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 #21 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Cytology is to cells as nomology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

law

equations

probability

math

public health

Correct answer:

law

Explanation:

"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.

Possible Answers:

literature

recreation

animals

mankind

occupations

Correct answer:

mankind

Explanation:

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 _______________.

Possible Answers:

politics

travel

silence

psychology

spiders

Correct answer:

spiders

Explanation:

"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 _______________.

Possible Answers:

heights

snakes

spiders

dogs

loneliness

Correct answer:

heights

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

Scottish 

German 

Welsh 

Spanish 

French 

Correct answer:

French 

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

Being ignorant 

Being confined 

Being introspective 

Being successful

Being American 

Correct answer:

Being confined 

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

conflict

battle

general 

peace

soldier

Correct answer:

peace

Explanation:

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 _________.

Possible Answers:

dystopia 

ephemeral 

postmodern

myriad 

divine 

Correct answer:

dystopia 

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

tripod 

quadriceps

pentode 

triped 

quadruped

Correct answer:

quadruped

Explanation:

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

ten

decimal

god

two

tree

Correct answer:

god

Explanation:

The suffix "-cide" means to kill. An insecticide is a product that kills insects (bugs), and a deicide is something that kills deities (gods).

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