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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Ergophobia is to work as pyrophobia is to__________.

Possible Answers:

Wolves

Darkness

Lightning

Sunlight

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The suffix "-phobia" meansfear ofand the root "ergo"meanshaving to do withwork, so the word "ergophobia" meansthe fear of work. To solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice that is the thing that someone with "pyrophobia" is afraid of. The root "pyro" meanshaving to do with fire, as seen in “pyromaniac” or “pyrotechnic.” Someone who suffers from “pyrophobia” therefore issomeone who is afraid of fire, making "fire" the correct answer.

Example Question #52 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Anglophone is to English as francophone is to__________.

Possible Answers:

Chinese

Finnish

Spanish

French

telephone

Correct answer:

French

Explanation:

The suffix "-phone" meansrelated to language or speakingand the prefix "anglo-"meansrelated to England or the English. An “Anglophone” is anEnglish speakerand a “Francophone” is aFrench speaker. The prefix "franco-"meansrelated to France or the French. So, "French" is the correct answer.

Example Question #53 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Andocentric is to men as geocentric is to__________.

Possible Answers:

sun

women

ocean

children

Earth

Correct answer:

Earth

Explanation:

The prefix "ando-" meansrelated to men, so in this instance, the word “andocentric” meanshaving a world view centered around men and masculine ways of viewing things. “Geocentric” meanshaving to do with an astronomical model that centers around the preeminence of the Earth. The prefix "geo-" meansrelated to the Earth. So, the correct answer is "Earth."

Example Question #54 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Hippophile is to horses as Grecophile is to__________.

Possible Answers:

Greece

gardening

gold

giraffes

monsters

Correct answer:

Greece

Explanation:

A “hippophile” is alover of horses. The prefix "hippo-"is taken from Greek and meansrelated to horses. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what a “Grecophile” is loves. The correct answer is “Greece.” The prefix "Greco-" meansrelated to Greece or the Greek people.

Example Question #55 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Psychology is to mind as geology is to__________.

Possible Answers:

rocks

current events

people

ocean currents

literature

Correct answer:

rocks

Explanation:

The suffix "-ology" meansthe study ofand the prefix “psych-” meansrelated to the mind, so “psychology” isthe study of the human mind. To solve this analogy, you have to determine of what “geology” is the study. The correct answer is "rocks," because the prefix "geo-" meansrelated to the Earth or things that come from the Earth, like rocks, making "geology"the study of rocks and minerals and the physical history of the Earth.

Example Question #56 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Dermatology is to skin as optometry is to__________.

Possible Answers:

heart

brain

hair

hands

eyes

Correct answer:

eyes

Explanation:

The prefixderma-meansrelated to skin, so “dermatology” ismedicine focused around skin-treatment. To solve this analogy you need to determine which part of the body is covered by “optometry.” The prefixopt-meansto do with sight or lookingso “optometry” ismedicine focused around eyesight or “eyes.”

Example Question #57 :Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Luddite is to technophobe as memoir is to__________.

Possible Answers:

antagonist

protagonist

narrative

technophile

account

Correct answer:

account

Explanation:

A “luddite” is a name given tosomeone who is fearful or distrusting of new technology. The prefixtechno-meansrelated to technology, and the suffix-phobemeanssomeone who fears. So a “technophobe” means the same thing as a “luddite.” To solve this analogy you need to determine the best available synonym for “memoir.” The prefixmem-is related tomemory, recalling the pastso a “memoir” isan account of what took place in one person’s past. As such, it is closest in meaning to an “account.” You might have picked “narrative;” however that more closely meansstoryand suggestsfiction, whereas an “account” isa telling of something that has happened. To provide further help, a “technophile”loves new technology; a “protagonist” isa heroand an “antagonist” isa villain, observe the relationship between the prefixespro-andanti-.

Example Question #51 :Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Astronomy is to space as gastronomy is to__________.

Possible Answers:

volcanoes

atmosphere

earth

air

food

Correct answer:

food

Explanation:

The suffix-onomyusually meansthe study of, and the prefixastro-meansrelated to space, so “astronomy” isthe study of space. To solve this analogy you need to determine what “gastronomy” is the study of. The prefixgastro-meansrelated to food or digestion, so “gastronomy” isthe study of food.

Example Question #52 :Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Autocracy is to dictator as oligarchy is to__________.

Possible Answers:

monarchs

aristocrats

representatives

technocrats

democrats

Correct answer:

aristocrats

Explanation:

An “autocracy” isa government ruled by one man, a government ruled by a dictator. A “dictator” issomeone who has absolute control over a group of people. The prefixauto-usually meansself, and so an “autocracy” isrule by one-self. The prefixdic-meanssay, command, so a “dictator” issomeone who says and commands the rules of a country. To solve this analogy you have to determine what system of government an “oligarchy” is, and also who would be likely to run the government. The prefixolig-meansfew, or little, so an “oligarchy” isrule by a select wealthy few. This tells us that an “oligarchy” is ruled by “aristocrats.” If it was not yet clear, the suffixes-cratand-cracymeanrule, power. To provide further help, a “monarch” isa king or queen; a “representative” issomeone tasked with representing the will of the people in government; a “technocrat” issomeone who rules through technology.

Example Question #53 :Suffixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Anthropology is to man as climatology is to__________.

Possible Answers:

Climbing

Climate

Hormones

Viruses

Amphibians

Correct answer:

Climate

Explanation:

The root "anthro-" meansrelated to mankindand the suffix "-ology"meansthestudy of, so “anthropology” isthe study of man. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what “climatology” is the study of. The correct answer is "climate." None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank as they have nothing to do with climate.

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