SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

OMNISCIENT

Possible Answers:

All-powerful

Prudent

All-knowing 

Disasterous

All-feeling

Correct answer:

All-knowing 

Explanation:

Someone who is "omniscient" knows everything. So, the correct answer is “all-knowing.” The prefix "omni-" means everything or all. To help you, "omnipotent" means all-powerful.

Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DESTITUTE

Possible Answers:

Polished 

Fate

Generational 

Willpower 

Impoverished 

Correct answer:

Impoverished 

Explanation:

The word “destitute” is related to the root word "stature." Your “stature” is your social standing. If you add the negative prefix “de-,” it means the removal of your social position. So “destitute” means extremely poor. Another word that means extremely poor is “impoverished.” To further help you, “generational” means relating to a group of people born at the same time. We can say that taste in music is "generational."

Example Question #6 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

DESPAIR

Possible Answers:

Ironic 

Anguish 

Denigrate 

Disadvantage

Jubilation 

Correct answer:

Anguish 

Explanation:

“Despair” means great suffering or sadness, which is similar in meaning to "anguish." The prefix "de-" is often used to mean down, going away, such as in “descend,” which means dropping down or “despair,” which means going down into the pits of sadness. To provide further help, “jubilation” means great happiness; “denigrate” means put down, make someone feel worse; “disadvantage” means difficulty, shortcoming; “ironic” means not serious, intended to mock something

Example Question #7 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

SYNCHRONIZE

Possible Answers:

Debacle 

Detract

Catastrophe

Assailable 

Coordinate 

Correct answer:

Coordinate 

Explanation:

The prefix "sync-" means to act together, to be unified. When we “synchronize” we make things work at or on the same time. For instance, we could synchronize our watches so that the time on them reads the same. This is closest in meaning to “coordinate.” The prefix "co-" is used similarly to the prefix "sync-." To provide further help, “detract” means take away from something; “debacle” means catastrophe, something that has gone horribly wrong; “assailable” means able to be attacked or conquered.

Example Question #8 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

ACCURATE

Possible Answers:

Precise 

Sporadic 

Incumbent 

Benevolent

Malevolent 

Correct answer:

Precise 

Explanation:

The prefix "ac-" means sharp and is used in words like “acute,” which can be used to describe a sharp mind. The word “accurate” means sharp as in correct, on the money, precise. When you fire a shot and it goes exactly where you want, we call this “precise” or “accurate.” To provide further help, “incumbent” means person already in a position of power; “sporadic” means random, infrequent; “benevolent” means good-natured; “malevolent” means bad-natured.

Example Question #9 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

COMBINE

Possible Answers:

Access

Retort 

Fight 

Outline 

Merge 

Correct answer:

Merge 

Explanation:

The prefix "com-" means with or together. Thus, it makes sense that the word “combine” means merge together. So, the correct answer is "merge," because "merge" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "combine." None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "combine": “access,” when used as a verb, means be able to use; “retort” means answer back in an argument, often in an incisive or angry way; and “outline” means sketch or draw up a plan for something; and "fight," when used as a verb, means get into a physically violent dispute with.

Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PERCEIVE

Possible Answers:

Consider

Justify

Seclude

Amplify

Notice

Correct answer:

Notice

Explanation:

The prefix "per-" means through, and the word “perceive” means become aware of something or notice something through sight. This means that the correct answer is “notice.” None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "perceive": “seclude” means make a person or oneself be apart from others; “justify” means give logical reasons for; “amplify” means increase or intensify; and “consider” means carefully think about.

Example Question #11 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

MISSILE

Possible Answers:

Combat 

Maneuver 

Projectile 

Antagonist 

Replica 

Correct answer:

Projectile 

Explanation:

The prefixes "mis-" and "mit-" are used often to mean send. The word “missile” means something sent flying through the air, often as a weapon; this is closest in definition to “projectile,” a word that means something propelled into and through the air. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "missile": “combat” is physical fighting; a “replica” is an exact copy; a “maneuver” is a movement that is difficult to perform; and an “antagonist” is a villain in a story that opposes the hero.

Example Question #12 : Synonyms: Using Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

SEQUEL

Possible Answers:

Prequel 

Series

Continuation

Chapter

Motorcade 

Correct answer:

Continuation

Explanation:

A “sequel” is a movie or book that continues a story established in an earlier movie or book. Like words like "sequence," "sequel" is derived from the Latin word "sequi," which means follow. This makes sense; a sequel follows a previous story or movie in a sequence. "Continuation" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "sequel," so "continuation" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "sequel": a “motorcade” is a procession of cars associated with a specific event; a “prequel” is a movie or book that tells the story of what happened before an already established movie or book; "series" means a group things in a specific order or an extended story told over the course of several individual books or movies; and a "chapter" is an individual division of a book.

Example Question #41 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

DYNAMIC

Possible Answers:

Ostentatious

Damaging

Quaint

Timid

Forceful

Correct answer:

Forceful

Explanation:

The prefix "dynam-" means related to force or power, so something that is “dynamic” is active or forceful. As for the other answer choices, “quaint” means old-fashioned in a good way; “timid” means shy or meek; “ostentatious” means overtly extravagant and luxurious; and “damaging” means harmful

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors