All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Analogies: Determining Meaning From Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots
Complete this analogy.
Ichthyology is to fish as ecclesiology is to __________.
churches
skyscrapers
reptiles
birds
architecture
churches
To solve this analogy you need to rely on your knowledge of Greek roots. To begin with the prefix ichthy- means fish, so "ichthyology" is the study of fish. So, what is "ecclesiology" the study of? The Greek prefix ecclesi- means congregation, church. So, "ecclesiology" is the study of churches.
Example Question #13 : Analogies: Prefixes
Complete this analogy.
Autonomy is to __________ as theocracy is to God.
wealthy
self
workers
king
chaos
self
The prefix theo- means related to religion or to "God." So, "theocracy" is the rule of a government through "God" or the application of religious laws. To solve this analogy you need to determine what "autonomy" is the rule of. Well, auto- means "self," so "autonomy" is the ability to rule oneself.
Example Question #51 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Antiquated is to the past as __________ is to the present.
obdurate
mundane
current
severe
youthful
current
The Greek and Latin prefix anti- can mean either opposite, against as in "antisocial" which means not social. Or, anti- can mean old, ancient. In "antiquated" it is used in the latter sense, "antiquated" means very old, outdated, ancient. Something from the past could be described as "antiquated," so which of these is a word that could describe something from the present? The correct answer is "current" which means contemporary, in the present. Additionally, "youthful" means young; "mundane" means ordinary, boring; "severe" means intense, harsh; "obdurate" means stubborn, intractable.
Example Question #51 : Analogies
Complete this analogy.
Astronomy is to space as geology is to __________.
chemistry
weather
rocks
economics
life
rocks
The Greek prefix astr- means stars, sun and the Greek root -nom- means arrangement, order, study. So, "astronomy" is literally the arrangement of the stars or the study of outer space. Furthermore, the Greek prefix geo- means Earth, of the Earth and the suffix -ology means study of. So, "geology" is literally the study of the Earth or the study of rocks and rock formations.
Example Question #3 : Analogies: Prefixes From Greek
Complete this analogy.
Cytology is to cells as nomology is to __________.
math
equations
law
public health
probability
law
"Cytology" is the study of cells, so to solve this analogy you need to determine what "nomology" is the study of. To solve this problem it helps to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix nom- which means law, order. So, "nomology" is the study of law.
Example Question #3 : Analogies: Prefixes From Greek
Complete this analogy.
Anthropology is to __________ as meteorology is to weather.
recreation
animals
mankind
occupations
literature
mankind
To solve this problem you need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. To begin with "meteorology" is the study of weather, the atmosphere, and weather patterns. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what "anthropology" is the study of. The Greek prefix anthrop- means human, so "anthropology" is the study of mankind, the study of humans.
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Prefixes From Greek
Complete this analogy.
Xenophobia is to foreigners as arachnophobia is to _______________.
psychology
travel
spiders
politics
silence
spiders
"Xenophobia" is an irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries. The correct answer will demonstrate a relationship between a fear and the object of that fear. "Arachno" derives from the Greek root meaning spider, and "arachnophobia" is the fear of spiders.
Example Question #4 : Analogies: Prefixes From Greek
Complete this analogy.
Claustrophobia is to trapped as acrophobia is to _______________.
snakes
spiders
dogs
loneliness
heights
heights
To begin with the suffix -phobia means fear of. "Claustrophobia" is the fear of being "trapped," the fear of tight spaces. So, to solve this analogy you need to determine what someone who suffers from "acrophobia" is afraid of. The key here is the prefix acro- (as in "acropolis"), it means height, high. So, "acrophobia" is the fear of "heights" or high places.
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Anglophile is to English as Francophile is to __________.
Scottish
Spanish
Welsh
German
French
French
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.
Example Question #1 : Analogies: Suffixes From Latin
Complete this analogy.
Acrophobia is to heights as claustrophobia is to __________.
Being American
Being confined
Being introspective
Being successful
Being ignorant
Being confined
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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