SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Determining Meaning from Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mortality is to death as veracity is to __________.

Possible Answers:

kindness 

taxes 

truth

religion 

deception 

Correct answer:

truth

Explanation:

The prefix "mort­-" means related to the nature of life and death and the prefix ­"ver-" means related to truth and honesty. “Mortality” can mean many things, although most frequently it is used to mean death or the certainty of death. Likewise, “veracity” means “truth” or “truthfulness," so "truth" is the correct answer. “Deception” is the act of trying to trick and lie to someone.

Example Question #2 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Audience is to audible as centennial is to __________

Possible Answers:

sensible

sensory 

visible

one hundred 

centipede 

Correct answer:

centipede 

Explanation:

The root "aud" means related to hearing or listening. The only relationship that can be established between “audience” and “audible” is that they are both related to listening because they both contain the root "aud." An “audience” watches and listens to a performance and “audible” means able to be heard. The prefix "cent-" means related to the number one hundred. A “centennial” is a celebration commemorating something that happened one hundred years ago or the existence of something for one hundred years, and a “centipede” is an insect with one hundred legs. Like “audience” and “audible,” the only relationship between these two words is that they are both related to the number one hundred. To provide further help, “sensible” means reasonable and smart, “visible” means able to be seen, and “sensory” means relating to the senses.

Example Question #3 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Autonomous is to independent as subservient is to __________

Possible Answers:

autocratic 

jubilant 

morose 

obedient

despondent

Correct answer:

obedient

Explanation:

“Autonomous” means self-governing or independent. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine the best synonym of “subservient.” The correct answer is “dependent"; if you were unable to answer this question correctly there are many prefixes, suffixes, and word fragments you can use for assistance. The prefix "auto-" means able to do something without help or free from outside authority. The root "serv" in “subservient” reveals that the word is to do with being controlled by someone else, being a servant or a slave. If you know that “obedient” means consistently obeying the rules and demands of others, then the relationship between all four words becomes clear. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “despondent” means miserable and without hope; “jubilant” means very happy; morose means very sad, and “autocratic” means controlled by one ruler with absolute authority. Notice how “autocratic” and “autonomous” have totally different definitions. Remember, prefixes and suffixes are guidelines and not firm rules; sometimes they will help you and sometimes not, but it’s important to know them because they will help you guess answers on questions that you otherwise would have no idea how to solve.

Example Question #3 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Anarchy is to order as atheist is to __________

Possible Answers:

politics 

god 

theist 

chaos 

church 

Correct answer:

theist 

Explanation:

“Anarchy” is a state of chaos or a complete lack of political or social order. “Anarchy” and “order” and antonyms of one another. To solve this analogy, you therefore have to determine the best antonym of “atheist”. An “atheist” is someone who does not believe in any god(s). The correct antonym is “theist,” which means someone who believes in a god or gods. Often the prefix "a-" will reverse the meaning of a word, as in this instance, where adding an “a” to “theist” creates “atheist,” a word with opposite meaning. 

Example Question #4 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Carnal is to body as cerebral is to __________

Possible Answers:

soul

pious 

energy 

wicked 

brain 

Correct answer:

brain 

Explanation:

The prefix "carn-" means related to the physical flesh and “carnal” means relating to the needs of the body. The prefix "cere-" means related to the brain or to knowledge and “cerebral” means brainyrelated to intelligence, or related to the brain. As “carnal” has to do with the body, "cerebral" has to do with the brain, so "brain" is the correct answer.

Example Question #91 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Gigabyte is to billion as terabyte is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ten 

thousand 

million 

trillion 

hundred 

Correct answer:

trillion 

Explanation:

The prefix "giga-" means related to a billion of something and the prefix ­"tera-" means related to a trillion of something. Do not confuse "tera-" with "terra-," which means related to the Earth. A “byte” is a unit of computer storage space, so a "gigabyte" is a computer memory unit of one billion bytes, and a "terabyte" is a computer memory unit that consists of one trillion bytes, so "trillion" is the correct answer.

Example Question #5 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Theologian is to religion as meteorologist is to __________

Possible Answers:

volcanoes 

oceans 

space

weather 

children

Correct answer:

weather 

Explanation:

The prefix "theo-" means related to (a) god(s) or religion, so a “theologian” is someone who studies religion and is an expert on religious matters. To solve this analogy, you need to figure out what a “meteorologist” studies. The correct answer is the “weather." The suffix "-ologist" means one who studies something.

Example Question #92 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Manic is to frenzied as stupefied is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dreamed

scared

dazed

concerned

stopped

Correct answer:

dazed

Explanation:

If you are “manic,” you are very excited, energetic, or emotional. “Frenzied” is a synonym of “manic” and means the same thing. The answer choice that is closest in meaning to “stupefied” is “dazed.” They both mean made stupid, groggy, or insensible.

Example Question #11 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Benign is to malignant as benevolent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

malevolent

critical

excellent

blandness

violent

Correct answer:

malevolent

Explanation:

“Malignant” means evil in nature, influence, or effect. “Benign” is the antonym of “malignant,” so you need to look for the opposite of “benevolent.” “Benevolent” means marked by or disposed to doing good. It begins with the prefix "ben-," meaning good, as in "beneficial." The opposite of this is the prefix "mal-;" therefore, “malevolent” is the opposite of “benevolent.” To further help you, if something is “critical” it is very important; “blandness” is when something is plain or simple.

Example Question #94 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Exterminate is to pests as __________.

Possible Answers:

Question is to suspect

Envelop is to coating

Celebrity is to event

Rouse is to mob

Extinguish is to fire

Correct answer:

Extinguish is to fire

Explanation:

The best answer is "extinguish is to fire." Its relationship is much like the one between "exterminate," which means to destroy or kill and "pest," a nuisance or annoying animal or thing. Both analogies imply a sense of completeness in their actions. You would want to be entirely rid of pests and to throughly put out a fire.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors