All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Tasty is to food as melodious is to __________.
sound
radio
melon
scent
car
sound
"Tasty" food is food that is enjoyable to taste, so you need to pick out an answer choice that describes something that can be "melodious." A "melodious" sound is a sound that is pleasant to listen to, so "sound" is the correct answer, because just as food can be "tasty," sound can be "melodious."
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Edible is to eaten as tangible is to __________.
touched
heard
tasted
drunk
seen
touched
The suffix -ible means able to be, so the word “edible” means able to be eaten, and the word “tangible” means able to be touched. The prefix tan- generally suggests things touching or being able to touch. To provide further help, “audible” means able to be heard; “visible” means able to be seen.
Example Question #631 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Contort is to twist as terminate is to __________.
end
commence
begin
demand
supply
end
“Contort” means to twist out of shape, to warp. To solve this analogy you have to determine the best synonym for “terminate,” which means to bring to an end. The correct answer is therefore “end.” If you did not immediately understand this problem it would be helpful to rely on your knowledge of prefixes and suffixes. The suffix -tort is related to twisting and bending out of shape, as in “contort” or “distort.” The prefix term- means related to ending. To provide further help, “commence” means begin.
Example Question #2 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Wish is to wishful as hope is to __________.
harmless
despondent
harmful
hopeless
hopeful
hopeful
The suffix "-ful" generally means full of, so if you are “wishful” you are full of want or full of wishing. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices most nearly means full of hope. The correct answer is “hopeful.” To provide further help, “miserable” means in misery or very sad.
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Cyclops is to one eye as biped is to __________.
two eyes
two hands
one leg
one hand
two legs
two legs
A “cyclops” is a mythological creature with only one eye. The suffix "-ped" means related to feet or walking and the prefix "bi-" means two, so a “biped” is a creature with two legs.
Example Question #1503 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Get is to obtain as deceive is to __________.
trick
postpone
cancel
reward
prevent
trick
"Get" and "obtain" are synonyms because they mean the same thing, so to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which is a synonym of "deceive." The correct answer is “trick,” which means purposely mislead or deceive. As for the other answer choices, “prevent” means stop something from happening and “postpone” means delay until a later time.
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Threefold is to triple as fourfold is to __________.
enhance
quadruple
decimate
double
augment
quadruple
The suffix "-fold" means increased by a factor of, so something that is increased “threefold” is increased to an amount three times the original amount or tripled. To solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices means to increase to an amount four times the original amount. The correct answer is “quadruple,” since the prefix "quad-" means related to the number four. To provide further help, “decimate” means reduce by one-tenth or destroy. Additionally, “enhance” and “augment” are synonyms of one another, and both words mean add something to something else to improve the thing which is added to.
Example Question #2 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Suffixes
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Selfish is to greedy as selfless is to __________.
Dishonest
Devious
Unselfish
Honest
Deceptive
Unselfish
"Selfish" is a synonym of "greedy," so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best synonym of "selfless." Someone who is "selfless" puts other people before him- or herself, so "unselfish," an adjective that means not selfish, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "selfless": "devious" and "deceptive" both mean deceitful, and "dishonest" means not honest, as you might be able to infer from the word's use of the negative prefix "dis-," which means not.
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Help is to helper as sail is to _________.
sailor
assistant
boat
overboard
pilot
sailor
A "sailor" is someone who sails, just as a "helper" is someone who helps. So, "sailor" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Analogies: Complete this analogy.
Light bulb is to electricity as __________.
painting is to frame
bird is to beak
museum is to exhibit
car is to gasoline
dinosaur is to extinct
car is to gasoline
Light bulbs are powered by electricity—they need electricity in order to work. To solve the analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice in which the first word is a thing that needs the second thing to work. Many cars are powered by gasoline, just as lightbulbs are powered by electricity, so "car is to gasoline" is the correct answer! None of the other answer choices use two words that are related in the same way as "light bulb" is related to "electricity."
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All SSAT Elementary Level Verbal Resources
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