SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Analogies

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #34 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Microeconomics is to small as macroeconomics is to __________.

Possible Answers:

large

academics

business

finance

smaller

Correct answer:

large

Explanation:

"Microeconomics" is the study of economics on a small scale, and "macroeconomics" is the study of economics on a large scale, so the correct answer is “large.” To solve this analogy, it is important to be aware of the meaning of the prefixes "micro-" and "macro-". ­"Micro-" means small and "macro-" means big.

Example Question #35 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Triangle is to three as pentagon is to __________.

Possible Answers:

five 

four 

shape 

triple 

six 

Correct answer:

five 

Explanation:

A triangle is a three-sided shape, which you can infer because the prefix "tri-" means three. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine how many sides a pentagon has. The prefix "penta-" means five, so the correct answer is “five.”

Example Question #36 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Terrestrial is to earth as celestial is to __________

Possible Answers:

atmosphere 

hell

ocean 

city 

space 

Correct answer:

space 

Explanation:

The prefix ­"terra-" means related to the Earth and the prefix "celes-" means related to heaven, the sky, or outer space. As “terrestrial” is to Earth, so “celestial” is to space, so "space" is the correct answer. For clarification, “terrestrial” means of this Earth or observed on this Earth, and “celestial” means of space or observed in space or the heavens.

Example Question #37 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Double is to two as quadruple is to __________.

Possible Answers:

two

five 

four 

three 

six 

Correct answer:

four 

Explanation:

If you "double" something, you increase it by two-fold. The prefix "quad-" means related to the number four, so when you quadruple something, you increase it by four-fold. So, the correct answer is "four."

Example Question #95 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Before is to prelude as after is to __________

Possible Answers:

legislate 

epilogue 

catalogue 

mandatory 

laborious 

Correct answer:

epilogue 

Explanation:

The prefix "pre-" usually suggest that the word will come before something or designate some beginning. In this instance, a “prelude” is an introductory event or piece of music. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is something that comes after something else. The correct answer is an “epilogue,” which is the name given to a piece of writing that comes after the main narrative. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “mandatory” means required; “laborious” means hard-work or exhausting; “legislate” means make laws; and “catalogue” means document and list some group of things when used as a verb and a booklet produced by a business showcasing the products that they are currently selling when used as a noun. 

Example Question #38 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Ill-will is to malevolent as goodwill is to __________.

Possible Answers:

malfeasance 

malicious

benevolent

beneficial

malcontent 

Correct answer:

benevolent

Explanation:

The prefix "mal-" means evil or bad, and the prefix ­"ben-" means helpful or good. So someone who is “malevolent” is wicked and has a great deal of ill-will and someone who is “benevolent” is good-natured and has a lot of goodwill. So, the correct answer is "benevolent." None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “beneficial" means helpful; “malicious" means cruel and spiteful; “malcontent" means unhappy or not content; and “malfeasance" means something bad that someone does or a crime.

Example Question #39 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Visible is to seen as audible is to __________

Possible Answers:

touched 

heard 

felt 

tasted 

spoken 

Correct answer:

heard 

Explanation:

The suffix "-ible" means able to be and the roots "vis" and "aud" mean related to seeing and related to hearing or sound, respectively. “Visible” thus means able to be seen and “audible” means able to be heard, so "heard" is the correct answer.

Example Question #91 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Falsify is to deceive as magnify is to __________.

Possible Answers:

achieve 

enlarge 

reduce 

diminish 

grant 

Correct answer:

enlarge 

Explanation:

The prefix "fall-" or "fals-" means having to do with lying, deception and dishonesty, and the prefix "mag-" means having to do with largeness and grandness. “Falsify” means change something in order to deceive, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine how “magnify” changes something. The correct answer is that “magnify” means make bigger or make appear bigger; just think of what a "magnifying glass" does. "Enlarge" also means make bigger, so "enlarge" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “diminish” means make smaller, as does “reduce," and “grant” means give.

Example Question #99 : Analogies

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

Dysfunctional is to inability as cosmopolitan is to __________

Possible Answers:

perilous

feral 

worldly

innate

focused

Correct answer:

worldly

Explanation:

The prefixes dys- and in- carry negative meanings that take their words and cause them to mean the opposite. So “dysfunctional” means not working, and “inability” means lack of ability. Something that has an “inability” to do something is also “dysfunctional,” so these terms are loosely synonyms. To solve this analogy then you need to determine which word is closest in meaning to “cosmopolitan.” “Cosmopolitan” means international, exhibiting cultural diversity or knowledge; therefore the best answer choice is “worldly.” To provide further help, “innate” means natural; “focused” means not distracted; “feral” means wild; “perilous” means dangerous

Example Question #43 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Anglophobia is to English as Francophobia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Finnish 

Italian 

Spanish 

Scottish 

French 

Correct answer:

French 

Explanation:

The prefix ­"anglo-" means of or related to the English; the prefix "franco-" means of or related to the French. The suffix "–phobia" means fear. So "Anglophobia" is the fear of English people and "Francophobia" is the fear of French people.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors