SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Suffixes from Latin

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Suffixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Before is to prelude as after is to __________

Possible Answers:

laborious 

catalogue 

epilogue 

mandatory 

legislate 

Correct answer:

epilogue 

Explanation:

The prefix "pre-" usually suggest that the word will come before something or designate some beginning. In this instance, a “prelude” is an introductory event or piece of music. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the answer choices is something that comes after something else. The correct answer is an “epilogue,” which is the name given to a piece of writing that comes after the main narrative. None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “mandatory” means required; “laborious” means hard-work or exhausting; “legislate” means make laws; and “catalogue” means document and list some group of things when used as a verb and a booklet produced by a business showcasing the products that they are currently selling when used as a noun. 

Example Question #32 : Suffixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Ill-will is to malevolent as goodwill is to __________.

Possible Answers:

malcontent 

malfeasance 

beneficial

benevolent

malicious

Correct answer:

benevolent

Explanation:

The prefix "mal-" means evil or bad, and the prefix ­"ben-" means helpful or good. So someone who is “malevolent” is wicked and has a great deal of ill-will and someone who is “benevolent” is good-natured and has a lot of goodwill. So, the correct answer is "benevolent." None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “beneficial" means helpful; “malicious" means cruel and spiteful; “malcontent" means unhappy or not content; and “malfeasance" means something bad that someone does or a crime.

Example Question #33 : Suffixes From Latin

Complete this analogy.

Visible is to seen as audible is to __________

Possible Answers:

touched 

tasted 

heard 

spoken 

felt 

Correct answer:

heard 

Explanation:

The suffix "-ible" means able to be and the roots "vis" and "aud" mean related to seeing and related to hearing or sound, respectively. “Visible” thus means able to be seen and “audible” means able to be heard, so "heard" is the correct answer.

Example Question #41 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Falsify is to deceive as magnify is to __________.

Possible Answers:

reduce 

achieve 

grant 

enlarge 

diminish 

Correct answer:

enlarge 

Explanation:

The prefix "fall-" or "fals-" means having to do with lying, deception and dishonesty, and the prefix "mag-" means having to do with largeness and grandness. “Falsify” means change something in order to deceive, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine how “magnify” changes something. The correct answer is that “magnify” means make bigger or make appear bigger; just think of what a "magnifying glass" does. "Enlarge" also means make bigger, so "enlarge" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “diminish” means make smaller, as does “reduce," and “grant” means give.

Example Question #42 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Fill in the blank(s) to complete this analogy. 

Dysfunctional is to inability as cosmopolitan is to __________

Possible Answers:

worldly

perilous

feral 

innate

focused

Correct answer:

worldly

Explanation:

The prefixes dys- and in- carry negative meanings that take their words and cause them to mean the opposite. So “dysfunctional” means not working, and “inability” means lack of ability. Something that has an “inability” to do something is also “dysfunctional,” so these terms are loosely synonyms. To solve this analogy then you need to determine which word is closest in meaning to “cosmopolitan.” “Cosmopolitan” means international, exhibiting cultural diversity or knowledge; therefore the best answer choice is “worldly.” To provide further help, “innate” means natural; “focused” means not distracted; “feral” means wild; “perilous” means dangerous

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