All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes
Complete this analogy.
Sanctify is to holy as fortify is to __________.
vulnerable
weak
desirable
impotent
strong
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.
Example Question #5 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes
Complete this analogy.
Ailing is to hurt as rejuvenating is to __________.
healing
worsening
ancient
youthful
sick
healing
“Ailing” means in pain, sick or suffering, so it is a synonym for “hurt;” therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to find the best synonym for “rejuvenating;” the correct answer is “healing.” To help you figure this out, the prefix ail- means related to sickness or pain and the word fragment -juve- means related to youth or, in this instance, related to regaining youth and health. To provide further help, ancient means old.
Example Question #6 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes
Complete this analogy.
Centipede is to legs as century is to __________.
numbers
hundred
animals
years
insects
years
The prefix cent- means related to the number one hundred. A “centipede” is an insect that has one hundred legs, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what a “century” has one hundred of. The correct answer is “years,” there are one hundred years in a “century.”
Example Question #1521 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Father is to paternal as mother is to __________.
author
matrimony
maternal
augment
female
maternal
“Paternal” means relating to fatherhood. So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out which of these answer choices means relating to motherhood. The correct answer is “maternal.” The prefixes "pat-" and "mat-" usually suggest that the word will be related to men and related to women, respectively. As for the other answer choices, “matrimony” means marriage and “augment” means enhance or make better.
Example Question #1522 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Young is to juvenile as old is to __________.
terminal
matriarchy
terminate
patriarchy
ancient
ancient
“Juvenile” means young or immature. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which answer choice is closest in meaning to "old." The correct answer is “ancient.” The prefix "juv-" means having to do with youthfulness and immaturity. To provide further help, “terminate” means end and “terminal” means causing an end or causing death. As you can see, the prefix "term-" means related to ending. To provide additional clarification, a “patriarchy” is a society dominated by men and a “matriarchy” is a society dominated by women. The prefix "patr-" means related to men and the prefix "matr-" means related to women.
Example Question #1523 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Primary is to first as tertiary is to __________.
second
two
third
three
one
third
“Primary” means coming first or occurring first, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which number is associated with the word “tertiary.” The correct answer is “three.” Although the prefix "ter-" is a little different than the prefix "tri-," they both mean related to the number three.
Example Question #1524 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Monosyllabic is to one as polysyllabic is to ___________.
all
none
some
two
many
many
The prefix "mono-" means related to the number one, and the prefix "poly-" means related to more than one or related to many. In this instance, that information would be enough for you to solve this problem. However, further clarification will be helpful for other problems. A “monosyllabic” word is a word that has one syllable, and a "polysyllabic" word is a word that has more than one syllable. So, "red" and "blue" are each monosyllabic words, and "yellow" and "color" are each polysyllabic words.
Example Question #1525 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Charming is to repelling as attractive is to __________.
amoral
disinterest
unattractive
disarming
contrary
unattractive
To be “charming” is to be pleasing in an attractive way. “Charming” is also the opposite of “repelling.” You can tell that the opposite of “attractive” is “unattractive,” as it has the prefix "un-," which usually adds the meaning not to a word. To help you, “disinterest” is a lack of concern or little concern, and “disarming” means tending to remove any feelings of unfriendliness or distrust,so it is similar to “charming.” “Contrary” means being the exact opposite of something else or not favorable or helpful, and “amoral” is having or showing no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong.
Example Question #31 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Overwhelmed is to underwhelmed as overeducated is to __________.
educated
uneducational
educational
re-educated
undereducated
undereducated
The key to linking these words is to look at their prefixes. “Overwhelmed” is to be overcome with feelings, whereas “underwhelmed” is to have a lack of feelings for something. The equivalent of pair of words for "educated" would be “overeducated” and “undereducated.” To further help you, if something is “educational,” it can be used to teach something, “uneducational” is the opposite of this. A person who is “educated” has learned information to a significant degree. If you are “re-educated,” you are taught the same information again or you are taught new information which is different from what you had previously been taught.
Example Question #32 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Diameter is to radius as circle is to __________.
Perpendicular
Circumference
Parallel
Semicircle
Sphere
Semicircle
A “diameter” is a line running through the center of a circle from one side to the other. A “radius” is half the diameter, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice means half a circle. The correct answer is “semicircle.” The prefix "semi-" means half and the prefix "dia-" means through, across, over. To provide further help, the “circumference” is the length around the outside of a circle; a “sphere” is a three-dimensional circle; “parallel” means running alongside, having the same slope; “perpendicular” means running on opposite slopes and is the opposite of "parallel."