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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mortality is to death as veracity is to __________.

Possible Answers:

deception 

truth

taxes 

kindness 

religion 

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 #1 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Audience is to audible as centennial is to __________

Possible Answers:

one hundred 

visible

sensible

centipede 

sensory 

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 #2 : Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Autonomous is to independent as subservient is to __________

Possible Answers:

despondent

jubilant 

morose 

obedient

autocratic 

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 #71 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Anarchy is to order as atheist is to __________

Possible Answers:

church 

politics 

chaos 

god 

theist 

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 #72 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Carnal is to body as cerebral is to __________

Possible Answers:

brain 

wicked 

energy 

pious 

soul

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 #73 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Gigabyte is to billion as terabyte is to __________.

Possible Answers:

million 

trillion 

hundred 

thousand 

ten 

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 #8 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Theologian is to religion as meteorologist is to __________

Possible Answers:

weather 

oceans 

space

children

volcanoes 

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 #11 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Manic is to frenzied as stupefied is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dreamed

concerned

stopped

dazed

scared

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 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Benign is to malignant as benevolent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

malevolent

critical

blandness

violent

excellent

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 #13 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Exterminate is to pests as __________.

Possible Answers:

Envelop is to coating

Rouse is to mob

Question is to suspect

Celebrity is to event

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.

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