ISEE Lower Level Verbal : Synonyms: Using Prefixes to Identify Synonyms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Lower Level Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

MORPH

Possible Answers:

Preach

Change

Rejoice

Unite

Suffer

Correct answer:

Change

Explanation:

The prefix morph- means shape. So, to "morph" literally means to change shape. Additionally, "suffer" means feel pain; "rejoice" means celebrate, draw happiness from; "unite" means bring together, join, connect; "preach" means deliver a speech to a group of people, particularly a religious message

Example Question #52 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

COMPACT

Possible Answers:

Light

Soft

Tall

Short

Dense

Correct answer:

Dense

Explanation:

The prefixes con-, and com- mean with, together. As in "convene," which means meet, come together to discuss. So, "compact" means something like pushed together or "dense." If you need further help, "dense" means thick, tightly packed together.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

REFLECT

Possible Answers:

Discuss

Record

Acknowledge

Supplant

Consider

Correct answer:

Consider

Explanation:

The prefix re- means back or again. As in "respond," which means say something back, in reply. So, "reflect" means to think back on. This is closest in meaning to "consider." Additionally, "supplant" means replace; "discuss" means talk about; "acknowledge" means recognize, notice

Example Question #32 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FORETELL

Possible Answers:

Remember

Revert

Forget

Warn

Describe

Correct answer:

Warn

Explanation:

The prefix fore- means before. As in "forerunner," which means something that comes before something else. So, to "foretell" means to predict, to warn. All the other answer choices are things you do after an event. So, for example, "revert" means to change back to an earlier state.

Example Question #33 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

ARMS

Possible Answers:

Anatomy

Medicine

Philosophy

Society

Weaponry

Correct answer:

Weaponry

Explanation:

The prefix arm- means weapon, war. As in "disarm," which means to make safe, to take a weapon away from. So, "arms" are weapons or weaponry. Additionally, "society" is the name given to a group of people; "philosophy" is the study of the essential nature of things, literally the love of wisdom; "anatomy" is the area of science that studies the body structure of living beings.

Example Question #34 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

THERMAL

Possible Answers:

Height

Mass

Velocity

Heat

Speed

Correct answer:

Heat

Explanation:

The prefix therm- means hot, heat. As in "thermometer," which is something used to measure temperature. "Thermal" means related to heat, so the best answer choice here is of course "heat." Additionally, "mass" refers to the weight of something (in the science classroom the definition is a little more complicated, but for the purposes of practical vocabulary "mass" and "weight" are the same). Finally, "velocity" refers to speed

Example Question #1133 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

CREED

Possible Answers:

Empathy

Naivety

Apathy

Reputation

Belief

Correct answer:

Belief

Explanation:

The prefix cred- means believe. As in "incredible," which literally means unbelievable, too amazing to be easily believed. So, a "creed" is a belief. Additionally, "empathy" is the ability to feel what others are feeling; "apathy" is not caring; "naivety" is believing everything, being too easily convinced by others; your "reputation" is what others believe to be true about you, how others think of you.

Example Question #1134 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PORTER

Possible Answers:

Miser

Soldier

Mentor

Doctor

Carrier

Correct answer:

Carrier

Explanation:

The prefix port- means carry or move. As in "transport," which means to move from one place to another. So, a "porter" is a carrier, someone who carries something. Additionally, a "miser" is someone who is not generous with money; a "mentor" is someone who guides someone else.

Example Question #1135 : Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PROLONG

Possible Answers:

Discover

Menace

Extend

Retire

Offend

Correct answer:

Extend

Explanation:

The prefix pro- means forward. So, to "prolong" means to extend, to extend something forward into the future. Additionally, to "discover" means to find; to "offend" means to upset someone, to cause anger; "menace" means threaten, scare; to "retire" means to stop doing something, often to stop working.

Example Question #31 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

SCRIBBLE

Possible Answers:

Write

Squash

Intend

Pinch

Complete

Correct answer:

Write

Explanation:

The prefix scrib- means write. As in "scribe" which means writer. So, "scribble" means to doodle, to write messily. This is, of course, closest in meaning to "write." Additionally, "complete" means finish; to "intend" means to mean to do, to deliberately do.

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