Synonyms: Prefixes from Greek

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SSAT Upper Level Verbal › Synonyms: Prefixes from Greek

Questions 1 - 7
1

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

AUTONOMY

Independence

Finance

Replica

Theory

Mercenary

Explanation

"Autonomy" means independence, or a self-governing community. The root word "auto-" means self. The root word "nom" means law or order.

2

Synonyms: choose the answer closest in meaning to the word in question.

ANTIDOTE

Medicine

Canal

Patron

Emblem

Collision

Explanation

"Antidote" is a medicine or treatment to counteract a poison. "Canal" is a man-made river. "Patron" is a person who donates to a person or cause. "Emblem" is a symbol or badge that represents something such as a country. "Collision" is a crash.

3

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

APATHETIC

Indifferent

Threadbare

Stricken

Extraordinary

Cooperative

Explanation

"Apathetic" and "indifferent" mean not interested. The root word "path" means feeling, and the prefix "a-" means not.

4

Complete this analogy.

Necrophobia is to death as philophobia is to _________.

love

children

sunlight

night

friendship

Explanation

Necrophobia is the fear of death. The prefix necro- generally suggests an association with death. To solve this analogy you have to determine what philophobia is the fear of. The prefix or suffix phil- means of or relating to love, so philophobia is the fear of love.

5

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

AMORAL

Unethical

Flexible

Admirable

Extravagant

Elegant

Explanation

"Amoral" means unethical or not moral.

6

Complete this analogy.

Gynophobia is to women as heliophobia is to _________.

sunlight

warfare

men

children

animals

Explanation

Gynophobia is the fear of women. The prefix gyno- typically suggests a relationship between the word and women. In order to solve this analogy, it is necessary to determine what heliophobia is the fear of. The prefix helio­­- means of or relating to the sun, so the correct answer is “sunlight.”

7

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

HYPERBOLE

Exaggeration

Supremacy

Evasion

Tribune

Vignette

Explanation

"Hyperbole" is an obvious exaggeration. The prefix "hyper-" means over or above. "Exaggeration" is thus the correct answer.

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