unfulfilled is to __________.

Possible Answers:

misunderstood

satisfied

understood

dissatisfied

misplaced

Correct answer:

dissatisfied

Explanation:

This analogy requires you to use your knowledge of negating prefixes. "Un-" and "dis-" both mean not; they each take the meaning of the original word and make it mean the opposite. So "disconnected" means not connected. "Separated" is very similar to this meaning, so to solve this analogy, you have to find a word that is similar in meaning to "unfulfilled." "Unfulfilled" means not fulfilled or not satisfied, so the correct answer is "dissatisfied." To provide further help, "misplaced" means lost, "misunderstood" means incorrectly understood, and "satisfied" means happy with something.

Example Question #34 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Loyal is to disloyal as dull is to __________.

Possible Answers:

tired

guilty

exciting 

mundane 

boring 

Correct answer:

exciting 

Explanation:

"Loyal" is an antonym of "disloyal," so you need to pick out an answer choice that is an opposite of "dull." "Dull" can mean either boring or not sharp, so "exciting" is the correct answer, because "exciting" is an opposite of "boring." To help you, "munificent" means generous; and "guilty" means feeling bad about something bad that you did.

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