Analogies: Determining Meaning from Suffixes

Help Questions

SSAT Elementary Level Verbal › Analogies: Determining Meaning from Suffixes

Questions 1 - 10
1

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Cyclops is to one eye as biped is to __________.

two legs

two eyes

one leg

two hands

one hand

Explanation

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.

2

Complete this analogy.

Manage is to manageable as defend is to __________.

defensible

defensive

defender

attack

protect

Explanation

The suffixes "_-_able" and "-ible" generally mean able to be or able to do, as in the the word “manageable,” which means able to be managed. To solve this analogy, you need to determine which of these answer choices means able to be defended. The correct answer is “defensible."

3

Complete this analogy.

Edible is to eaten as tangible is to __________.

touched

drunk

heard

tasted

seen

Explanation

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.

4

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Tasty is to food as melodious is to __________.

sound

melon

scent

radio

car

Explanation

"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."

5

Complete this analogy.

Female is to witch as male is to __________.

wizard

judge

witchcraft

magician

humanist

Explanation

A “wizard” is a male witch. To provide further help, “witchcraft” is the practice of magic by witches. The suffix "-craft" suggests a type of work or craft. A “humanist” is someone who has great faith in the capabilities of mankind and who thinks rationally about the world.

6

Complete this analogy.

Lengthen is to longer as moisten is to __________.

wetter

drier

hotter

colder

milder

Explanation

The suffix "-ten" means to make, so “lengthen” means to make longer and “moisten” means to make wetter.

7

Complete this analogy.

Magic is to magician as history is to __________.

historian

humanities

scientist

warlock

historiography

Explanation

A “magician” is someone who practices magic, so to solve this analogy, you have to find the word that means someone who studies history, or “historian.” “Magician” and “historian” both have the suffix "-ian," which means type of person. To provide further help, “historiography” is the study of historical practice; a “scientist” is someone who studies science; “humanities” is a broad subject group including history, art, and literature; a “warlock” is a male witch, a wizard.

8

Complete this analogy.

Forward is to backward as up is to __________.

down

behind

straight

direction

movement

Explanation

The suffix "_-_ward" means having to do with the direction of \[adjective or preposition\]. Moving "forward" is the opposite of moving "backward," so you need to pick out an answer choice which represents the opposite of "up." "Down" is the opposite of "up," so "down" is the correct answer.

9

Complete this analogy.

Thermometer is to temperature as ruler is to __________.

length

weight

pressure

loudness

light

Explanation

The suffix "-meter" suggests that the word in question will relate to the measurement of something. The prefix "therm-" or "thermo-" means having to do with heat, temperature, or fire, so a “thermometer” is something used to measure temperature. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a ruler measures. A ruler measures length, so "length" is the correct answer.

10

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Get is to obtain as deceive is to __________.

trick

cancel

prevent

reward

postpone

Explanation

"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.

Page 1 of 2
Return to subject