All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Cytology is to cells as nomology is to __________.
law
equations
probability
math
public health
law
"Cytology" is the study of cells, so to solve this analogy you need to determine what "nomology" is the study of. To solve this problem it helps to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix nom- which means law, order. So, "nomology" is the study of law.
Example Question #22 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Anthropology is to __________ as meteorology is to weather.
literature
recreation
animals
mankind
occupations
mankind
To solve this problem you need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. To begin with "meteorology" is the study of weather, the atmosphere, and weather patterns. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "anthropology" is the study of. The Greek prefix anthrop- means human, so "anthropology" is the study of mankind, the study of humans.
Example Question #23 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Xenophobia is to foreigners as arachnophobia is to _______________.
politics
travel
silence
psychology
spiders
spiders
"Xenophobia" is an irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries. The correct answer will demonstrate a relationship between a fear and the object of that fear. "Arachno" derives from the Greek root meaning spider, and "arachnophobia" is the fear of spiders.
Example Question #24 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Claustrophobia is to trapped as acrophobia is to _______________.
heights
snakes
spiders
dogs
loneliness
heights
To begin with the suffix -phobia means fear of. "Claustrophobia" is the fear of being "trapped," the fear of tight spaces. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what someone who suffers from "acrophobia" is afraid of. The key here is the prefix acro- (as in "acropolis"), it means height, high. So, "acrophobia" is the fear of "heights" or high places.
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Anglophile is to English as Francophile is to __________.
Scottish
German
Welsh
Spanish
French
French
An Anglophile is someone who loves English culture and people, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which nationality is loved by a Francophile. The prefix Franco- often means of or relating to France, so a Francophile is someone who loves French culture and people. For clarification, the suffix –phile means lover of.
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Acrophobia is to heights as claustrophobia is to __________.
Being ignorant
Being confined
Being introspective
Being successful
Being American
Being confined
Acrophobia, as you will have learned from the inclusion of the suffix –phobia, is the fear of heights; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to determine what claustrophobia is the fear of. It is a commonly expressed fear or discomfort expressed in everyday life, so you likely already know that claustrophobia is the fear of being confined or tapped.
Example Question #25 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Cacophony is to music as war is to __________.
conflict
battle
general
peace
soldier
peace
The Latin root "phony" means sound, so you can infer that a "cacophony" is a type of sound. Specifically, "cacophony" means a loud, displeasing noise, so it is an antonym of "music." Therefore, the correct answer will be the opposite of "war," which is "peace."
Example Question #2 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Positive is to utopia as negative is to _________.
dystopia
ephemeral
postmodern
myriad
divine
dystopia
A utopia is a perfect hypothetical society, so to solve this analog you have to figure out which of these answer choices is a negative representation of a hypothetical society. The correct answer, as you might have guessed from the matching suffixes, is “dystopia.” For clarification, "myriad" means countless; "postmodern" is a school of thinking defined by deconstruction; "ephemeral" means short-lived; and "divine" means of or relating to (a) god(s) or goddess(es).
Example Question #3 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Man is to biped as dog is to __________.
tripod
quadriceps
pentode
triped
quadruped
quadruped
A biped is a two-legged animal and a human is an example of that, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices a dog is an example of. Well, dogs have four legs, so the answer will likely contain the prefix "quad-," which means four, and the suffix "-ped," which means relating to feet or legs. The correct answer is therefore “quadruped.”
Example Question #4 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Insecticide is to bug as deicide is to __________.
ten
decimal
god
two
tree
god
The suffix "-cide" means to kill. An insecticide is a product that kills insects (bugs), and a deicide is something that kills deities (gods).