SSAT Upper Level Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Analogies: Prefixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Aquaphobia is to water as chronophobia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

time

poverty 

loneliness

insects 

love 

Correct answer:

time

Explanation:

Aquaphobia is the fear of water. Whenever you see the prefix ­­"aqua-," you can assume that the word will have something to do with water. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine what chronophobia is a fear of. Chronophobia has the same prefix as the word "chronological" (which has to do with the passage of time), so it would be reasonable to assume that the prefix "chrono-" implies a relationship to time. This line of thinking would lead you to the correct answer, that chronophobia is the fear of time or the passage of time.

Example Question #12 : Analogies: Prefixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Antecedent is to predecessor as postscript is to __________.

Possible Answers:

afterword

preface

prologue

descendant

signature

Correct answer:

afterword

Explanation:

"Ante-" and "pre-" both mean "before;" both words refer to things that come before other things. "Post" means "after" and "script" refers to writing, so a postscript is an afterword.

Example Question #13 : Analogies: Prefixes From Latin

The words in these verbal analogies are based on the understanding and use of common Latin and Greek word roots. 

Anhydrous is to water as analgesic is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pain

land

water

ocean

sand

Correct answer:

pain

Explanation:

Anhydrous means without water ("an" = without, "hydro" = water), and analgesic means without pain ("an" = without, "algesia" = pain).

Example Question #14 : Analogies: Prefixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Hydrodynamics is to water as thermodynamics is to __________.

Possible Answers:

peace

wealth

feel

sound

heat

Correct answer:

heat

Explanation:

The Greek prefix hyrdo- means related to water. "Hydrodynamic" means a branch of science concerned with the movement of water and other fluids. To solve this analogy you need to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix therm- which means heat, temperature. "Thermodynamics" is therefore a branch of science concerned with heat, temperature and their relationship to movement and energy. The correct answer is therefore "heat." You might also have noticed that the root -dynam- means related to energy.

Example Question #91 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Septuagenarian is to __________ as octogenarian is to eighty.

Possible Answers:

seventy

ninety

forty

fifty

sixty

Correct answer:

seventy

Explanation:

The key to solving this analogy is to know that the prefix sept- means seven and the prefix oct- means eight. So, a "septuagenarian" is someone who is in their seventies and an "octogenarian" is someone who is in their eighties.

Example Question #92 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Aquarium is to octopus as __________ is to snake.

Possible Answers:

reptilian

reptarium

arboretum

terrarium

hive

Correct answer:

terrarium

Explanation:

An "aquarium" is a place where ocean-dwelling creatures are housed and displayed. So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words describes an enclosure where a land-based creature (such as a snake) might be housed. It can be helpful when solving this problem to consider your Latin prefixes. "Terr-" means of or related to the Earth. So, a "terrarium" is the correct answer. Additionally, an "arboretum" is a place where trees are grown; "reptilian" means relating to the qualities of reptiles (like snakes and alligators).

Example Question #93 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Ichthyology is to fish as ecclesiology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

skyscrapers

churches

reptiles

architecture

birds

Correct answer:

churches

Explanation:

To solve this analogy you need to rely on your knowledge of Greek roots. To begin with the prefix ichthy- means fish, so "ichthyology" is the study of fish. So, what is "ecclesiology" the study of? The Greek prefix ecclesi- means congregation, church. So, "ecclesiology" is the study of churches.

Example Question #94 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Autonomy is to __________ as theocracy is to God.

Possible Answers:

self

workers

king

chaos

wealthy

Correct answer:

self

Explanation:

The prefix theo- means related to religion or to "God." So, "theocracy" is the rule of a government through "God" or the application of religious laws. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "autonomy" is the rule of. Well, auto- means "self," so "autonomy" is the ability to rule oneself.

Example Question #11 : Analogies: Prefixes

Complete this analogy.

Antiquated is to the past as __________ is to the present.

Possible Answers:

severe

current

youthful

obdurate

mundane

Correct answer:

current

Explanation:

The Greek and Latin prefix anti- can mean either opposite, against as in "antisocial" which means not social. Or, anti- can mean old, ancient. In "antiquated" it is used in the latter sense, "antiquated" means very old, outdated, ancient. Something from the past could be described as "antiquated," so which of these is a word that could describe something from the present? The correct answer is "current" which means contemporary, in the present. Additionally, "youthful" means young; "mundane" means ordinary, boring; "severe" means intense, harsh; "obdurate" means stubborn, intractable.

Example Question #2 : Analogies: Prefixes From Greek

Complete this analogy.

Astronomy is to space as geology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

economics

life

chemistry

rocks

weather

Correct answer:

rocks

Explanation:

The Greek prefix astr- means stars, sun and the Greek root -nom- means arrangement, order, study. So, "astronomy" is literally the arrangement of the stars or the study of outer space. Furthermore, the Greek prefix geo- means Earth, of the Earth and the suffix -ology means study of. So, "geology" is literally the study of the Earth or the study of rocks and rock formations.

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