Analogies: Prefixes from Latin - SSAT Upper Level Verbal

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Question

The words in these verbal analogies are based on the understanding and use of common Latin and Greek word roots.

Anhydrous is to water as analgesic is to __________.

Answer

Anhydrous means without water ("an" = without, "hydro" = water), and analgesic means without pain ("an" = without, "algesia" = pain).

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Antecedent is to predecessor as postscript is to __________.

Answer

"Ante-" and "pre-" both mean "before;" both words refer to things that come before other things. "Post" means "after" and "script" refers to writing, so a postscript is an afterword.

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Question

The words in these verbal analogies are based on the understanding and use of common Latin and Greek word roots.

Unilateral is to side as monorail is to __________.

Answer

"Uni-" and "mono-" are both prefixes that mean "one" or "single." A unilateral decision is made by only one side of a dispute; a monorail is a train that runs on a single track.

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Question

The words in these verbal analogies are based on the understanding and use of common Latin and Greek word roots.

Bicameral is to branches as duet is to __________.

Answer

"Bi-" and "duo-" are prefixes that both mean "two." A bicameral government is one with two branches, and a duet is a musical performance by two singers.

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Question

Cow is to bovine as dog is to __________.

Answer

The adjective bovine is used to describe characteristics displayed by or attributed to cows. To solve this analogy you have to identify the adjective used to describe characteristics displayed by or attributed to dogs. This leads to the correct answer which is canine. Cow is to bovine as dog is to canine as cat is to feline, etc.

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Question

Theology is to religion as genealogy is to __________.

Answer

Theology is the study of religion so to solve this analogy you need to determine what genealogy is the study of. The prefix gene- should provide a clue that it likely describes the study of families or family history. The correct answer is therefore families.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Cartographer is to map as vintner is to __________.

Answer

A cartographer is someone who makes maps, so in order to solve this analogy, you have to determine which of the items is produced by a vintner. The prefix "vin_-_" might clue you in that the answer choice has to be wine (from the Latin for wine, vino).

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Question

Complete this analogy.

One is to unity as three is to __________.

Answer

Unity means the state or condition of being one or as one so to solve this analogy you have to identify which answer choice means the state or condition of being three parts working together. The prefix tri- usually describes something to do with the number three, such as triangle or tripod. From the suffix -ity in unity you might well have guessed at the correct answer which is “trinity.”

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Misogynist is to women as Luddite is to __________.

Answer

Someone who is a misogynist hates women, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what it is that a Luddite dislikes. The Luddites were a nineteenth-century organization in Britain, dedicated to fighting the introduction of life changing technology during the Industrial Revolution; as such, the word has come to be used to describe all disdain for “technology” in the contemporary era. The prefix mis- is often used to describe the dislike of something.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Eighty is to octogenarian as seventy is to _________.

Answer

An octogenarian is somebody in his or her eighties, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what name is given to somebody in his or her seventies. The prefix sept- is commonly used to refer to the number seven or things composed of seven parts; therefore the correct answer is “septuagenarian.” For clarification, a nonagenarian is somebody in his or her nineties, and pentagenarian is not a word.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Xenophobia is to foreigners as zoophobia is to __________.

Answer

Xenophobia is the fear of foreigners, so to solve this analogy you have to determine what zoophobia is a fear. This question is a little easier than most phobia analogy questions because the prefix zoo- is such a dead giveaway. The correct answer is that zoophobia is the fear of animals.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Arachnophobia is to spiders as triskaidekaphobia is to __________.

Answer

Arachnophobia, as you might have gathered from the prefix arach- and the suffix -phobia, is the fear of spiders; therefore, in order to solve this problem you have to determine what exactly triskaidekaphobia is the fear of. This is a tough question, but there are some clues in the word to help you determine the answer. The prefix tri­- suggests it might have something to do with the number three, and the inclusion of deka (think decathlon) suggests it might have something to do with the number ten. In the absence of any other clues it seems logical to guess the correct answer is triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number thirteen. Now, good luck trying to pronounce it.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Aquaphobia is to water as chronophobia is to __________.

Answer

Aquaphobia is the fear of water. Whenever you see the prefix ­­"aqua_-_," you can assume that the word will have something to do with water. So to solve this analogy, you have to determine what chronophobia is a fear of. Chronophobia has the same prefix as the word "chronological" (which has to do with the passage of time), so it would be reasonable to assume that the prefix "chrono-" implies a relationship to time. This line of thinking would lead you to the correct answer, that chronophobia is the fear of time or the passage of time.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Hydrodynamics is to water as thermodynamics is to __________.

Answer

The Greek prefix hyrdo- means related to water. "Hydrodynamic" means a branch of science concerned with the movement of water and other fluids. To solve this analogy you need to consider the meaning of the Greek prefix therm- which means heat, temperature. "Thermodynamics" is therefore a branch of science concerned with heat, temperature and their relationship to movement and energy. The correct answer is therefore "heat." You might also have noticed that the root -dynam- means related to energy.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Septuagenarian is to __________ as octogenarian is to eighty.

Answer

The key to solving this analogy is to know that the prefix sept- means seven and the prefix oct- means eight. So, a "septuagenarian" is someone who is in their seventies and an "octogenarian" is someone who is in their eighties.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Aquarium is to octopus as __________ is to snake.

Answer

An "aquarium" is a place where ocean-dwelling creatures are housed and displayed. So, to solve this analogy you have to determine which of these words describes an enclosure where a land-based creature (such as a snake) might be housed. It can be helpful when solving this problem to consider your Latin prefixes. "Terr-" means of or related to the Earth. So, a "terrarium" is the correct answer. Additionally, an "arboretum" is a place where trees are grown; "reptilian" means relating to the qualities of reptiles (like snakes and alligators).

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Ichthyology is to fish as ecclesiology is to __________.

Answer

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.

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Question

Complete this analogy.

Autonomy is to __________ as theocracy is to God.

Answer

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.

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