SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #14 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Manage is to manageable as defend is to __________. 

Possible Answers:

defensible 

attack 

defender 

protect 

defensive 

Correct answer:

defensible 

Explanation:

The suffixes "-able" and "-ible" generally mean able to be or able to do, as in the the word “manageable,” which means able to be managed. To solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices means able to be defended. The correct answer is “defensible."

Example Question #15 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Lengthen is to longer as moisten is to __________.

Possible Answers:

milder

colder

wetter

drier

hotter

Correct answer:

wetter

Explanation:

The suffix "-ten" means to make, so “lengthen” means to make longer and “moisten” means to make wetter.

Example Question #16 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Magic is to magician as history is to __________.

Possible Answers:

historiography

humanities

scientist 

warlock

historian

Correct answer:

historian

Explanation:

A “magician” is someone who practices magic, so to solve this analogy, you have to find the word that means someone who studies history, or “historian.” “Magician” and “historian” both have the suffix "-ian," which means type of person. To provide further help, “historiography” is the study of historical practice; a “scientist” is someone who studies science; “humanities” is a broad subject group including history, art, and literature; a “warlock” is a male witch, a wizard. 

Example Question #17 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Forward is to backward as up is to __________.

Possible Answers:

behind

direction

down

movement

straight

Correct answer:

down

Explanation:

The suffix "-ward" means having to do with the direction of [adjective or preposition]. Moving "forward" is the opposite of moving "backward," so you need to pick out an answer choice which represents the opposite of "up." "Down" is the opposite of "up," so "down" is the correct answer.

 

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Separate is to pull apart as combine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

set free

put together

agree with

clean up

break away

Correct answer:

put together

Explanation:

"Separate" means to divide things or set things or people apart. So, "separate" and "pull apart" are synonyms because they mean the same thing. That means that to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "combine." To "combine" means to put different things together into a single thing. (The prefix "com-" means together.) So, "put together" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Sense is to nonsense as friendly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

awesome

unfriendly

nonfriendly

sociable

amiable

Correct answer:

unfriendly

Explanation:

The prefix non- negates the meaning of the word that comes after it, so “nonsense” is opposite in meaning to “sense.” Likewise the prefix un- serves a similar purpose, so someone who is “friendly” is opposite to someone who is “unfriendly.” The key to answering this question is to know which prefix is appropriate to use in this individual case. To provide further help, amiable means friendly and sociable.

Example Question #2 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Submarine is to water as subway is to __________.

Possible Answers:

carriage 

metro 

sky 

train 

ground 

Correct answer:

ground 

Explanation:

The prefix sub- means going under, beneath so a “submarine” is something that travels under water and a “subway” is something that travels underground. The suffix -marine often suggests at a relationship with water.

Example Question #4 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Nonagon is to nine as hexagon is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sides 

shapes 

angles 

seven 

six 

Correct answer:

six 

Explanation:

The prefix non- means related to the number nine. A “nonagon” is a nine-sided shape. To solve this analogy you have to determine which number is related to the prefix hex-, the correct answer is “six.” A “hexagon” has six sides.

Example Question #21 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy. 

Three is to triplets as five is to __________.

Possible Answers:

quintuplets

fifth

twins

children

quadruplets

Correct answer:

quintuplets

Explanation:

“Triplets” are three children born at the same time, of the same mother. The prefix tri- means related to the number three. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what word is used to describe five children born at the same time, of the same mother. The prefix ­-quin means related to the number five, as does the prefix pent-; in this instance, the correct answer is “quintuplets.”

Example Question #22 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy. 

Sanctify is to holy as fortify is to __________.

Possible Answers:

vulnerable

desirable

weak

strong

impotent

Correct answer:

strong

Explanation:

“Sanctify” means to make holy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices means to make strong. The correct answer is “fortify.” If you were unable to answer this question immediately, it would become helpful to use your knowledge of prefixes. The prefix sanct- means related to holiness or tranquility, and the prefix fort- means related to strengthening or protecting. To provide further help, “vulnerable” means in danger from something specific; “impotent” means powerless; “desirable” means able to be desired, wanted. 

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