All ISEE Upper Level Verbal Resources
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.
IMPOSE
Inquire
Place
Overcome
Force
Rest
Force
For this word, there are two parts that are helpful in coming up with a general meaning of the word, though you must be careful. The “im-” prefix is really the form of “in,” though it changes here because of the way we pronounce “n” when it is followed by “p.” Sometimes “in” can also meanonwhen used as a prefix. The “-pose” is related to “position,” here meaning something liketo place; therefore, we can think of “impose" as beingto place upon.Now, to force someone to do something is to place something on them (or to “foist” it on them). It should be noted that “impose” does add an additional shade meaning implying that this imposing is also something of an infliction or a penalty.
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.
EXCLAIM
Shout
Swear
Interrupt
Berate
Opine
Shout
The word “exclaim” literally meansto shout out.The “ex-” prefix is likely familiar, being taken from the Latin foroutorout of.The “-claim” portion is related to words like “clamor” and “proclaim.” It comes from the Latin forto callin the sense ofto call out.When someone “exclaims” something, he or sheshouts it out,often in anger or surprise.For instance, upon unexpectedly discovering an answer, one might exclaim, “Eureka!”
Example Question #1 :Synonyms: Prefixes From Latin
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
INGRESS
Private
Interior
Discredit
Entryway
Insult
Entryway
The word “ingress” is perhaps a bit strange looking, but you can infer its meaning from two relatively well known bases. The prefix “in-” merely meansinorinto.While the “-gress” may seem unknown, think of words like “progress” or “digress.” The “-gress” in these words comes from the Latin word forto step.“年级”和“渐进”都来自this same base. Literally speaking, an “ingress” is a “going in” or—more appropriate for our word choices—the means of going in.For this reason, it often means merely “door,” “entrance,” or “entryway.”
Example Question #3 :Using Prefixes, Suffixes, And Roots To Identify Synonyms
Answer the following question by selecting the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the word in capital letters.
PRESCIENCE
malediction
omniscience
maelstrom
juxtaposition
modicum
omniscience
"Prescience" and "omniscience" both meanforesight."Juxtaposition" meansadjacency or positioning side-by-side."Malediction" meanscurse or damnation."Maelstrom" meansagitation or chaos."Modicum" meansa bit or small amount.
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.
CONSTITUTION
lawyer
altercation
document
argument
health
health
有可能,你觉得“宪法”这个词is used to describe the founding document of the United States or another country. The word is literally derived from a prefix meaning “with”—as found in “concur” as well as “community” (in the “com-” form of that prefix)—and the base coming fromto standorto set up.宪法的东西是它的方式has been established as a whole, that is, how it is composed. Because of this meaning, the term is at times used to describe the state of health that someone experiences. For instance, someone might say, “He did not have a strong constitution but, instead, was always getting sick.”
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.
REPOSE
Burial
Death
Rest
Overthrow
Question
Rest
The word “repose” is related to words like “impose,” “depose,” and “suppose,” all of which have the base “-pose,” which is related to “position” or “place.” While “repose” does not meanto place back, as one would expect from the “re-” prefix, it does take on a stronger sense of “positioning” or “placement,” meaningrest.Used as a verb, it can meanto be resting or sitting in a single location.It likewise can be used figuratively sense of placing (for example) one’s trust in someone else. Sometimes, you will hear people speak of burying a body as placing that person in “final repose”—that is, in his or her “final resting place.”
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.
TRANSITION
Regress
Termination
Alteration
Dismissal
Oversight
Alteration
“t”这个词ransition” is taken from two familiar components, though you might not see the second component at first sight. The prefix “trans-” meansacross.When someone “translates” something, he or she “carries” it from one language to another. Likewise, “transferring” is the sending or carrying of something “across from one person or place to another.” The “-ition” is related to the small “-it” in “exit.” It meansto go, and “exit” meansto go out.A “transition” is agoing across from one place, quality, etc. to another.Better stated, it meansa change from one thing to another."Alteration" is thus the answer choice closest in meaning to "transition."
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.
PREDICT
Invoke
Foretell
Remark
Announce
Love
Foretell
The word “predict” is very familiar, but let us be careful not to associate it with incorrect meanings (such as “announce” or even “invoke”).
The word is clearly composed of two parts—“pre-” and “-dict.” The former meansbefore(in the temporal sense). The latter meansto speak or say.It is related to many English words like “diction,” “dictation,” “valedictorian,” and “edict.”
To "predict" something is tostate that something will happen in the future, often as the consequence of something else.To make a pop cultural reference, think of how many people “predict the outcome of the football game.” This means that they try to declare who will be the winner—before the competition even takes place. The word “foretell” merely comes from different roots—clearly meaningto tell before.
Example Question #8 :Synonyms: Roots
Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
ACQUIT
Sentence
Imprision
Ignore
Judge
Exonerate
Exonerate
When someone is “acquitted” of an action, he or she is “forgiven” or set free from any sort of charges of that action. For instance, someone “acquitted of murder” is judged to be innocent of the crime. The word “exonerate” best matches this usage. It meansto remove blame officially.Literally, it is derived from the Latin meaningto lift the burden from someone.The “-onerate” portion of the word means “burden,” while (as you likely know) “ex-” meansout oforaway from.The word is related to “onerous,” meaningburdensome or difficult.
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.
DEPOSE
inquire
hate
toss
contemn
overthrow
overthrow
When someone is “deposed,” he or she is removed from a position or office in a forceful manner. For instance, one could say, “The insurgents deposed the sitting government and replaced it with their own officers.” The word comes from the prefix “de-,” meaningdown from, and “-pose,” meaningto place(as related to “position”). Therefore, "depose" literally meansto place down (from its original place).Think of “tearing someone down” from his or her throne. Of all the options, the word “overthrow” matches most closely. Note that a “deposition” might also mean the giving of evidence in court.
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