SSAT Middle Level Verbal : Suffixes from Latin

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Manic is to frenzied as stupefied is to __________.

Possible Answers:

scared

stopped

dreamed

dazed

concerned

Correct answer:

dazed

Explanation:

If you are “manic,” you are very excited, energetic, or emotional. “Frenzied” is a synonym of “manic” and means the same thing. The answer choice that is closest in meaning to “stupefied” is “dazed.” They both mean made stupid, groggy, or insensible.

Example Question #92 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Benign is to malignant as benevolent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

critical

malevolent

blandness

violent

excellent

Correct answer:

malevolent

Explanation:

“Malignant” means evil in nature, influence, or effect. “Benign” is the antonym of “malignant,” so you need to look for the opposite of “benevolent.” “Benevolent” means marked by or disposed to doing good. It begins with the prefix "ben-," meaning good, as in "beneficial." The opposite of this is the prefix "mal-;" therefore, “malevolent” is the opposite of “benevolent.” To further help you, if something is “critical” it is very important; “blandness” is when something is plain or simple.

Example Question #93 : Ssat Middle Level Verbal

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Exterminate is to pests as __________.

Possible Answers:

Celebrity is to event

Rouse is to mob

Extinguish is to fire

Question is to suspect

Envelop is to coating

Correct answer:

Extinguish is to fire

Explanation:

The best answer is "extinguish is to fire." Its relationship is much like the one between "exterminate," which means to destroy or kill and "pest," a nuisance or annoying animal or thing. Both analogies imply a sense of completeness in their actions. You would want to be entirely rid of pests and to throughly put out a fire.

Example Question #21 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Extraterrestrial is to alien as question is to __________

Possible Answers:

ambidexterity

truancy

potency

latency

query

Correct answer:

query

Explanation:

The suffix -terrestrial means of the Earth and the prefix extra- means beyond or above, so an “extraterrestrial” is something that comes from beyond the Earth or an alien. To solve this analogy, you need to find the best synonym of “question.” When used as a noun, "question" means query, so "query" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "question": “ambidexterity” means the condition of being able to use either hand as one's dominant hand; “latency” is the condition of being hidden or dormant; “truancy” means absence; and “potency” means strength.

Example Question #22 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Drunkard is to intoxicated as braggart is to __________

Possible Answers:

fleeing

fighting

boasting 

eating

traveling

Correct answer:

boasting 

Explanation:

A “drunkard” is someone who is frequently drunk or someone who is often intoxicated. “Intoxicated” is a synonym of drunk. To solve this analogy, you have to figure out what a “braggart” is often doing. As you might have guessed from the root word "brag," a verb that means show off or boast, a “braggart” is someone who often boasts about their achievements. There are many relevant word fragments and prefixes in this analogy that might have helped you solve it: The suffix "-ard" or "-art" means type of person who does something, and the word fragment "toxic" means related to poison, alcohol being the poison referred to in the word "intoxicated." None of the other answer choices are activities that braggarts are assumed to do often.

Example Question #23 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Berate is to scold as belittle is to __________

Possible Answers:

punish 

demean 

praise 

forgive 

supplant 

Correct answer:

demean 

Explanation:

The prefix be- means cause or make. To “berate” someone means to yell at them, to make them feel uncomfortable, to scold, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words is a synonym for “belittle.” “Belittle” means to make someone feel little, this is most similar in meaning to “demean” which means to humiliate, to bring someone down. To provide further help, “supplant” means replace

Example Question #24 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Impregnable is to unassailable as meager is to __________

Possible Answers:

credible 

unstoppable 

scant 

excessive 

mischievous 

Correct answer:

scant 

Explanation:

The prefixes im- and un- are both negation prefixes; this means they take the original meaning of the word and cause the new word to mean the opposite. Something that is “assailable” is able to be assailed, able to be conquered and something that is “pregnable” is able to be penetrated, able to be conquered. “Unassailable” and “impregnable” are therefore synonyms of one another: both words mean not able to be conquered. To solve this analogy you have to identify the best available synonym for “meager.” “Meager” means to have very little of something, to be in very small supply so the best synonym is “scant.” To provide further help, “excessive” means too much; “unstoppable” means unable to be stopped; “credible” means believable; “mischievous” means badly-behaved, naughty.  

Example Question #25 : Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots

Analogies: Fill in the blank(s) to complete this analogy. 

New is to neolithic as old is to __________.

Possible Answers:

paleolithic

triassic

mesolithic

mesozoic

jurassic

Correct answer:

paleolithic

Explanation:

The prefix neo- means new, and the suffix -lithic refers to an era of prehistory. The prefix paleo- means old or very ancient, so the correct answer choice is “Paleolithic.” The other four answer choices are all other eras of ancient history, the key to solve this analogy was identifying the relationship between neo- and “new” and paleo- and “old.”

Example Question #11 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Mandatory is to required as intermittent is to __________.

Possible Answers:

irregular

abrasive

laborious

frequent

gregarious

Correct answer:

irregular

Explanation:

The prefix mand- means command, so something that is “mandatory” is something you are commanded to do and have to do. As such, it is a synonym of “required,” so to solve this analogy you need to determine the best available synonym for “intermittent.” The prefix inter- means between, and the word fragment -mit- means send so something that is “intermittent” is sent back and forth at irregular, or varied, intervals. As such it is closest in meaning to “irregular,” which means not frequent, out of pattern. The prefix ir- negates the meaning of the original word “regular,” causing the new word to mean the opposite. To provide further help, “frequent” means often; “abrasive” means rude; “laborious” means hard-work; “gregarious” means friendly, sociable.

Example Question #12 : Suffixes From Latin

Analogies: Complete this analogy.

Fish is to gills as squirrel is to __________.

Possible Answers:

fur

acorn

lungs

ears

tail

Correct answer:

lungs

Explanation:

A fish uses its gills to breathe, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out a word that describes what part of its body a squirrel uses to breathe. The correct answer is "lungs." None of the other answer choices describe the body part that a squirrel uses to breathe.

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