SSAT Elementary Level Verbal : Analogies: Determining Meaning from Suffixes

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1494 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Tasty is to food as melodious is to __________.

Possible Answers:

car

melon

scent

sound

radio

Correct answer:

sound

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."

Example Question #2 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Complete this analogy. 

Edible is to eaten as tangible is to __________.

Possible Answers:

touched

seen

tasted

heard

drunk

Correct answer:

touched

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.

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

Complete this analogy.

Contort is to twist as terminate is to __________.

Possible Answers:

commence

supply

begin

end

demand

Correct answer:

end

Explanation:

“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 #4 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Wish is to wishful as hope is to __________

Possible Answers:

despondent

hopeful

hopeless

harmless

harmful

Correct answer:

hopeful

Explanation:

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 #4 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy. 

Cyclops is to one eye as biped is to __________.

Possible Answers:

two legs

one leg

two eyes

one hand

two hands

Correct answer:

two legs

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.

Example Question #5 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Get is to obtain as deceive is to __________

Possible Answers:

postpone

trick 

reward 

prevent 

cancel

Correct answer:

trick 

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.

Example Question #6 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Threefold is to triple as fourfold is to __________

Possible Answers:

quadruple 

double

augment 

enhance 

decimate 

Correct answer:

quadruple 

Explanation:

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 #7 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Selfish is to greedy as selfless is to __________.

Possible Answers:

Unselfish

Dishonest 

Honest 

Devious 

Deceptive 

Correct answer:

Unselfish

Explanation:

"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 #8 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Help is to helper as sail is to _________.

Possible Answers:

pilot

sailor

boat

overboard

assistant

Correct answer:

sailor

Explanation:

A "sailor" is someone who sails, just as a "helper" is someone who helps. So, "sailor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1501 : Ssat Elementary Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Light bulb is to electricity as __________.

Possible Answers:

car is to gasoline

museum is to exhibit

bird is to beak

painting is to frame

dinosaur is to extinct

Correct answer:

car is to gasoline

Explanation:

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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