SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Prefixes

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Subterranean is to __________ as airborne is to eagle.

Possible Answers:

dinosaur

fly

worm

swim

cow

Correct answer:

worm

Explanation:

An "eagle" is an example of an "airborne" (in the air, flying) creature. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine which of these is a "subterranean" creature. Well, to solve this you obviously need to know what "subterranean" means. There are two relevant roots in the word to consider: First, sub- means below, beneath, under and second, terra- means Earth. So, "subterranean" means below the Earth. Which of these creatures lives "below the Earth?" A "worm."

Example Question #1 : Prefixes From Greek

Complete this analogy.

Orthodox is to heterodox as dormant is to __________

Possible Answers:

Latent 

Active 

Quiescent

Devout 

Pious 

Correct answer:

Active 

Explanation:

The root "dox" means related to established thought or opinion, and the root "ortho" means straight or correct, so someone who is “orthodox” accepts traditions or the established account of things. On the other hand, the prefix "hetero" means other or different, so someone who is “heterodox” challenges traditions and accepts other accounts of things besides the established one. The two words are opposites of another, so to solve this analogy, you have to figure out the best antonym for “dormant.” “Dormant” means hidden, asleep or inactive, so the best antonym is “active.” To provide further help, “latent” means hidden and “quiescent” means dormant, while “pious” and “devout” both describe someone who is deeply religious.

Example Question #3 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Polychromatic is to monochromatic as ___________.

Possible Answers:

prince is to king

lungs are to breathing

forgetful is to misplace

actor is to emoting

ascending is to descending

Correct answer:

ascending is to descending

Explanation:

"Polychromatic" means having many different colors, while the term "monochromatic" means having only one color or shades of white, grey, and black. You can infer these definitions because of the words' prefixes and root: "poly-" means many, "mono-" means one, and the root "chrom" means having to do with color; it is derived from the Greek word chroma, which means "color." So, "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are antonyms, or opposites, and to solve the analogy, you need to pick out the answer choice which consists of antonyms. "Ascending" means going or rising up, whereas "descending" means going or sinking down, so just as "polychromatic" and "monochromatic" are opposites, so are "ascending" and "descending," making "ascending is to descending" the correct answer.

 

Example Question #61 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Phobophobia is to fear as androphobia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

men

machines

women

technology

ghosts

Correct answer:

men

Explanation:

To begin with the suffix -phobia immediately tells you that you are dealing with a fear. So, "anglophobia" is fear of the English. "Phobophobia" is therefore fear of fear itself. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "androphobia" is the fear of. To do this you need to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix andro- which means man. So, "androphobia" is fear of man, fear of men.

Example Question #1 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy.

Ornithophobia is to birds as xenophobia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

foreigners

silence

heights

darkness

death

Correct answer:

foreigners

Explanation:

The prefix ornith- means birds, so "ornithophobia" means fear of birds. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "xenophobia" is the fear of. To do this you will need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. The prefix xen- means foreign, so "xenophobia" is fear of foreigners.

Example Question #62 : Analogies

Complete this analogy.

Bibliophile is to book as cinephile is to __________.

Possible Answers:

song

band

movie

lesson

computer

Correct answer:

movie

Explanation:

To begin with the suffix -phile means lover of. So, an "anglophile" is a lover of English things. A "bibliophile" is a lover of Books. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what a "cinephile" is a lover of. The correct answer is "movies." The Greek prefix cine-/kine- means related to movement, motion, as in "kinetic" and "cinema."

Example Question #81 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Complete this analogy.

Paedophobia is to children as photophobia is to __________.

Possible Answers:

light

movies

angels

phones

pictures

Correct answer:

light

Explanation:

To begin with the suffix -phobia means fear of. Also, the prefix paed- means children, as in "pediatrician" (children's doctor). So, "paedophobia" is fear of children. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "photophobia" is the fear of. Well, the prefix photo- means light, so "photophobia" is the fear of light.

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