All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #17 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PRESERVE
Donate
Maintain
Supplant
Demand
Lend
Maintain
The Latin suffix -serv means to keep, to save. So, "preserve" means to save something for the future, to maintain something. To provide additional help, "donate" means give to, usually give to charity; "lend" means allow to borrow; "supplant" means replace.
Example Question #18 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
CONSTRUCT
Lift
Build
Drive
Destroy
Plead
Build
The Latin root -struct- means build. So, to "construct" means to build. Another example of a -struct- word is "destruct," which means to destroy something that has been built. Additionally, "plead" means beg, urge.
Example Question #234 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
PERSONIFY
Symbolize
Customize
Humanize
Aggressive
Elate
Symbolize
Notice the little ending on the word "personify." The "-fy" suffix is part of a large family of suffixes and "infixes" (little parts that come inside of words) such as "-fication," "-fac-," and so forth. In general, "-fy" means to do or to make. To "personify" something is to make it a person. Okay, that is a bit strange. But what it means is that one thing makes another thing present in some way. It represents that other thing. Thus, if we say, "Peter personified the very essence of greed," this means that Peter made present the very essence of greed in his person. Thus, "symbolize" is an excellent option.
Example Question #235 : Synonyms
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
EFFICIENT
Productive
Renowned
Expensive
Swift
Rapid
Productive
We tend to think of efficient people as being quick at what they do. This is often the case, but the word "efficient" is above all about being able to get things done. It comes from the same Latin root from which we get the suffix "-fy" / "-fication" and several other related forms. All of these mean to do or make. Thus, it is best to use the word "efficient" to refer to someone who is "productive." If a project is just very slow-going, an efficient person may therefore move slowly through the work. However, so long as he or she does it in a productive manner, he or she deserves to be called "efficient."
Example Question #236 : Synonyms
Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
PESTICIDE
Insect feeder
Rat feeder
Insect tracker
Insect killer
Rat tracker
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 #21 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.
ANGLOPHONE
English-speaking
Good-humored
Fishing trip
Ill-equipped
Cell phone
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 #22 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
XENOPHOBIA
Sway
Rescind
Prejudice
Careful
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 #23 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
GRAPHOLOGY
Study of statistics
Study of chemical reactions
Study of language
Study of writing
Study of man
Study of writing
The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.
Example Question #24 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.
ARACHNOPHOBIA
Fear of babies
Fear of animals
Fear of people
Fear of spiders
Fear of old age
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 #25 : Synonyms: Suffixes
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of ants
The study of rock formations
The study of art
The study of mankind
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.
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All ISEE Middle Level Verbal Resources
