SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Prefixes

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Separate is to pull apart as combine is to __________.

Possible Answers:

put together

clean up

agree with

break away

set free

Correct answer:

put together

Explanation:

"Separate" means to divide things or set things or people apart. So, "separate" and "pull apart" are synonyms because they mean the same thing. That means that to solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that means the same thing as "combine." To "combine" means to put different things together into a single thing. (The prefix "com-" means together.) So, "put together" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Sense is to nonsense as friendly is to __________.

Possible Answers:

amiable

unfriendly

sociable

nonfriendly

awesome

Correct answer:

unfriendly

Explanation:

The prefix non- negates the meaning of the word that comes after it, so “nonsense” is opposite in meaning to “sense.” Likewise the prefix un- serves a similar purpose, so someone who is “friendly” is opposite to someone who is “unfriendly.” The key to answering this question is to know which prefix is appropriate to use in this individual case. To provide further help, amiable means friendly and sociable.

Example Question #3 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Submarine is to water as subway is to __________.

Possible Answers:

metro 

sky 

train 

ground 

carriage 

Correct answer:

ground 

Explanation:

The prefix sub- means going under, beneath so a “submarine” is something that travels under water and a “subway” is something that travels underground. The suffix -marine often suggests at a relationship with water.

Example Question #4 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Nonagon is to nine as hexagon is to __________.

Possible Answers:

angles 

seven 

sides 

shapes 

six 

Correct answer:

six 

Explanation:

The prefix non- means related to the number nine. A “nonagon” is a nine-sided shape. To solve this analogy you have to determine which number is related to the prefix hex-, the correct answer is “six.” A “hexagon” has six sides.

Example Question #5 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Three is to triplets as five is to __________.

Possible Answers:

children

twins

quadruplets

quintuplets

fifth

Correct answer:

quintuplets

Explanation:

“Triplets” are three children born at the same time, of the same mother. The prefix tri- means related to the number three. To solve this analogy, you have to determine what word is used to describe five children born at the same time, of the same mother. The prefix ­-quin means related to the number five, as does the prefix pent-; in this instance, the correct answer is “quintuplets.”

Example Question #6 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Complete this analogy. 

Sanctify is to holy as fortify is to __________.

Possible Answers:

impotent

vulnerable

weak

desirable

strong

Correct answer:

strong

Explanation:

“Sanctify” means to make holy, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these answer choices means to make strong. The correct answer is “fortify.” If you were unable to answer this question immediately, it would become helpful to use your knowledge of prefixes. The prefix sanct- means related to holiness or tranquility, and the prefix fort- means related to strengthening or protecting. To provide further help, “vulnerable” means in danger from something specific; “impotent” means powerless; “desirable” means able to be desired, wanted

Example Question #661 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Ailing is to hurt as rejuvenating is to __________.

Possible Answers:

ancient

healing

youthful

sick

worsening

Correct answer:

healing

Explanation:

“Ailing” means in pain, sick or suffering, so it is a synonym for “hurt;” therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to find the best synonym for “rejuvenating;” the correct answer is “healing.” To help you figure this out, the prefix ail- means related to sickness or pain and the word fragment -juve- means related to youth or, in this instance, related to regaining youth and health. To provide further help, ancient means old.

Example Question #662 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Centipede is to legs as century is to __________.

Possible Answers:

animals

years

insects

numbers

hundred 

Correct answer:

years

Explanation:

The prefix cent- means related to the number one hundred. A “centipede” is an insect that has one hundred legs, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what a “century” has one hundred of. The correct answer is “years,” there are one hundred years in a “century.”

Example Question #663 : Analogies

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Father is to paternal as mother is to __________

Possible Answers:

augment 

maternal 

author 

matrimony

female

Correct answer:

maternal 

Explanation:

“Paternal” means relating to fatherhood. So, to solve this analogy, you have to figure out which of these answer choices means relating to motherhood. The correct answer is “maternal.” The prefixes "pat-" and "mat-" usually suggest that the word will be related to men and related to women, respectively. As for the other answer choices, “matrimony” means marriage and “augment” means enhance or make better.

Example Question #7 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Young is to juvenile as old is to __________

Possible Answers:

patriarchy

terminal 

ancient 

terminate 

matriarchy 

Correct answer:

ancient 

Explanation:

“Juvenile” means young or immature. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine which answer choice is closest in meaning to "old." The correct answer is “ancient.” The prefix ­"juv-" means having to do with youthfulness and immaturity. To provide further help, “terminate” means end and “terminal” means causing an end or causing death. As you can see, the prefix "term-" means related to ending. To provide additional clarification, a “patriarchy” is a society dominated by men and a “matriarchy” is a society dominated by women. The prefix "patr-" means related to men and the prefix "matr-" means related to women.

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