All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INVULNERABLE
Rugged
Enervated
Invincible
Victorious
Presumptuous
Invincible
The word “vulnerable” comes from the Latin for wound. With the “-able” prefix, it would mean able to be wounded. Therefore, when someone is “in-vulnerable,” he or she is not able to be wounded. The word “invincible” does not necessarily pertain to wounds, but it does mean unable to be conquered. You may have heard of the famous line attributed to Julius Caesar: “Veni, vidi, vici,” “I came, I saw, I conquered.” The last word, “vici,” is a form of “vincere,” meaning, to conquer. To be “invincible,” is thus to be “un-conquerable.”
Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EXCLAIM
Shout
Berate
Opine
Interrupt
Swear
Shout
The word “exclaim” literally means to shout out. The “ex-” prefix is likely familiar, being taken from the Latin for out or out of. The “-claim” portion is related to words like “clamor” and “proclaim.” It comes from the Latin for to call in the sense of to call out. When someone “exclaims” something, he or she shouts it out, often in anger or surprise. For instance, upon unexpectedly discovering an answer, one might exclaim, “Eureka!”
Example Question #14 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
AMBIVALENT
Enthusiastic
Menacing
Migratory
Undecided
Callous
Undecided
Ambivalent means being unable to choose between two options. The correct answer choice is undecided. The prefix "ambi" means both, and the root "val" refers to strength.
Example Question #15 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
SUPERFLUOUS
Superficial
Damaging
Quiet
Common
Extra
Extra
Superfluous means beyond what is needed or an overabundance. Thus, the correct answer is extra. The prefix 'super' means over.
Example Question #68 : Synonyms: Prefixes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRESAGE
Wise
Foreshadow
Adorable
Precocious
Prodigious
Foreshadow
When used as a verb, the word “presage” means to be a sign of a future event, often implying that this is a sign of warning. The word comes from the prefix “pre-”, meaning before, and the base “sage,” which does not merely mean wise, but to perceive keenly. Someone who is “sagacious” is wise precisely because that person keenly perceives reality. The word would be used in a sentence like, “In many cultures, the flying of a crow over a barn presaged a poor harvest in the coming year.”
Example Question #2201 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
DIFFUSE
Irregular
Dissimilar
Scattered
Disagreeable
Variant
Scattered
The word “diffuse” comes from roots that literally mean poured away from. The “di-” prefix means away from or down from, and the “-fuse” means to pour. This latter is found in words like “infuse” (meaning, literally, to pour into) and “effusive” (meaning pouring out, implying that someone “pours out” a great amount of something like praise). As a verb, the word “diffuse” means to scatter or to spread out, as when one diffuses a smell into a room or when an idea diffuses through an entire population. The word can likewise be used as an adjective, basically having the meaning of the past participle of the word, namely “scattered.”
Example Question #2202 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRECLUDE
Cooperate
Attend
Pester
Stop
Scan
Stop
To "preclude" something is to stop it from happening. The prefix "pre-" means before, and the root word, "clud," means to close or to shut.
Example Question #2203 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EQUIVOCAL
Fair
Necessary
Adorned
Ambiguous
Nauseous
Ambiguous
"Equivocal" means ambiguous or allowing the possibility of different meanings. The prefix "equi-" means equal.
Example Question #2951 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
IMMOBILE
Precise
Motionless
Swollen
Loud
Destined
Motionless
"Immobile" means incapable of moving or being moved. The root word "mob" means move. The prefix, "im-," means not or without. Thus, the best answer choice is "motionless."
Example Question #2952 : Ssat Upper Level Verbal
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INDEFATIGABLE
Courageous
Tireless
Misguided
Explanatory
Versatile
Tireless
"Indefatigable" means unable to be tired out. The best choice is "tireless." The prefix "in-" means not, and the Latin root word, "fatigare," means to tire. "Fatigare" is also the root for the word fatigue.
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All SSAT Upper Level Verbal Resources
