ISEE Middle Level Verbal : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

CONVENE

Possible Answers:

Abolish 

Meet

Deny 

Abject 

Suspend 

Correct answer:

Meet

Explanation:

"Convene" means meet up or begin, so "meet" is the correct answer. To help you, "abolish" means get rid of, "suspend" means pause, "deny" means refuse, and "abject" means hopeless and miserable.

Example Question #62 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

ABDICATE

Possible Answers:

abolish

descend

relinquish

atheist

despair

Correct answer:

relinquish

Explanation:

“Abdicate” means to give up the throne, to relinquish the throne. It can mean to relinquish any authority, but is most commonly linked to a King giving up power. The prefix ab- means to move away from, to give away, as seen in “abdicate” and “abstract,” which means away from the normal, not related to concrete objects. To provide further help, “abolish” means get rid of; “descend” means go down; “despair” means feel sad and hopeless, go down emotionally; an “atheist” is someone who does not believe in God.

Example Question #63 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

OBVIATE

Possible Answers:

Apparent

Wanton

Preclude

Recede

Secede

Correct answer:

Preclude

Explanation:

The prefix ob- means in the way of, against. The word “obviate” means to make something unnecessary, to prevent something from happening. As such, it is closest in meaning to “preclude” which means to stop something from happening. To provide further help, “secede” means pull out of an union; “recede” means go back; “wanton” means random; “apparent” means obvious

Example Question #111 : Synonyms

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

DECIPHER

Possible Answers:

Explain

Unhinge

Dispute

Decode

Reveal

Correct answer:

Decode

Explanation:

"Decipher" means derive information from something that is encoded. Therefore, the synonym is "decode."

Example Question #64 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

POSTPONE

Possible Answers:

delay

commence

aggravate

insinuate

pugnacious

Correct answer:

delay

Explanation:

“Postpone” means to delay. The prefix post- ought to have been a clue here, because it means after. To provide further help, “commence” means begin; “pugnacious” means aggressive and determined; “aggravate” means make worse; “insinuate” means to imply an accusation, to suggest someone has done something wrong.

Example Question #65 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

INDUCE

Possible Answers:

Stimulate 

Sanctify 

Discern

Inculcate 

Indulge 

Correct answer:

Stimulate 

Explanation:

The suffix "-duce" means to lead to, to cause, so the word “induce” means to cause a reaction, to lead to action. It is most similar in definition to “stimulate,” which means to cause to happen, to inspire to action. To provide further help, “discern” means tell the difference, distinguish; “sanctify” means make holy; to “indulge” is to allow to have something pleasurable; “inculcate” means to instill, to teach through repetition.

Example Question #66 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

DISINGENUOUS

Possible Answers:

Mettlesome

Deceitful

Candid

Purloined

Buoyant

Correct answer:

Deceitful

Explanation:

"Disingenuous" is an adjective meaning "not truly honest or sincere" or "giving the false appearance of being honest or sincere," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is also an adjective and means something like "not honest." While "candid" may look like a potentially correct answer because it has to do with truth, "candid" actually means "truthful and straightforward; frank," so it is an antonym of "disingenuous" and cannot be the correct answer. "Deceitful," however, means "guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others," so "deceitful" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "disingenuous."

Example Question #67 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

DISINTERESTED

Possible Answers:

Humble

Boring

Partial

Meaningful

Unbiased

Correct answer:

Unbiased

Explanation:

"Disinterested" is an adjective that can mean either "not influenced by personal feelings, opinions, or concerns" or "having no desire to know about a particular thing : not interested." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not influenced by emotions" or "not interested." "Partial," then, cannot be the correct answer because "partial" means " favoring one side in a dispute above the other; biased," making it an antonym of "disinterested." "Unbiased," however, is an adjective that means "showing no prejudice for or against something; impartial," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "disinterested," "unbiased" is the correct answer.

Example Question #68 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

MALEVOLENT

Possible Answers:

Laden

Good

Gaunt

Virtuous

Evil

Correct answer:

Evil

Explanation:

"Malevolent" is the direct antonym of "benevolent." Whilst "benevolent" means good-natured, "malevolent" means bad-natured or evil and wicked. So, "evil" is the correct answer. To help you, "virtuous" is a synonym of "benevolent," "gaunt" means very skinny to the point of ill-health, and "laden" means burdened.

Example Question #69 : Synonyms: Prefixes

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

DISARRAY

Possible Answers:

Concession

Migration

Trek

Disorder

Bias

Correct answer:

Disorder

Explanation:

"Disarray" means disorder or chaos, so "disorder" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "disarray": "migration" is the annual journey animals make from one area to another; "trek" is a long and often difficult journey; "concession" is something given up, usually in a compromise or negotiation; and "bias" means prejudice or partiality.

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