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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PRESCIENCE

Possible Answers:

Revision 

Foresight

Testing 

Preliminary

Understanding 

Correct answer:

Foresight

Explanation:

“Prescience” means foresight or the ability to know what will or might happen in the future. This is closest to “foresight,” which means the ability to know about events before they happens. You can infer the meaning of these words from their prefixes: "pre-" and "fore-" both mean before. It is important not to get distracted by the word root "science" in "prescience," as it could lead you to choose “testing," an incorrect answer. “Revision” means editing (literally the act of looking at something again), and “preliminary” means initial or done first in order to prepare for something, which you may be able to infer from the word's use of the prefix "pre-," which means before. “Understanding” is similar to “prescience” in that it suggests knowing something, but “understanding” is not associated with knowing about future events before they happen.

Example Question #142 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

DICTATE

Possible Answers:

Speak 

Feel 

Touch 

Hear

Smell 

Correct answer:

Speak 

Explanation:

The prefix "dict-" means related to speaking and speech, so “dictate” is closest in meaning to "speak." More specifically, "dictate" means speak aloud words that you wish someone else to write down. You might “dictate” something to your assistant to write down.

Example Question #143 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INSOMNIA

Possible Answers:

Poem

Sleeplessness

Withering

Inspection

Offense

Correct answer:

Sleeplessness

Explanation:

"Insomnia" is related to the Latin root "somnus," meaning sleep. Adding the negative prefix "in-" makes "insomnia," the inability to sleep, which we also call "sleeplessness."

Example Question #141 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HOMOGENEOUS

Possible Answers:

Corresponding

Varied

Unique

Uniform

Attempted

Correct answer:

Uniform

Explanation:

The prefix "homo-" means same, and in this instance, that is sufficient information; “homogenous” means of the same kind, so "uniform" (identical) is the best answer choice.

Example Question #142 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PANDEMONIUM

Possible Answers:

Misery

Bliss

Mayhem

Discovery

Orderliness

Correct answer:

Mayhem

Explanation:

The prefix "pan-" means everything, and appears in words like “Pangaea” and “pandemic.” In this context, it means a state where everything is going wrong, or “mayhem." ("Pandemonium" was first used in Milton's Paradise Lost to mean "the place where all demons live," which one might be able to infer from the word's use of the root "demon.") To provide further help, “bliss” is happiness and contentedness; “orderliness” means tidiness and the quality of being well organized; and “misery” is great sadness.

Example Question #143 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INCONGRUOUS

Possible Answers:

Ill-fitting

Jaunty

Social

Dangerous

Protective

Correct answer:

Ill-fitting

Explanation:

"Incongruous" means inappropriateout of place, or ill-fitting, so "ill-fitting" is the correct answer.

Example Question #53 : Synonyms: Roots

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

INTERMEDIATE

Possible Answers:

Intentional

Elite

Middle

Priceless

Bottom

Correct answer:

Middle

Explanation:

"Intermediate" means middle.

Example Question #151 : Synonyms: Nouns For Abstract Concepts

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PREDISPOSITION

Possible Answers:

Disinclination 

Renounce 

Tendency 

Repudiate 

Mar 

Correct answer:

Tendency 

Explanation:

A “predisposition” is a tendency or liability to think or feel a certain way about something. For example, someone from a violent past might be “predisposed” to violence in the present. The correct answer is thus "tendency," as "tendency" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "predisposition."As for the other answer choices, a “disinclination” is the opposite of a “predisposition”— it is something you are not liable to do; “repudiate” and “renounce” both mean to reject or declare that something is wrong and stop participating in it; and “mar” is a verb that means ruin or make worse.

Example Question #147 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PHILANTHROPIC

Possible Answers:

Charitable 

Impressive 

Insolent 

Bemused 

Parsimonious 

Correct answer:

Charitable 

Explanation:

The root "anthro" means related to mankind, and the root "phil­" means loving. The word “philanthropic” thus means something related to loving mankind. Of the five answer choices, something that suggests a love of man is “charitable.” Both “philanthropic” and “charitable” are used to describe someone who gives generously to others. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "philanthropic": “insolent” means rude; “bemused” means perplexed or confused; and “parsimonious” means selfish or not generous with others.

Example Question #148 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

UNEXPECTED

Possible Answers:

Sudden

Reached

Announced

Forced

Planned

Correct answer:

Sudden

Explanation:

"Unexpected" means sudden or unplanned for, so "sudden" is the correct answer.

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