SSAT Middle Level Verbal : SSAT Middle Level Verbal

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Gigabyte is to billion as terabyte is to __________.

Possible Answers:

million 

ten 

thousand 

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 #6 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Theologian is to religion as meteorologist is to __________

Possible Answers:

space

children

volcanoes 

weather 

oceans 

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

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Manic is to frenzied as stupefied is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dreamed

dazed

scared

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 #91 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Benign is to malignant as benevolent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

violent

malevolent

blandness

excellent

critical

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

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Exterminate is to pests as __________.

Possible Answers:

Extinguish is to fire

Question is to suspect

Envelop is to coating

Rouse is to mob

Celebrity is to event

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.

Example Question #92 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Extraterrestrial is to alien as question is to __________

Possible Answers:

query

potency

truancy

latency

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 #15 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Drunkard is to intoxicated as braggart is to __________

Possible Answers:

fleeing

boasting 

fighting

eating

traveling

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 #13 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Berate is to scold as belittle is to __________

Possible Answers:

praise 

punish 

forgive 

demean 

supplant 

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

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Impregnable is to unassailable as meager is to __________

Possible Answers:

unstoppable 

credible 

excessive 

scant 

mischievous 

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 #15 : Suffixes

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

New is to neolithic as old is to __________.

Possible Answers:

triassic

mesozoic

mesolithic

paleolithic

jurassic

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.”

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