ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Prefixes from Latin

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin

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

MALODOROUS

Possible Answers:

Sincere

Smelly

Malevolent

Loud

Benevolent

Correct answer:

Smelly

Explanation:

"Malodorous" means bad-smelling. Whenever you see -odor you can guess that the word has something to do with smells, likewise the prefix -mal means bad. To provide further help, "malevolent" means bad-natured, evil; and "benevolent" means good-natured, kind.

Example Question #72 : Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin

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

UNSURPASSED

Possible Answers:

Insipid 

Uncontrollable 

Banal

Uncommitted 

Supreme 

Correct answer:

Supreme 

Explanation:

“Unsurpassed” literally means not taken over, however it is most commonly used to mean best or supreme. To provide further help, “insipid” and “banal” are synonyms and both mean boring, dull, lifeless; "uncommitted" means not interested, casual; “uncontrollable” means not able to be controlled.

Example Question #73 : Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin

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

PRELUDE

Possible Answers:

Epilogue 

Conclusion 

Introduction 

Glossary 

Plot

Correct answer:

Introduction 

Explanation:

The prefix "pre-" means before and is opposite in meaning to the prefix "post-." When you see a world like “prelude,” it is reasonable to assume it means something coming before something else. Indeed, “prelude” means introduction. To provide further help, the “plot” is the sequence of events that take place in a story; the “conclusion” of something is the end of it; the “epilogue” is a part of a story that comes after the end of the main story; and a “glossary” is a list of terms used in a book that are presented with their definitions, usually at the back of a book.

Example Question #121 : Synonyms

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

EXCLAIM

Possible Answers:

Reassure

Declare

Abolish

Duplicate

Portray

Correct answer:

Declare

Explanation:

The Latin root "-claim" here means shout or out loud, so “exclaim” means to cry out loudly. “Abolish” means get rid of; “reassure” means to say something to make someone feel better; “portray” means to depict; and “duplicate” means to copy or to make a second of something.

Example Question #122 : Synonyms

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

CONCUR

Possible Answers:

Announce

Astound

Argue

Amplify

Agree

Correct answer:

Agree

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "con-" means with, so “concur” means to agree with. “Astound” means to surprise someone with something incredible; “announce” means declare or say out loud to many people, and "amplify" means to make stronger or louder.

Example Question #123 : Synonyms

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

INTROVERTED

Possible Answers:

Miserly

Unseemly

Grumpy

Confident

Shy

Correct answer:

Shy

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "intro-" means inward, so someone who is “introverted” is someone who "lives inside him- or herself," or in other words, someone who is shy and quiet. The opposite of being “introverted” is being “extroverted” which means someone who is talkative and likes to be in the company of others. Here, you can see that the prefix "extra-" means outside. The word “confident” means feeling good about yourself and your chances of doing something; “grumpy” means not happy and feeling down and annoyed; “miserly” means not generous with money; and “unseemly” means unattractive or rude.

Example Question #124 : Synonyms

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

ENCLOSE

Possible Answers:

Encroach

Surround

Escape

Provoke

Catalogue

Correct answer:

Surround

Explanation:

The Latin prefix "en-" means inside, so it makes sense that “enclose” means to completely surround something. “Escape” means to successfully run away from; “encroach” means to step into territory that you should not; "provoke" means cause someone to do something, usually bad, often by making them mad; and "catalogue" means make a comprehensive list of a collection of things.

Example Question #125 : Synonyms

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

MORTICIAN

Possible Answers:

Groundbreaker

Director

Author

Undertaker

Magnate

Correct answer:

Undertaker

Explanation:

The Latin root "mort" means death, so a “mortician” is someone who assists with funeral preparations and helps process a burial, or anundertaker." A “magnate” is a successful businessman; a “director” is someone in charge of an organization or someone in charge of making a movie; “author” means writer; and someone who is a “groundbreaker” is someone who does something for the first time, also known as an innovator.

Example Question #126 : Synonyms

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

COMPOSITION

Possible Answers:

Posture

Ambush

Declaration

Equity

Structure

Correct answer:

Structure

Explanation:

The prefix "co-" means together, so it makes sense that “composition” means how something is put together, also known as its makeup or "structure." "Composition" can also mean the act of making something, but none of the answer choices matches this definition. “Declaration” means official announcement; “equity” means the trait of being fair and impartial; “ambush” means a surprise attack; and "posture" means the way in which one carries oneself and sits.

Example Question #127 : Synonyms

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

DETHRONE

Possible Answers:

Foil

Court

Depose

Ridicule

Summon

Correct answer:

Depose

Explanation:

The prefix "de-" means reduce, away, or remove, so it makes sense that “dethrone” means remove from the throne or remove from power. "Depose," which also means remove from a position of power, is thus the correct answer. “Foil” means thwart or prevent; “summon” means send for or call for; “court,” when used as a verb, means pursue or consider; and “ridicule” means mock or bully.

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