SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies: Roots from Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #41 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Firmament is to sky as terra is to _________.
ocean
river
moon
earth
sun
earth
Firmament is a synonym for sky; so to solve this analogy you have to identify the best synonym for terra. Terra means of or related to the Earth so the correct answer is “earth.” Using the same system the word for sun would be solar and for moon would be lunar.
Example Question #42 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Suicide is to self as fratricide is to __________.
friend
teacher
child
brother
mother
brother
To solve this analogy you need to rely on your knowledge of Latin roots. The prefix sui- means self and the suffix -cide means kill, so "suicide" is to kill oneself. Additionally, the prefix frat- means brother, as in "fraternity." So, "fratricide" is killing one's brother.
Example Question #43 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Confidante is to trust as orator is to __________.
arrest
speak
listen
accept
argue
listen
To solve this analogy, you need to rely on your knowledge of Latin roots. The root "-fid-" that appears in words like "fidelity," "confide," and "faith" means trust or believe. So, a "confidante" is someone one trusts with one's secrets. If one "trusts" a "confidante," what does one do to an "orator"? Well, an "orator" is a public speaker, so one would "listen" to an orator.
Example Question #44 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Submarine is to water as __________ is to land.
submersible
supersede
subatomic
subterranean
supplicate
subterranean
In solving this analogy you likely figured out that "submarine" means under water. The prefix sub- means under and the suffix -marine means related to the ocean. You would have likely therefore determined that the correct answer means under ground, underneath the land. To figure out which of these words matches this definition you need to consider roots of words. As mentioned earlier sub- means beneath, below, under, but more usefully the root -terra- means related to the Earth, related to land. So, the correct answer is that "subterranean" means underground, under the land. Additionally, a "submersible" is a vehicle that goes underwater, like a submarine; "supplicate" means entreat, beg for, humbly implore; "supersede" means replace; "subatomic" means smaller than an atom, (of particles) within an atom.
Example Question #45 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Misanthropy is to ______________ as misogyny is to women.
human
elderly
men
animals
children
human
"Misogyny" is the hatred for, or prejudice against, "women." The key root here is -gyn- which means related to women, as in "gynecologist." So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is related to the word "misanthropy." In this instance the key root is -anthro- which means mankind, related to "humans." So, "misanthropy" is the hatred of "humans."
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