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: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Firmament is to sky as terra is to _________.

Possible Answers:

moon 

sun

ocean 

river 

earth 

Correct answer:

earth 

Explanation:

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 #12 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Suicide is to self as fratricide is to __________

Possible Answers:

friend

teacher

brother

child

mother

Correct answer:

brother

Explanation:

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 #13 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Confidante is to trust as orator is to __________

Possible Answers:

accept 

listen 

argue 

arrest 

speak 

Correct answer:

listen 

Explanation:

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 #14 : Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Submarine is to water as __________ is to land.

Possible Answers:

supplicate

subatomic

supersede

subterranean

submersible 

Correct answer:

subterranean

Explanation:

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 #78 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Misanthropy is to ______________ as misogyny is to women.

Possible Answers:

children

animals

men

elderly 

human

Correct answer:

human

Explanation:

"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."

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Roots From Greek

Complete this analogy.

Pyromania is to fire as kleptomania is to __________.

Possible Answers:

pain 

abuse 

theft 

knowledge 

snow 

Correct answer:

theft 

Explanation:

The Greek root "pyr-" or "pyro-" refers to fire; you may have seen it before in such words as "pyrotechnics" (fireworks) or "pyre" (the mound of flammable matter on which a corpse is burned in a formal ceremony). The root "-mania" means madness. Putting these two roots together, we get "pyro-mania," or a term that in general means fire madness. "Pyromania" is an excessive and sometimes uncontrollable desire to start fires. Our second term also contains the root "-mania," so it is "madness" that has to do with whatever "klepto-" indicates. The root "klepto-" comes from the Greek for thief and means having to do with theft. Thus, "kleptomania" is an excessive and sometimes uncontrollable desire to commit theft. A "kleptomaniac" cannot help but steal things. "Theft" is thus the correct answer.

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