All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Manage is to manageable as defend is to __________.Â
defensibleÂ
attackÂ
defenderÂ
protectÂ
defensiveÂ
defensibleÂ
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 __________.
milder
colder
wetter
drier
hotter
wetter
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 __________.
historiography
humanities
scientistÂ
warlock
historian
historian
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.Â
Example Question #17 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Forward is to backward as up is to __________.
behind
direction
down
movement
straight
down
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.
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Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Separate is to pull apart as combine is to __________.
set free
put together
agree with
clean up
break away
put together
"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.Â
Sense is to nonsense as friendly is to __________.
awesome
unfriendly
nonfriendly
sociable
amiable
unfriendly
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.Â
Submarine is to water as subway is to __________.
carriageÂ
metroÂ
skyÂ
trainÂ
groundÂ
groundÂ
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.Â
Nonagon is to nine as hexagon is to __________.
sidesÂ
shapesÂ
anglesÂ
sevenÂ
sixÂ
sixÂ
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.Â
Three is to triplets as five is to __________.
quintuplets
fifth
twins
children
quadruplets
quintuplets
“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 Â-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.Â
Sanctify is to holy as fortify is to __________.
vulnerable
desirable
weak
strong
impotent
strong
“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.Â
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