ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Suffixes from Greek
Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.
XENOPHOBIA
Prejudice
Rescind
Sway
Careful
"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.
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
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.
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
The prefix "graph-" means writing and the suffix "-ology" means study of, so “graphology” is the study of writing.
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
The suffix "-phobia" means fear of and the prefix "arachno -" means related to spiders, so “arachnophobia” is a fear of spiders.
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
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.
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
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.