All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
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 __________.
over
marine
active
under
hypo
hypo
"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 #32 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Patriarchal is to matriarchal as feminine is to __________.
effervescent
masculine
woman
misogynist
feminist
masculine
Patriarchal describes a society or group of people ruled by men. Matriarchal describes a society or group of people ruled 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 describes hateful behavior exhibited towards women; effervescent means vivacious or lively.
Example Question #33 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Entomology is to insects as oncology is to __________.
agriculture
cancer
hormones
populations
minerals
cancer
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 the study of cancer, so the correct answer is “cancer.”
Example Question #34 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Misanthropy is to people as misandry is to __________.
exercise
birds
sports
men
animals
men
Misanthropy describes the 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 #35 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Anthropology is to humans as pathology is to __________.
emotions
maps
poetry
quests
disease
disease
Anthropology is the study of humans or humanity. Pathology is the study of disease.
Example Question #36 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Terrarium is to dirt as solarium is to __________.
solo
hydrogen
sunlight
moon
earth
sunlight
"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.
Example Question #41 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Firmament is to sky as terra is to _________.
moon
sun
earth
ocean
river
earth
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
Complete this analogy.
Suicide is to self as fratricide is to __________.
brother
friend
teacher
child
mother
brother
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
Complete this analogy.
Confidante is to trust as orator is to __________.
arrest
accept
argue
speak
listen
listen
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 #12 : Analogies: Roots From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Submarine is to water as __________ is to land.
submersible
supersede
supplicate
subterranean
subatomic
subterranean
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.
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
