Analogies: Determining Meaning from Suffixes - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

"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.

The suffix "_-_ward" means having to do with the direction of \[adjective or preposition\]. Moving "forward" is the opposite of moving "backward," so you need to pick out an answer choice which represents the opposite of "up." "Down" is the opposite of "up," so "down" is the correct answer.

"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."

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.

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.

“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.

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

A “herbologist” is a person who studies plants. The suffix "-ology" means the study of something and "-ologist" means a person who studies something. Similarly, a "zoologist" is a person who studies animals. To further help you, "biology” is a branch of science that studies life; “vigorous” and “fast” are synonyms; “happy” and “well" are also synonyms.

A “magician” is someone who practices magic, so to solve this analogy, you have to find the word that means someone who studies history, or “historian.” “Magician” and “historian” both have the suffix "-ian," which means type of person. To provide further help, “historiography” is the study of historical practice; a “scientist” is someone who studies science; “humanities” is a broad subject group including history, art, and literature; a “warlock” is a male witch, a wizard.

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.

A “wizard” is a male witch. To provide further help, “witchcraft” is the practice of magic by witches. The suffix "-craft" suggests a type of work or craft. A “humanist” is someone who has great faith in the capabilities of mankind and who thinks rationally about the world.

The suffix "-ten" means to make, so “lengthen” means to make longer and “moisten” means to make wetter.

The suffix "-meter" suggests that the word in question will relate to the measurement of something. The prefix "therm-" or "thermo-" means having to do with heat, temperature, or fire, so a “thermometer” is something used to measure temperature. So, to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that describes what a ruler measures. A ruler measures length, so "length" is the correct answer.

"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.

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.

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."

"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.

The suffix "_-_ward" means having to do with the direction of \[adjective or preposition\]. Moving "forward" is the opposite of moving "backward," so you need to pick out an answer choice which represents the opposite of "up." "Down" is the opposite of "up," so "down" is the correct answer.

"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."