Synonyms: Roots from Latin - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

The Latin root -cess- means go, yield, obtain. So "accessible" means able to be reached, able to be accessed, reachable. Another example of a -cess- word is "exceed" which means to go beyond. Additionally, "fortunate" means lucky; "hapless" means unfortunate, unlucky; "malleable" means flexible, changeable.

The Latin root -vac- means empty, without, as in "vacant" which means empty, not occupied. So, "evacuate" means to remove people from an area, to make an area empty. To provide additional help, "insert" means add to and the other three answer choices are all synonyms they all mean to hint at or propose an idea.

Since "vocation" is a noun that means job or profession we're looking for another noun that also means job. "Task" sounds like it might be the correct answer, but a "task" is a job in the sense of a piece of work to be done, it is not a day-to-day job or profession. "Occupation," on the other hand, means a job or profession, so it is the correct answer.

A "benefactor" is defined as "a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause," so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun, refers to a person, and specifically means "a person who gives help to a cause." "Donor," a noun meaning "a person who donates something, especially money to a fund or charity," is the only answer choice that is similar in meaning to "benefactor," so "donor" is the correct answer.

"Verbose" means overly wordy, so "wordy" is the correct answer.

"Hospitable" means generous and friendly in entertaining guests, so "neighborly" would be the best match, as both words mean friendly.

"Hospitable" means receiving guests warmly and generously. The best choice is "friendly" because it means showing kindness and helpfulness. Someone who receives guests warmly and generously would be acting in a friendly manner toward those guests.

The word "benevolent" means kind and caring. The best choice is "compassionate" because it shares the same definition. Considering the other choices, "violent" means acting with uncontrolled, rough force, "loud" means great in volume, and "ruckus" means noisy commotion.

The word "placid" means calm and peaceful. For example, one might write, "You could see your reflection like a mirror image in the placid lake." So, "calm" is the correct answer.

"Credible" means believable or trustworthy. For example, a newspaper is credible if it has high reporting standards and rarely makes mistakes or reports inaccurate information. So, "trustworthy" is the correct answer.

If you connected the adjective, "pacific," with the Pacific Ocean, you made a proper connection, though it probably didn't help you with the definition, as all of the options could describe that body of water. More helpful would be the related words "pacify" and "peace." These could lead you to connect the word "pacific" with its correct meaning of peaceful and calming.

The Latin root "duct" means to lead. You may, for example, have seen an "aqueduct," which literally "leads water" in a particular direction. Someone or something that is "ductile" is "able to be led," in the sense of being easily influenced or bendable. This is also the meaning of the word "pliant." "Rigid" is an antonym.

A "memento" is a souvenir or a reminder of past events, so "reminder" is the correct answer. To help you, a "catchphrase" is a repeated saying associated with an individual or a character, "rancorous" means unforgiving or angry, and "heretical" means dissenting from the popular or traditional opinion, unorthodox, or going against established religious ideas.

"Beneficial" means useful or helpful, so "helpful" is the correct answer. To help you, "deleterious" is a synonym of harmful, and both words are antonyms of "beneficial." To further help you, "sarcastic" means humorous, ironic and not serious, and "suspicious" means doubtful.

"Pacify" means make calm or bring peace to, so "calm" (here used as a verb) is the correct answer. To help you, "despise" means hate deeply, and "bewilder" and "confound" are synonyms which both mean confuse.

A "neophyte" is someone who is a beginner or a novice, so "novice" is the correct answer. To help you, an "expert" is someone who has a lot of knowledge and experience in a certain area; "expert" is an antonym of "neophyte" and "novice." For further help, "intermediate" means middle or of a difficulty between easy and challenging. Finally, "cathartic" means healing due to allowing one to purge one's negative emotions.

"Vivacious" is defined as animated and gay. This is similar to "lively."

Something that is of "benefit" is something that helps; an advantage. To provide further guidance, an "obstacle" is something that gets in the way, which is also the same thing as a "hindrance;" "barrage means" to attack continuously; a "garrison" is a group of troops left to defend something.

A "benediction" is a blessing, so "blessing" is the correct answer. To provide further help, a "euphemism" is a word or phrase used in place of a rude or offensive term, a "utopia" is an ideal paradise, whereas a "dystopia" is a world in which everything has gone wrong and the opposite of a "utopia."