Synonyms: Roots from Greek

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ISEE › Synonyms: Roots from Greek

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

IDYLLIC

Peaceful

Perfect

Epic

Gregarious

Flawless

Explanation

When something is “idyllic,” it is peaceful or picturesque. The word indirectly comes from the Greek “eidos” meaning form, idea, or picture. Do not confuse “idyllic” with words related to “ideal” in the sense of meaning perfect or best. The best option is “peaceful,” which is most directly related to the definition of “idyllic.”

2

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

COSMOPOLITAN

Multicultural

Arrogant

Wealthy

Vain

Conceited

Explanation

When a person is “cosmopolitan,” he or she is at ease in any culture in the world. The word itself is derived from Greek roots with which you are likely familiar. The “cosmo-” portion comes from the Greek for “world or order.” The “-politan” is related to meanings like “city” and “citizen.” You have experienced this word in “politics” and “politician.” Someone who is “cosmopolitan” is “a citizen of the world.”

3

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

HYDRATE

Drink

Sprint

Stumble

Amble

Vie

Explanation

The root "hydro" means having to do with water, so to “hydrate” is to “drink” water. “Sprint” means run quickly; “amble” means walk slowly; “stumble” means fall over; and “vie” means compete.

4

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

SOPHISTRY

Fallacy

Scholastic

Intellectual

Worldly

Cosmopolitan

Explanation

The word “sophistry” is related to the word for wisdom, Sophia, which is found in words like “sophisticated” and “philosophy,” but it is not here used in a positive sense whatsoever. Sophistry conveys the idea that someone is using reasoning in a manner that is not truly honest or correct in order to make misleading arguments. A “fallacy” in logic is a mistake (either intended or unintended) that causes the reasoning to end in an incorrect conclusion. Among the options provided, this is the only word that approaches the meaning of “sophistry.”

5

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

MISANTHROPIC

Antisocial

Disinclined

Impassive

Eccentric

Heinous

Explanation

This word's component parts give you clues as to its meaning: "mis-" is a negative prefix, and "-anthropic" includes the root "anthro," derived from the Greek word for "man." “Misanthropic” thus means disliking people and doing everything possible to avoid people. This is closest in meaning to “antisocial,” which means not social and avoiding people. As for the other answer choices, “disinclined” means not inclined and thus not likely; “impassive” means not caring and not showing emotion; “eccentric” means weird and unconventional; “heinous” means wicked and evil.

6

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

EUPHONIOUS

Pleasant-sounding

Discordant

Harsh

Superfluous

Sensual

Explanation

The prefix "eu-" means good and "-phon-" means sound, so it makes sense that “euphonious” means sounding nice, mellow, and sweet, or "pleasant-sounding."As for the other answer choices, “harsh” means unpleasant, rough and grating; “discordant” means disagreeing or contradictory; “sensual” means relating to, or pleasing to, the senses; and “superfluous” means nonessential.

7

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

MIMIC

Repeat

Quell

Scribe

Juvenile

Larceny

Explanation

The best synonym is "repeat." Mimic comes from the Greek root "mim," which means to repeat or copy.

8

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

EGALITARIAN

Democratic

Academic

Oligarchical

Political

Divided

Explanation

The word "egalitarian" comes from roots meaning equal. When a society is egalitarian, it treats all of its members as equals and tries to acknowledge this. The best option among those provided here is "democratic." This does not have to do directly with the current American political party that goes by this name. Instead, "democratic" is based on a particular Greek notion of one kind of government that bases itself on the equality of all the people. None of the other options express this kind of egalitarianism.

9

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

UTOPIAN

Visionary

Robotic

Bombastic

Frightening

Cynical

Explanation

The word “utopia” is used to describe a perfect place with no problems. For instance, someone might imagine a perfect city like Plato did in his Republic. This was perhaps a beautiful idea, but it was practically impossible. This practical impossibility is almost always part of a “utopia.” Someone who is “utopian” is idealistic and somewhat “visionary” in the sense of proposing large, ambitious plans. (Hence, the plans are a lot like a utopia.) Interestingly, the word “utopia” was coined by Thomas More, who wrote the text Utopia, describing just such a city. Its name was a play on words. The “u-” prefix means not. Thus a “utopia” is a “non-place.” It does not and cannot exist. However, the “eu-” prefix means good (as in “euphony” and “eulogy”). A utopia looks good, but it does not exist.

10

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

HYDRATE

Drink

Sprint

Stumble

Amble

Vie

Explanation

The root "hydro" means having to do with water, so to “hydrate” is to “drink” water. “Sprint” means run quickly; “amble” means_walk slowly_; “stumble” means fall over; and “vie” means compete.

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