All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Wish is to wishful as hope is to __________.
harmless
harmful
hopeless
hopeful
despondent
hopeful
The suffix "-ful" generally means full of, so if you are “wishful” you are full of want or full of wishing. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices most nearly means full of hope. The correct answer is “hopeful.” To provide further help, “miserable” means in misery or very sad.
Example Question #5 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Cyclops is to one eye as biped is to __________.
one hand
one leg
two hands
two eyes
two legs
two legs
A “cyclops” is a mythological creature with only one eye. The suffix "-ped" means related to feet or walking and the prefix "bi-" means two, so a “biped” is a creature with two legs.
Example Question #6 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Get is to obtain as deceive is to __________.
prevent
postpone
trick
cancel
reward
trick
"Get" and "obtain" are synonyms because they mean the same thing, so to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which is a synonym of "deceive." The correct answer is “trick,” which means purposely mislead or deceive. As for the other answer choices, “prevent” means stop something from happening and “postpone” means delay until a later time.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Threefold is to triple as fourfold is to __________.
enhance
quadruple
double
augment
decimate
quadruple
The suffix "-fold" means increased by a factor of, so something that is increased “threefold” is increased to an amount three times the original amount or tripled. To solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices means to increase to an amount four times the original amount. The correct answer is “quadruple,” since the prefix "quad-" means related to the number four. To provide further help, “decimate” means reduce by one-tenth or destroy. Additionally, “enhance” and “augment” are synonyms of one another, and both words mean add something to something else to improve the thing which is added to.
Example Question #4 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Selfish is to greedy as selfless is to __________.
Unselfish
Honest
Deceptive
Dishonest
Devious
Unselfish
"Selfish" is a synonym of "greedy," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best synonym of "selfless." Someone who is "selfless" puts other people before him- or herself, so "unselfish," an adjective that means not selfish, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "selfless": "devious" and "deceptive" both mean deceitful, and "dishonest" means not honest, as you might be able to infer from the word's use of the negative prefix "dis-," which means not.
Example Question #9 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Help is to helper as sail is to _________.
sailor
overboard
boat
assistant
pilot
sailor
A "sailor" is someone who sails, just as a "helper" is someone who helps. So, "sailor" is the correct answer.
Example Question #5 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Light bulb is to electricity as __________.
museum is to exhibit
dinosaur is to extinct
car is to gasoline
painting is to frame
bird is to beak
car is to gasoline
Light bulbs are powered by electricity—they need electricity in order to work. To solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a thing that needs the second thing to work. Many cars are powered by gasoline, just as lightbulbs are powered by electricity, so "car is to gasoline" is the correct answer! None of the other answer choices use two words that are related in the same way as "light bulb" is related to "electricity."
Example Question #11 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Female is to witch as male is to __________.
humanist
judge
wizard
witchcraft
magician
wizard
A “wizard” is a male witch. To provide further help, “witchcraft” is the practice of magic by witches. The suffix "-craft" suggests a type of work or craft. A “humanist” is someone who has great faith in the capabilities of mankind and who thinks rationally about the world.
Example Question #12 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Thermometer is to temperature as ruler is to __________.
light
weight
loudness
length
pressure
length
The suffix "-meter" suggests that the word in question will relate to the measurement of something. The prefix "therm-" or "thermo-" means having to do with heat, temperature, or fire, so a “thermometer” is something used to measure temperature. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a ruler measures. A ruler measures length, so "length" is the correct answer.
Example Question #13 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Herbologist is to plants as __________.
zoologist is to animals
happy is to well
teacher is to pupil
science is to biology
vigorous is to fast
zoologist is to animals
A “herbologist” is a person who studies plants. The suffix "-ology" means the study of something and "-ologist" means a person who studies something. Similarly, a "zoologist" is a person who studies animals. To further help you, "biology” is a branch of science that studies life; “vigorous” and “fast” are synonyms; “happy” and “well" are also synonyms.
Certified Tutor