All SSAT Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Subterranean is to __________ as airborne is to eagle.
fly
worm
cow
swim
dinosaur
worm
An "eagle" is an example of an "airborne" (in the air, flying) creature. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "subterranean" creature. Well, to solve this you obviously need to know what "subterranean" means. There are two relevant roots in the word to consider: First, sub- means below, beneath, under and second, terra- means Earth. So, "subterranean" means below the Earth. Which of these creatures lives "below the Earth?" A "worm."
Example Question #2 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Orthodox is to heterodox as dormant is to __________.
Active
Pious
Quiescent
Devout
Latent
Active
The root "dox" means related to established thought or opinion, and the root "ortho" means straight or correct, so someone who is “orthodox” accepts traditions or the established account of things. On the other hand, the prefix "hetero" means other or different, so someone who is “heterodox” challenges traditions and accepts other accounts of things besides the established one. The two words are opposites of another, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym for “dormant.” “Dormant” means hidden, asleep or inactive, so the best antonym is “active.” To provide further help, “latent” means hidden and “quiescent” means dormant, while “pious” and “devout” both describe someone who is deeply religious.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Polychromatic is to monochromatic as ___________.
forgetful is to misplace
prince is to king
ascending is to descending
lungs are to breathing
actor is to emoting
ascending is to descending
"Polychromatic" means having many different colors, while the term "monochromatic" means having only one color or shades of white, grey, and black. You can infer these definitions because of the words' prefixes and root: "poly-" means many, "mono-" means one, and the root "chrom" means having to do with color; it is derived from the Greek word chroma, which means "color." So, "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are antonyms, or opposites, and to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which consists of antonyms. "Ascending" means going or rising up, whereas "descending" means going or sinking down, so just as "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are opposites, so are "ascending" and "descending," making "ascending is to descending" the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Phobophobia is to fear as androphobia is to __________.
men
machines
technology
ghosts
women
men
To begin with the suffix -phobia immediately tells you that you are dealing with a fear. So, "anglophobia" is fear of the English. "Phobophobia" is therefore fear of fear itself. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "androphobia" is the fear of. To do this you need to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix andro- which means man. So, "androphobia" is fear of man, fear of men.
Example Question #5 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Ornithophobia is to birds as xenophobia is to __________.
darkness
death
foreigners
silence
heights
foreigners
The prefix ornith- means birds, so "ornithophobia" means fear of birds. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "xenophobia" is the fear of. To do this you will need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. The prefix xen- means foreign, so "xenophobia" is fear of foreigners.
Example Question #81 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Bibliophile is to book as cinephile is to __________.
song
lesson
movie
computer
band
movie
To begin with the suffix -phile means lover of. So, an "anglophile" is a lover of English things. A "bibliophile" is a lover of Books. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what a "cinephile" is a lover of. The correct answer is "movies." The Greek prefix cine-/kine- means related to movement, motion, as in "kinetic" and "cinema."
Example Question #82 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal
Complete this analogy.
Paedophobia is to children as photophobia is to __________.
pictures
movies
light
angels
phones
light
To begin with the suffix -phobia means fear of. Also, the prefix paed- means children, as in "pediatrician" (children's doctor). So, "paedophobia" is fear of children. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "photophobia" is the fear of. Well, the prefix photo- means light, so "photophobia" is the fear of light.
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