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 #31 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

MORPH

Possible Answers:

Rejoice

Unite

Preach

Change

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 #32 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

COMPACT

Possible Answers:

Short

Light

Soft

Dense

Tall

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 #33 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

REFLECT

Possible Answers:

Record

Acknowledge

Discuss

Consider

Supplant

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 #34 : 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

Describe

Revert

Warn

Forget

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 #35 : 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

Philosophy

Weaponry

Society

Medicine

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 #36 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

THERMAL

Possible Answers:

Heat

Velocity

Speed

Mass

Height

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 #37 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

CREED

Possible Answers:

Reputation

Apathy

Belief

Empathy

Naivety

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 #38 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

PORTER

Possible Answers:

Miser

Carrier

Soldier

Mentor

Doctor

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 #39 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

PROLONG

Possible Answers:

Retire

Offend

Extend

Menace

Discover

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 #40 : Synonyms: Using Prefixes To Identify Synonyms

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

SCRIBBLE

Possible Answers:

Complete

Pinch

Write

Squash

Intend

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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