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 #1 :Analogies: Roots From Latin

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

Father is to patronymic as mother is to __________.

Possible Answers:

son

family

maiden

name

daughter

Correct answer:

maiden

Explanation:

A patronymic is a name that comes from or belongs to your father ("pater" = father and "nym" = name). A name that comes from your mother is her maiden name.

Example Question #1 :Analogies: Roots

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

Endocrine is to gland as endoscope is to __________.

Possible Answers:

grand

相机

eyes

exocrine

vision

Correct answer:

相机

Explanation:

"Endo-" is a prefix meaning "within" or "inside." The endocrine system involves glands that secrete substances within the body, and an endoscope is a camera that looks within the body.

Example Question #2 :Analogies: Roots

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

Malefactor is to benefactor as dysphoria is to __________.

Possible Answers:

dysfunction

euphoria

disjunction

moody

philantrhopist

Correct answer:

euphoria

Explanation:

"Mal-" and "bene-" are the Latin roots for "bad" and good;" a malefactor is one who does something bad, and a benefactor is one who does something good. Similarly, "dys-" and "eu-" are the Greek roots that mean "bad" and "good;" dysphoria is a bad mood or feeling, and euphoria is a good mood or feeling.

Example Question #3 :Analogies: Roots

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

Pentathlon is to triathlon as quintuplet is to __________.

Possible Answers:

sextant

decathlon

quaternary

triplet

octopus

Correct answer:

triplet

Explanation:

"Penta-" is a root meaning "five," and "tri-" is a root meaning three. A pentathlon is an athletic competition with five events, and a triathlon is one with three events. A quintuplet is a set of five, and a triplet is set of three.

Example Question #2 :Analogies: Roots From Latin

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

Super is to sub as hyper is to __________.

Possible Answers:

over

under

marine

active

hypo

Correct answer:

hypo

Explanation:

"Super-" and "sub-" are Latin roots meaning "high/above" or "low/below," respectively. The Greek roots with the same meanings are "hyper-" and "hypo-."

Example Question #3 :Analogies: Roots From Latin

Patriarchal is to matriarchal as feminine is to__________.

Possible Answers:

effervescent

feminist

woman

misogynist

masculine

Correct answer:

masculine

Explanation:

Patriarchal describes a society or group of peopleruled by men. Matriarchal describes a society or group of peopleruled by women. To solve this analogy you have to identify which of the answer choices is the male form of feminine. This should lead you to the correct answer, "masculine." For clarification, misogynist describeshateful behavior exhibited towards women; effervescent meansvivacious or lively.

Example Question #32 :Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Entomology is to insects as oncology is to__________.

Possible Answers:

agriculture

hormones

矿物质

populations

cancer

Correct answer:

cancer

Explanation:

Entomology is the study of insects, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices is studied in oncology. "Oncology" is thestudy of cancer, so the correct answer is “cancer.”

Example Question #4 :Analogies: Roots From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Misanthropy is to people as misandry is to__________.

Possible Answers:

animals

exercise

men

birds

sports

Correct answer:

men

Explanation:

Misanthropy describesthe dislike of people or the human race, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice is disliked by someone who experiences misandry. The correct answer is “men,” people who experience misandry hate men and boys.

Example Question #3 :Analogies: Roots

Anthropology is to humans as pathology is to __________.

Possible Answers:

quests

disease

maps

poetry

emotions

Correct answer:

disease

Explanation:

Anthropology is the study of humans or humanity. Pathology is the study of disease.

Example Question #8 :Analogies: Roots

Complete this analogy.

Terrarium is to dirt as solarium is to__________.

Possible Answers:

solo

earth

moon

hydrogen

sunlight

Correct answer:

sunlight

Explanation:

"Terra" means earth and "sol" means sun. A terrarium is a container that holds earth (dirt), and a solarium is a room that is filled with sunlight.

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