SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: choose the answer that is closest in meaning to the word in question.

Revival

Possible Answers:

Province

Monument

Possibility

Recovery

Death

Correct answer:

Recovery

Explanation:

"Revival" means Recovery; Death means the end of one's life; Monument is usually a figure or symbol that represents something or someone; Province is a territory usually part of a larger state or country; and Possibility is a potential outcome.

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

UNREST

Possible Answers:

Enjoyment

Calmness

Peace

Democracy

Turmoil

Correct answer:

Turmoil

Explanation:

"Unrest" means turmoil. "Peace" and "calmness" are antonyms of "unrest" and mean tranquiity. "Enjoyment" means pleasure or amusement. "Democracy" is a representative government.

Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PREAMBLE

Possible Answers:

Introduction 

Index

Tome

Conclusion

Finale

Correct answer:

Introduction 

Explanation:

A "preamble" is an introduction that appears before the main body of work, so "introduction" is the correct answer. For clarification, "finale" and "conclusion" each mean an ending, a "tome" is a long and ponderous book, and an "index" is a list of subjects that appear at the end of a book and the numbers of pages on which one can read about them in that book.

Example Question #3 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

RETROSPECT

Possible Answers:

Evanescent

Hindsight 

Exuberant

Optimism 

Prosperous 

Correct answer:

Hindsight 

Explanation:

"Retrospect" means recollection, remembering past events, hindsight. You might be able to infer this meaning from the word's roots; "retro-" means backwards, as in the word "retroactive" (applying to a span of time in the past) and "spect" means look or see, as in the word "spectacles" (glasses). So, "hindsight" is the correct answer. For clarification, "optimism" is a positive feeling about future events, "prosperous" means wealthy or successful, "exuberant" means lively, and "evanescent" means fleeting.

Example Question #4 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

PRESCIENCE

Possible Answers:

Shortsightedness

Improvidence

Unpredictability

Myopia

Foreknowledge

Correct answer:

Foreknowledge

Explanation:

"Prescience" means foresight or the ability to know about something before it has actually happened. "Shortsightedness" and "myopia" are synonyms, so we can eliminate those. "Improvidence" means poor planning for the future, and "unpredictability" the quality of not being able to be foreseen. "Foreknowledge," which means foresight or knowledge of something before it happens, is the only choice that works.

Example Question #5 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

IMPARTIAL

Possible Answers:

Demanding 

Harangue

Unbiased 

Bashful 

Controlling 

Correct answer:

Unbiased 

Explanation:

"Impartial" information is unbiased and uncorrupted by personal intervention. For clarification, someone who is "bashful" is easily embarrassed; "harangue" means berate or criticize.

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

UNAWARE

Possible Answers:

Obvious

Precise

Unknowing

Informed

Complete

Correct answer:

Unknowing

Explanation:

"Unaware" means unknowing. "Informed" means knowing, so it cannot be the correct answer, because it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "unaware." None of the other answers are close in meaning to "unaware": "obvious" means overt or palpable; "complete" means lacking nothing necessary; and "precise" means exact

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

UNCERTAIN

Possible Answers:

Bright

Conclusive

Frequent

Unknown

Idiotic

Correct answer:

Unknown

Explanation:

"Uncertain" means not known with certainty, so "unknown," an adjective that means not known, is the correct answer. "Conclusive" is an antonym of "uncertain"; it means definite or indisputable. None of the answer choices have a meaning related to that of "uncertain": "bright" means shining or emiting lots of light; "idiotic" means stupid or foolish; and "frequent" means occuring often or repeated.

Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

UNCERTAIN

Possible Answers:

Profitable

Frequent

Unsure

Secretive

Complex

Correct answer:

Unsure

Explanation:

"Uncertain" means unknown or unsure, so "unsure" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "uncertain": "complex" means complicated or having many different parts; "frequent" means occurring repeatedly in a relatively short amount of time; "profitable" means lucrative or capable of making a lot of money; and "secretive" means hidden or concealed.

Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

A synonym of “indispensable” is __________.

Possible Answers:

superfluous

meticulous

frightening

partial

essential

Correct answer:

essential

Explanation:

The word “indispensable” consists of the negative prefix “in-,” which means “not,” and the word “dispensable,” so we can infer that it means “not dispensable.” That inference would be correct, as “indispensable” is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary,” so we need to pick out a word that means something like “necessary.” “Superfluous,” then, cannot be the correct answer, because “superfluous” means “unnecessary, especially through being more than enough,” making it an antonym, not a synonym, of “indispensable.” “Essential,” however, is an adjective that means “absolutely necessary; extremely important,” and because “essential” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “indispensable,” “essential” is the correct answer.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors