Synonyms: Suffixes from Greek

Help Questions

ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Suffixes from Greek

Questions 1 - 6
1

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

XENOPHOBIA

Prejudice

Rescind

Sway

Careful

Explanation

"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.

2

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 mammals

The study of rock formations

The study of ants

Explanation

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.

3

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

GRAPHOLOGY

Study of writing

Study of statistics

Study of language

Study of man

Study of chemical reactions

Explanation

The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.

4

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

ARACHNOPHOBIA

Fear of spiders

Fear of animals

Fear of people

Fear of old age

Fear of babies

Explanation

The suffix "-phobia" means fear of and the prefix "arachno -" means related to spiders, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders.

5

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

EGOMANIA

Self-obsession

Self-loathing

Self-interest

Self-sacrifice

Self-serving

Explanation

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.

6

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

ANGLOPHONE

English-speaking

Cell phone

Fishing trip

Good-humored

Ill-equipped

Explanation

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.

Return to subject