ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Synonyms: Suffixes from Greek

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #241 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

ANGLOPHONE

Possible Answers:

Ill-equipped

Fishing trip

Good-humored

Cell phone

English-speaking

Correct answer:

English-speaking

Explanation:

An "anglophone" is someone who speaks English. The prefix anglo- always suggets at a relationship between the word and England, and the suffix -phone relates to language or speaking. To provide further help, "ill-equipped" means not prepared.

Example Question #242 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

XENOPHOBIA

Possible Answers:

Prejudice

Rescind

Sway

Careful

Correct answer:

Prejudice

Explanation:

"Xenophobia" is unreasonable hatred of strangers or foreigners. The best choice is "prejudice" because it means unreasonable feelings, typically negative, towards a particular thing, person, or group. Considering the other choices, "rescind" means take back, "sway" means move back and forth, and "careful" means cautious.

Example Question #243 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

GRAPHOLOGY

Possible Answers:

Study of chemical reactions

Study of statistics

Study of language

Study of man

Study of writing

Correct answer:

Study of writing

Explanation:

The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.

Example Question #244 : Synonyms

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

ARACHNOPHOBIA

Possible Answers:

Fear of old age

Fear of animals

Fear of babies

Fear of people

Fear of spiders

Correct answer:

Fear of spiders

Explanation:

The suffix "-phobia" means fear of and the prefix "arachno-" means related to spiders, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders.

Example Question #245 : Synonyms

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

ANTHROPOLOGY

Possible Answers:

The study of mammals 

The study of art 

The study of rock formations

The study of mankind

The study of ants

Correct answer:

The study of mankind

Explanation:

The root "anthro-" or "andro­-" means having to do with man. Also, the suffix "-ology" means the study of (something), so we can assume correctly that “anthropology” is the study of mankind.

Example Question #246 : Synonyms

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

EGOMANIA

Possible Answers:

Self-loathing

Self-serving

Self-interest

Self-sacrifice

Self-obsession

Correct answer:

Self-obsession

Explanation:

The Latin root "ego" means self, and the suffix "-mania" means excessive or madness, so “egomania” is excessive love of oneself, or “self-obsession.” “Self-loathing” is hating oneself; “self-interest” is what one wants, without caring about how others feel; “self-serving” means having concern for one’s own prosperity and interests above others; and “self-sacrifice” is the opposite of “self-serving” and “self-interest"; it means placing other people's needs and desires above one's own.

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