All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
PESTICIDE
Insect killer
Rat feeder
Insect tracker
Rat tracker
Insect feeder
Insect killer
The suffix "-cide" means related to killing and the prefix "pest-" means related to pests, such as insects or rats. In this instance, since there is no option for “rat killer” the correct answer is “insect killer.”
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.
ANGLOPHONE
Good-humored
English-speaking
Cell phone
Ill-equipped
Fishing trip
English-speaking
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 #2 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
XENOPHOBIA
Sway
Rescind
Careful
Prejudice
Prejudice
"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 #3 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
GRAPHOLOGY
Study of writing
Study of statistics
Study of man
Study of chemical reactions
Study of language
Study of writing
The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.
Example Question #4 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
ARACHNOPHOBIA
Fear of old age
Fear of spiders
Fear of babies
Fear of people
Fear of animals
Fear of spiders
The suffix "-phobia" means fear of and the prefix "arachno-" means related to spiders, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders.
Example Question #5 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of mankind
The study of art
The study of rock formations
The study of ants
The study of mammals
The study of mankind
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 #6 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Greek
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EGOMANIA
Self-loathing
Self-interest
Self-sacrifice
Self-obsession
Self-serving
Self-obsession
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.
Example Question #1 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Anglo Saxon
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
FORMLESS
Shapely
Inconsistent
Amorphous
Opaque
Gaseous
Amorphous
Stay as close as possible to the original word, for there are many tempting wrong answers. When something is "formless," it has no definite shape. This certainly is the case for "gaseous" things (since they are "gas like"). Also, "inconsistent" speech is lacking the general form that speech should have. That is, it lacks proper consistency. The word "amorphous" literally means without form. The word "morph" means take on a new form or shape. The prefix "a-" means without, as in "atypical," meaning not typical or without features that are typical.
Example Question #2 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Anglo Saxon
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
LOATHSOME
Brilliant
Senile
Sleazy
Joyful
Hateful
Hateful
"Loathsome" means deserving of hatred or repulsive, so "hateful" is the correct answer, as "hateful" can mean deserving hatred. To help you, "senile" means physically and/or mentally weakened with age, someone who is "sleazy" is gross and immoral, and "joyful" means very happy.
Example Question #3 : Synonyms: Suffixes From Anglo Saxon
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CHURLISH
Argumentative
Solid
Pampered
Rude
Childish
Rude
"Churlish" means rude. The best choice is "rude" since it is a part of the definition of "churlish." Considering the other choices, "childish" means immature, "congealed" means changed into a solid state, and "fusty" means old-fashioned.
All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
