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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

INTERIOR

Possible Answers:

Pensive

Outgoing

Complete

Amplified

Inside

Correct answer:

Inside

Explanation:

The prefix "in-" here means inside, so the word “interior” means having to do with or located inside of something, making "inside" the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

EXTRACT

Possible Answers:

Inter

Persuade

Remove

Expect

Applaud

Correct answer:

Remove

Explanation:

The prefix "ex-" can mean out, so it makes sense that "extract" means pull out of someone or something. For example, if one of your teeth became infected, you would probably have a dentist extract the infected tooth—that is, pull it out. Just because "expect" and "extract" both begin with "ex-" doesn't mean they are synonyms—in "expect," the "ex-" isn't functioning to mean out; it just intensifies another root's meaning. (To "inter" something or someone is to bury that thing or person.)

Example Question #2 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

IRRESPONSIBLE

Possible Answers:

Mature

Gigantic

Immense

Miniature

Immature

Correct answer:

Immature

Explanation:

The prefixes "ir-" and "im-" mean not, so it makes sense that "irresponsible" means not responsible and “immature” means not mature. If you are “responsible,” you are mature and dependable. “Immense” means massive or very large. “Immense” is a synonym of “gigantic,” and an antonym of “miniature.” “Gigantic” means very big and “miniature” means very small.

Example Question #4 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

SUPERIOR

Possible Answers:

Worst

Lost

Worse

Found

Better

Correct answer:

Better

Explanation:

The prefix "super-" means better or best, so it makes sense that “superior” means better than something else. If you really like chocolate chip cookies, you might claim that they are "superior to" all other kinds of cookies.

Example Question #3 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

NONFICTIONAL

Possible Answers:

False

True

Fraudulent

Adapted

Mocking

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

The prefix "non-" means not, so “nonfictional” describes a story that is not fictional, or in other words, true and based on things that really existed or happened. Something that is “false” is not true; an “adapted” means transferred from one medium to another, e.g. a movie adaptation of a book; “mocking” means ridiculing and taunting; and “fraudulent” means pretending to be authentic while actually being inauthentic.

Example Question #4 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

PREPARED

Possible Answers:

Ready

Fortunate

Desolate

Unintentional

Emergency

Correct answer:

Ready

Explanation:

The prefix "pre-" means before, so it makes sense that "prepared" means ready for something before it happens or having been made before needed. "Ready" is thus the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "desolate" means uninhabited and stark; "fortunate" means lucky; "unintentional" means not done on purpose or unwitting; and "emergency," when used as an adjective, means reserved for use during emergencies.

Example Question #5 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

POSTPONE

Possible Answers:

Intend

Dispel

Commence

Desire

Delay

Correct answer:

Delay

Explanation:

The prefix "post-" means after or behind, so it makes sense that "postpone" means delay, especially until a defined time after something occurs. As for the other answer choices, “commence” means begin or start up; “intend” means purposely mean to do something; “desire” means want; and “dispel” means get rid of some type of bad feeling.

Example Question #6 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

MISBEHAVE

Possible Answers:

Uncover

Declare

Discover

Disobey

Adhere

Correct answer:

Disobey

Explanation:

The prefix "mis-" can mean not or wrong, so it makes sense that to "misbehave" means to behave badly or to do the wrong thing, or “disobey.” As for the other answer choices, "adhere" means listen to or obey when used in the context of rules, and stick to when used in the context of physical materials; “discover” means find or find out; “uncover” means show, reveal, or bring out from hiding; and "declare" means state or make known.

Example Question #9 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

OPTIMUM

Possible Answers:

Best

Primary

Least

Worst

Secondary

Correct answer:

Best

Explanation:

The “optimum” thing in a group of things or set of choices is is the best one. “Primary” means coming first in a sequence or most important and “secondary” means coming second in a sequence or of lesser importance than other things.

Example Question #7 : Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms

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

EXTRAORDINARY

Possible Answers:

Incredible

Unique

Persistent

Despicable

Pitiable

Correct answer:

Incredible

Explanation:

The prefix "extra-" means beyond, so it makes sense that “extraordinary” means beyond ordinary, or "incredible." As for the other answer choices, “unique” means one-of-a-kind or different; “despicable” means evil or terrible and thus deserving to be hated; "persistent" means stubborn or continuing; and "pitiable" means evoking emotions of feeling sorry for something or someone.

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