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 #21 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Extraterrestrial is to alien as question is to __________

Possible Answers:

truancy

query

latency

potency

ambidexterity

Correct answer:

query

Explanation:

The suffix -terrestrial means of the Earth and the prefix extra- means beyond or above, so an “extraterrestrial” is something that comes from beyond the Earth or an alien. To solve this analogy, you need to find the best synonym of “question.” When used as a noun, "question" means query, so "query" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "question": “ambidexterity” means the condition of being able to use either hand as one's dominant hand; “latency” is the condition of being hidden or dormant; “truancy” means absence; and “potency” means strength.

Example Question #12 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Drunkard is to intoxicated as braggart is to __________

Possible Answers:

traveling

eating

fighting

fleeing

boasting 

Correct answer:

boasting 

Explanation:

A “drunkard” is someone who is frequently drunk or someone who is often intoxicated. “Intoxicated” is a synonym of drunk. To solve this analogy, you have to figure out what a “braggart” is often doing. As you might have guessed from the root word "brag," a verb that means show off or boast, a “braggart” is someone who often boasts about their achievements. There are many relevant word fragments and prefixes in this analogy that might have helped you solve it: The suffix "-ard" or "-art" means type of person who does something, and the word fragment "toxic" means related to poison, alcohol being the poison referred to in the word "intoxicated." None of the other answer choices are activities that braggarts are assumed to do often.

Example Question #22 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Berate is to scold as belittle is to __________

Possible Answers:

demean 

punish 

praise 

supplant 

forgive 

Correct answer:

demean 

Explanation:

The prefix be- means cause or make. To “berate” someone means to yell at them, to make them feel uncomfortable, to scold, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words is a synonym for “belittle.” “Belittle” means to make someone feel little, this is most similar in meaning to “demean” which means to humiliate, to bring someone down. To provide further help, “supplant” means replace

Example Question #23 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Impregnable is to unassailable as meager is to __________

Possible Answers:

mischievous 

excessive 

scant 

unstoppable 

credible 

Correct answer:

scant 

Explanation:

The prefixes im- and un- are both negation prefixes; this means they take the original meaning of the word and cause the new word to mean the opposite. Something that is “assailable” is able to be assailed, able to be conquered and something that is “pregnable” is able to be penetrated, able to be conquered. “Unassailable” and “impregnable” are therefore synonyms of one another: both words mean not able to be conquered. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for “meager.” “Meager” means to have very little of something, to be in very small supply so the best synonym is “scant.” To provide further help, “excessive” means too much; “unstoppable” means unable to be stopped; “credible” means believable; “mischievous” means badly-behaved, naughty.  

Example Question #13 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Fill in the blank(s) to complete this analogy. 

New is to neolithic as old is to __________.

Possible Answers:

mesolithic

paleolithic

triassic

jurassic

mesozoic

Correct answer:

paleolithic

Explanation:

The prefix neo- means new, and the suffix -lithic refers to an era of prehistory. The prefix paleo- means old or very ancient, so the correct answer choice is “Paleolithic.” The other four answer choices are all other eras of ancient history, the key to solve this analogy was identifying the relationship between neo- and “new” and paleo- and “old.”

Example Question #14 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mandatory is to required as intermittent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

laborious

gregarious

frequent

irregular

abrasive

Correct answer:

irregular

Explanation:

The prefix mand- means command, so something that is “mandatory” is something you are commanded to do and have to do. As such, it is a synonym of “required,” so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available synonym for “intermittent.” The prefix inter- means between, and the word fragment -mit- means send so something that is “intermittent” is sent back and forth at irregular, or varied, intervals. As such it is closest in meaning to “irregular,” which means not frequent, out of pattern. The prefix ir- negates the meaning of the original word “regular,” causing the new word to mean the opposite. To provide further help, “frequent” means often; “abrasive” means rude; “laborious” means hard-work; “gregarious” means friendly, sociable.

Example Question #25 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Fish is to gills as squirrel is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ears

acorn

fur

lungs

tail

Correct answer:

lungs

Explanation:

A fish uses its gills to breathe, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out a word that describes what part of its body a squirrel uses to breathe. The correct answer is "lungs." None of the other answer choices describe the body part that a squirrel uses to breathe.

Example Question #26 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Agriculture is to farming as horticulture is to __________

Possible Answers:

Religion

Ecosystem

Culture

Gardening

Physics

Correct answer:

Gardening

Explanation:

The root "agr­-" means having to do with farming or rural life, so it makes sense that "agriculture" and "farming" are synonyms. To solve this analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice that is a synonym of "horticulture." "Horticulture" is derived from the Latin "hortus," meaning garden, and is a synonym of "gardening." So, "gardening" is the correct answer.

Example Question #27 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Fill in the blank(s) to complete this analogy. 

Marriage is to divorce as contract is to __________.

Possible Answers:

termination

anniversary

litigation

slander

accord

Correct answer:

termination

Explanation:

"Marriage" is an institution that is ended by "divorce." To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these words describes the ending of a "contract." A "contract" is a binding agreement between two parties. When a "contract" is ended, it is said to be "terminated." It may have helped you arrive at this answer if you considered that the prefix "term-" means boundary, ending. To provide further, help, an "accord" is an agreement; "litigation" is the process of suing someone; an "anniversary" is a yearly rememberance of a specific event on a specific date, such as a birthday; "slander" is the act of writing untruthful statements about someone with the intent of negatively affecting their reputation

Example Question #28 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Terrestrial is to earth as celestial is to __________.

Possible Answers:

caverns

seas

forests

mountains

outer space

Correct answer:

outer space

Explanation:

“Terrestrial” is an adjective that means having to do with the earth, so we need to pick out a noun that conveys what the adjective “celestial” refers to. “Celestial” means having to do with sky, heaven, or outer space, so while all of the answer choices describe places or land features, “celestial” refers to something that has to do with "outer space" just as “terrestrial” refers to something that has to do with the earth. So, “outer space” is the correct answer.

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