SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #34 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Arachnophobia is to spiders as aquaphobia is to __________

Possible Answers:

feet

danger

water

fear

children

Correct answer:

water

Explanation:

The prefix "arachno-" means related to spiders and the suffix "-phobia" means fear of, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders. The prefix "aqua-" means related to water, so “aquahobia” is a fear of water

Example Question #35 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Triathlon is to three as decathlon is to __________.

Possible Answers:

twenty

ten

sports

eight

fitness

Correct answer:

ten

Explanation:

The word fragment "-athl­-" suggests a sporting or exercise term and indeed a “triathlon” is a sporting competition with three events. The prefix "tri-" means three. Similarly, the prefix "dec-" means ten, so a “decathlon” is a sporting competition with ten events

Example Question #36 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Patriarchy is to men as matriarchy is to __________.

Possible Answers:

women

president

marriage

king

pope

Correct answer:

women

Explanation:

The suffix "-archy" means ruling, so in a “patriarchy,” the people are ruled by a man or a group of men. In a "matriarchy," the people are ruled by a woman or a group of women.

Example Question #37 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dysfunctional is to working as endorse is to __________.

Possible Answers:

harangue 

demonstrate 

support 

undermine 

pretend 

Correct answer:

undermine 

Explanation:

The prefix "dys-" is a negation prefix; this means it takes the original meaning of the word “functional” (working) and causes it to mean the opposite, so “dysfunctional” means not working. To solve this analogy, then, you need to determine which of the answer choices means the opposite of “endorse.” “Endorse” means give support to, so the best available antonym is “undermine,” a word that means work to prevent someone from succeeding or something from occurring or working. None of the other answer choices work as antonyms of "endorse": "support" is a synonym of "endorse"; “demonstrate” means show someone or a group how to do something by example; “pretend” means fake; and “harangue” means rebuke, scold, or tell-off.

Example Question #38 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Medieval is to era as Mediterranean is to __________

Possible Answers:

mountain range 

river 

forest 

ocean 

sea

Correct answer:

sea

Explanation:

The “medieval” period of history occurred between the ninth and fifteenth century CE in Europe and Asia. As it is a period of history, it can be said to be an “era.” To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these categories “Mediterranean” fits into. It is worth noting that the prefix "med-" means middle, so the “medieval” period was so named because it was a middle period between antiquity and the modern day, while the Mediterranean sea was so named for being in the middle of Europe and Africa—that is, between the two continents. So, because the Mediterranean is a sea just as "medieval" is an era, "sea" is the correct answer.

Example Question #39 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Century is to hundred as millennium is to __________

Possible Answers:

billion 

trillion 

thousand

dozen 

million 

Correct answer:

thousand

Explanation:

A “century” is one hundred consecutive years, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine how many years a “millennium” is. The correct answer is a "thousand.” The prefix "cent-" means hundred, and likewise, the prefix "mil-" means thousand. Just think of "centipedes" and "millipedes" if you think you might get these confused. The key here is not to be confused by the fact that "millennium" does not refer to a span of a "million" years, despite "million" also beginning with "mil-."

Example Question #40 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Scissors are to cut as needle is to __________.

Possible Answers:

imply 

medicine

induce 

doctor 

inject 

Correct answer:

inject 

Explanation:

You use scissors to cut, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that describes what you do with a needle. The correct answer is to “inject” something. The prefix "in-" means put into, so “inject” means to put something, usually a liquid, into something else. To provide further help, “induce” means force or cause to be, and “imply” means suggest

Example Question #41 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Library is to books as bakery is to __________.

Possible Answers:

kitchen

oven

pencils

bread

CDs

Correct answer:

bread

Explanation:

One would expect to be able to get books from a library, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an object you would expect to be able to get from a bakery. You might expect to be able to get bakery from a bakery, so "bread" is the correct answer. None of the other answers make sense in the blank as something you might expect to get from a bakery; while you might expect to find an oven and a kitchen in a bakery, you wouldn't expect to be able to take these things with you like books from a library, so those answer choices are incorrect.

Example Question #42 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Inhale is to exhale as implicit is to __________.

Possible Answers:

extraneous

implied 

extrapolate 

interesting

explicit 

Correct answer:

explicit 

Explanation:

The prefix "in-" means into and the prefix "ex-" means out of. So, to “inhale” is to breathe in and to “exhale” is to breathe out. To solve this analogy, you need to identify the answer choice that is the opposite of “implicit.” “Implicit” means understood without having to be directly said, so the best antonym is “explicit,” which means obviously stated. None of the other answer choices are antonyms of "implicit": “implied” means suggested but not directly stated, so it is a synonym of implicit; "extraneous" means extra and not necessary; and “extrapolate” is a verb that means take certain information and reach some conclusion about it; and "interesting" means able to hold one's attention or fascinating.

Example Question #43 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Driving is to motorist as walking is to __________

Possible Answers:

pedestrian 

ambassador 

mercenary 

paramedic 

representative 

Correct answer:

pedestrian 

Explanation:

The prefix "motor-" means related to cars, so a “motorist” is someone who is driving a car or other motorized vehicle. To solve this analogy, you need to determine which of the answer choices is a name for someone who is walking near traffic. The root "ped" means having to do with walking or feet, so the correct answer is “pedestrian.” When you walk along the side of the road or cross the street, you are a “pedestrian.” None of the other answer choices are words that mean someone who is walking near traffic: an “ambassador” is someone who represents a group’s interests, especially that of a nation, to a third party; a “mercenary” is someone who is paid to fight; a “representative” is someone who is elected to represent the interests of the people in government; and a “paramedic” is someone who responds to medical emergencies.

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