Analogies: Suffixes from Latin

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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Analogies: Suffixes from Latin

Questions 1 - 6
1

Complete this analogy.

Insecticide is to bug as deicide is to __________.

god

ten

decimal

tree

two

Explanation

The suffix "-cide" means to kill. An insecticide is a product that kills insects (bugs), and a deicide is something that kills deities (gods).

2

Complete this analogy.

Man is to biped as dog is to __________.

quadruped

tripod

pentode

quadriceps

triped

Explanation

A biped is a two-legged animal and a human is an example of that, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices a dog is an example of. Well, dogs have four legs, so the answer will likely contain the prefix "quad­_-,"_ which means four, and the suffix "-ped­," which means relating to feet or legs. The correct answer is therefore “quadruped.”

3

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Cacophony is to music as war is to __________.

peace

battle

general

soldier

conflict

Explanation

The Latin root "phony" means sound, so you can infer that a "cacophony" is a type of sound. Specifically, "cacophony" means a loud, displeasing noise, so it is an antonym of "music." Therefore, the correct answer will be the opposite of "war," which is "peace."

4

Complete this analogy.

Positive is to utopia as negative is to _________.

dystopia

myriad

ephemeral

divine

postmodern

Explanation

A utopia is a perfect hypothetical society, so to solve this analog you have to figure out which of these answer choices is a negative representation of a hypothetical society. The correct answer, as you might have guessed from the matching suffixes, is “dystopia.” For clarification, "myriad" means countless; "postmodern" is a school of thinking defined by deconstruction; "ephemeral" means short-lived; and "divine" means of or relating to (a) god(s) or goddess(es).

5

Complete this analogy.

Anglophile is to English as Francophile is to __________.

French

German

Spanish

Welsh

Scottish

Explanation

An Anglophile is someone who loves English culture and people, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which nationality is loved by a Francophile. The prefix Franco- often means of or relating to France, so a Francophile is someone who loves French culture and people. For clarification, the suffix –phile means lover of.

6

Complete this analogy.

Acrophobia is to heights as claustrophobia is to __________.

Being confined

Being successful

Being American

Being introspective

Being ignorant

Explanation

Acrophobia, as you will have learned from the inclusion of the suffix –phobia, is the fear of heights; therefore, in order to solve this analogy you have to determine what claustrophobia is the fear of. It is a commonly expressed fear or discomfort expressed in everyday life, so you likely already know that claustrophobia is the fear of being confined or tapped.

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