Suffixes Lesson Test for Word Knowledge

Answer: C

Correct answer: never weary. Tireless is tire (grow weary) plus -less (without), so it describes someone who does not wear out: never weary.

• A: Sleepy describes having tiredness, the opposite of what the -less ending signals.
• B: This reverses the meaning; -less removes tiredness rather than adding it.
• C (correct): The base tire (to grow weary) plus -less (without) gives without weariness, which matches never weary.
• D: Careless shares the -less ending but uses a different base, so it means lacking care, not lacking fatigue.

Answer: D

Correct answer: stability. The suffix -ness turns the adjective steady into a noun meaning the quality of being steady. The noun that names that quality is stability.

• A: Stubbornness is a refusal to change one's mind; it is a different quality from physical or emotional steadiness.
• B: Wobbling is the opposite condition, an absence of steadiness.
• C: Haste means hurry, which has no connection to the base steady.
• D (correct): Steady plus -ness forms a noun for the quality of being steady, which is stability.

Answer: B

Correct answer: fragile. Break is the base and -able means able to be, so breakable means able to be broken. Fragile carries that same meaning.

• A: Sturdy means hard to damage, which is the opposite of the meaning.
• B (correct): Break plus -able means able to be broken, and fragile means easily broken.
• C: Repairable means able to be fixed; it keeps the -able ending but changes the base action.
• D: Broken describes something already damaged; -able signals only that it could be broken.

Answer: B

Correct answer: examiner. The ending -or attached to the verb inspect names a person who performs that action. A person who inspects is an examiner.

• A: A builder is a doer of a different action; the base here is inspect, not build.
• B (correct): Inspect plus the agent ending -or names a person who inspects, which is an examiner.
• C: Inspection is the act of inspecting, an action noun, not the person who does it.
• D: Suspect looks similar at the start but names a person under suspicion, not one who examines.

Answer: C

Correct answer: cleanse. The verb ending -ify means to make, so purify means to make pure. The verb with that meaning is cleanse.

• A: Preserve means to keep something from spoiling, which does not require making it cleaner.
• B: Pure is an adjective; purify is a verb, so the word class does not match.
• C (correct): Pure plus -ify means to make pure, and cleanse means to make clean.
• D: Contaminate means to make impure, the opposite action.

Answer: A

Correct answer: brave. The ending -ous forms an adjective meaning having the quality named by the base. Having courage means being brave.

• A (correct): Courage plus -ous means having courage, which is brave.
• B: Courage is the noun base; courageous is an adjective, so the word class does not match.
• C: Cautious shares the -ous ending but means careful to avoid risk, which is a different quality.
• D: Fearful means full of fear, the opposite quality.

Answer: A

Correct answer: broaden. The ending -en turns the adjective wide into a verb meaning make or become wider. Broaden is the verb with that meaning.

• A (correct): Wide plus -en means to make wider, and broaden means the same.
• B: Width is a noun naming a measurement, while widen is a verb.
• C: Deepen also uses -en but on a different base, so it means to make deeper, not wider.
• D: Narrow means to make less wide, the opposite change.

Answer: C

Correct answer: resolution. Settle plus -ment forms a noun for the act or result of settling. Because the sentence speaks of a dispute, the fitting sense is resolution, not the community sense of the word.

• A: An argument is the dispute itself, not the act of ending it.
• B: The talks took time, but settlement names their outcome, not a postponement.
• C (correct): Settle plus -ment names the result of settling, and settling a dispute produces a resolution.
• D: Settlement can name a small community, but that sense does not fit a dispute that is being resolved.

Answer: B

Correct answer: shortage. The base is scarce (in short supply) and -ity forms a noun for that condition. The need to ration supplies confirms the meaning is a shortage.

• A: Scarcity looks like it contains scare, but its base is scarce, so it has nothing to do with fear.
• B (correct): Scarce plus -ity names the condition of being scarce, which is a shortage, and the rationing confirms it.
• C: Purity is a different -ity quality noun that describes how clean the water is, not how much there is.
• D: Abundance means a large supply, the opposite condition; nobody rations what is plentiful.

Answer: C

Correct answer: earth scientist. The ending -ist names a person who practices a field, so a geologist is someone who studies geology. The sentence confirms the person is studying how rock and land formed: an earth scientist.

• A: Geology is the field of study; the -ist ending names a person who practices it.
• B: A skilled stonemason cuts and lays stone for building, which is a trade rather than scientific study.
• C (correct): Geology plus -ist names a person who studies the earth and its rocks, an earth scientist.
• D: A maker of maps draws maps; studying how rock layers formed is a different job.

Answer: C

Correct answer: hopefulness. Words ending in -ism often name an outlook or system of belief, while -ist names a person. Optimism is a hopeful outlook, which the sentence shows by its effect on the players.

• A: A strategy is a plan; the sentence describes the coach's attitude, not a game plan.
• B: Gloominess is a pessimistic mood, which would not keep players working hard.
• C (correct): The -ism ending names an attitude or outlook, and an optimistic outlook is hopefulness.
• D: Optimist names a person with a hopeful outlook; optimism is the outlook itself.

Answer: D

Correct answer: period of training. The ending -ship turns a role into a status or period, as in leadership or friendship. Apprenticeship is the time spent as an apprentice, so the sentence describes a period of training.

• A: Apprentice names the learner herself, not the status or period she is in.
• B: A workshop is a place; the sentence uses the word for a span of time.
• C: Graduation marks the end of training, not the training period itself.
• D (correct): Apprentice plus -ship names the status or period of being an apprentice, a period of training.

Answer: D

Correct answer: instructive. Inform plus -ive forms an adjective meaning tending to inform. A brochure that answers questions is instructive.

• A: Decorative describes appearance, not the useful content the sentence stresses.
• B: Confusing contradicts the sentence, since the brochure answered the questions.
• C: Informal looks similar but means casual, not supplying facts.
• D (correct): Inform plus -ive describes something that provides information, which is instructive.

Answer: A

Correct answer: aged. Elderly describes the noun neighbor, so it is an adjective even though it ends in -ly. Its meaning is old in years, so aged is the closest match.

• A (correct): Elderly is an adjective despite its -ly ending and describes a person who is old, which is aged.
• B: Slowly is an adverb of manner; elderly here describes the noun neighbor and is an adjective.
• C: Early relates to time of day, which matches each morning but not the word elderly.
• D: Kindly may describe a pleasant neighbor, but it says nothing about the person's age.

Answer: A

Correct answer: update. The verb ending -ize means to make something take on a quality, so modernize means to make modern. Adding digital signs and escalators confirms the sense: update.

• A (correct): Modern plus -ize means to make modern, and update means to bring up to date.
• B: Modern is an adjective; modernize is a verb, so the word class does not match.
• C: Restore means to return something to its original condition, which is the reverse of making it new.
• D: Demolish means to tear down, but the sentence describes adding new features.

Answer: D

Correct answer: determination. The base persist means to keep going, and -ence turns it into a noun for that quality. Trying out three times shows determination.

• A: Luck is chance, while persist names continued effort by the person.
• B: Natural talent is inborn ability, but the sentence stresses repeated effort over three tryouts.
• C: Persuasion looks similar at the start but means convincing others, not continuing to try.
• D (correct): Persist plus -ence names the quality of continuing despite setbacks, which is determination.

Answer: A

Correct answer: enlargement. Expansion comes from the verb expand plus a -sion ending that names the act or result of the action. Adding docks and storage space describes an enlargement.

• A (correct): Expand plus -sion names the act or result of expanding, which is enlargement.
• B: Inspection shares the -tion ending pattern but names the act of examining, not growing.
• C: Expense looks similar at the start but means cost, not an increase in size.
• D: Closure is the act of shutting down, the opposite of adding new space.

Answer: B

Correct answer: consulting. The ending -ory forms an adjective meaning serving a purpose, so advisory means serving to give advice. Having no power to give orders fits a consulting role.

• A: Temporary concerns how long a job lasts, which advisory does not describe.
• B (correct): Advise plus -ory describes serving to give advice, which is a consulting role.
• C: Commanding means giving orders, which the sentence says the general could not do.
• D: Voting is a way of deciding, but advisory means offering advice, not making decisions.

Answer: D

Correct answer: rejection. The ending -al here forms a noun meaning the act of the base verb, so refusal is the act of refusing. A refused permit has met with rejection, which explains the delay.

• A: Renewal is the act of extending a permit, which would not delay construction.
• B: A careful review is an examination, and the sentence describes a decision that caused a delay.
• C: Refuse can mean trash, but refusal is built from the verb refuse, to turn down.
• D (correct): Refuse plus -al names the act of refusing, which is rejection.

Answer: D

Correct answer: somewhat brown. The ending -ish can signal an approximate quality, as in greenish. Brownish therefore means somewhat brown, not fully or deeply brown.

• A: The -ish ending signals only partial or approximate color, not a complete one.
• B: Dark brown overstates the color; -ish weakens the base rather than intensifying it.
• C: Crystal clear contradicts the sentence, which says the water had a brown tint.
• D (correct): Brown plus -ish suggests approximation, so brownish means somewhat brown.

Answer: C

Correct answer: reasonably good. The -able ending gives worthy of respect, unlike -ful, which gives showing respect. A score worthy of respect despite missing players is reasonably good.

• A: Polite matches respectful (showing respect), not respectable; the score is not acting courteously.
• B: Perfect overstates the meaning; respectable suggests decent, not flawless.
• C (correct): Respect plus -able means worthy of respect, and for a score that means reasonably good.
• D: Disappointing contradicts the word still, which signals a decent result despite the missing players.

Answer: A

Correct answer: immature. The -ish ending in childish carries a negative judgment, unlike the favorable childlike. A supervisor stopping an argument signals criticism, so immature is the best match.

• A (correct): Childish carries a negative sense of behaving in a way unsuitable for an adult, which is immature.
• B: Youthful refers to age or vigor and is often positive, but the workers are being scolded for behavior.
• C: Arguing may be loud, but childish describes the quality of the behavior, not its volume.
• D: Innocent fits childlike, which is usually a favorable term; childish here is a criticism.

Answer: D

Correct answer: inexpensive. Economic and economical share a base but differ in meaning: economic relates to the economy, while economical means saving money. A commuting method that saves money is inexpensive.

• A: Financial matches economic (relating to the economy), not economical, which stresses saving money.
• B: Quick describes speed, which the word economical does not address.
• C: Carpooling may help the environment, but economical refers to cost, not pollution.
• D (correct): Economical means using money carefully, so an economical way to commute is inexpensive.

Answer: B

Correct answer: swimmer. A genuine suffix needs an identifiable base and a normal formation pattern. Swimmer is swim plus -er, a person who swims, while corner, winter and silver only happen to end in the letters -er.

• A: Silver names a metal, and its final letters are part of the word rather than an added suffix.
• B (correct): Swim is a real base verb, and adding -er names a person who swims.
• C: Winter names a season; there is no base verb such as wint for -er to attach to.
• D: Corner ends in -er, but corn is not a meaningful base for it; the whole word names an angle or meeting point.

Answer: C

Correct answer: prompt. Timely modifies the noun warning, so it is an adjective despite its -ly ending. A warning that arrives soon enough to act on is prompt.

• A: Repeated means happening many times, which the sentence does not suggest.
• B: Temporary means lasting a short time, which confuses timing with duration.
• C (correct): Timely is an adjective describing the warning as coming at the right moment, which is prompt.
• D: Slowly is an adverb and contradicts the sentence, since the warning came early enough to save the crew.

Answer: A

Correct answer: unable to be crossed. Work from the center outward: pass is the base, -able adds able to be, and im- negates it. The road could not be traveled: unable to be crossed.

• A (correct): Im- negates and pass plus -able means able to be passed, so impassable means not able to be crossed.
• B: This reading uses the -able ending but overlooks the negative prefix im-.
• C: A destroyed road would be impassable, but the word itself says only that travel is blocked.
• D: Rarely used describes how often a road is traveled, not whether travel is possible.

Answer: B

Correct answer: successful. Effective means producing the intended result. A filter that removes nearly all the dust has done its job, so the closest meaning is successful.

• A: Affected looks similar but means influenced or changed by something, which is not the sense here.
• B (correct): Effective means producing the intended result, and removing nearly all the dust shows the filter was successful.
• C: Expensive describes cost, which the sentence never mentions.
• D: The -ive ending does not by itself mean active; a working device is not necessarily a successful one.

Answer: B

Correct answer: delegate. The word follows the article a and is the object of chose, so it is a noun, not the adjective meaning typical. A person chosen to act for a group is a delegate.

• A: Presentation shares the base present but names a talk or display, not a person.
• B (correct): Representative is used here as a noun for a person who speaks for others, which is a delegate.
• C: Typical is the adjective sense of representative, but here the word is a noun naming a person chosen by the squad.
• D: A report is a document the meeting might produce, not the person who attends.

Answer: B

Correct answer: enthusiasm. Cover -ness to find eager, meaning keen. The -ness ending forms a noun of quality, so eagerness is keenness. Only enthusiasm is both a noun and a match in meaning.

• A: This is the adjective base itself; it cannot replace a noun after "recruit's."
• B (correct): Base eager means keen, and -ness turns it into a noun naming that quality, so enthusiasm is an exact noun match.
• C: This noun names an unwillingness to act, the opposite of being keen.
• D: Anxiety is nervous worry, which is not the same as keen interest in learning.

Answer: D

Correct answer: unproductive. Split fruitless into fruit (a result or yield) plus -less (without). A fruitless search or effort yields no results, so it is unproductive.

• A: Fruity means tasting of fruit; it ignores the -less ending entirely.
• B: Abundant means plentiful, which is closer to the opposite, fruitful.
• C: This describes fruit that is not ready yet, a literal reading that misses the sense of no results.
• D (correct): Fruit here means a result, and -less means without, so a fruitless effort produces nothing.

Answer: C

Correct answer: clearness. Clarity comes from clear plus -ity, an ending that forms abstract nouns of quality. So clarity is the quality of being clear. Pick the noun with that meaning: clearness.

• A: This is the adjective base; the target is a noun, so an adjective cannot replace it.
• B: Confusion is a lack of clearness, the opposite quality.
• C (correct): The ending -ity turns the adjective clear into a noun naming the quality of being clear, which is clearness.
• D: Length is about how long the orders were, not how easy they were to understand.

Answer: A

Correct answer: dishonest. Remove -ful to find deceit, meaning trickery or lying. Adding -ful makes an adjective meaning full of that quality, so deceitful means dishonest.

• A (correct): Deceit is the act of misleading others, and -ful means full of, so a deceitful person is dishonest.
• B: Truthful means honest, the opposite of full of deceit.
• C: This is the noun base; the target is an adjective, so the base cannot replace it.
• D: Careful shares the -ful ending but has a different base, care, so it means cautious.

Answer: B

Correct answer: believable. Credible pairs the root cred (believe) with -ible (able to be), so it means able to be believed. Do not confuse it with creditable, deserving praise, or with credulous, too quick to believe. The match is believable.

• A: This is the meaning of creditable, a lookalike with a different ending.
• B (correct): Credible means able to be believed, so believable fits both the meaning and the adjective class.
• C: This describes a person who believes too readily, which is credulous, not credible.
• D: Doubtful describes an account that is hard to believe, the opposite sense.

Answer: B

Correct answer: dangerous. Cover -ous to find hazard, a danger or risk. The -ous ending forms an adjective meaning having that quality, so hazardous means dangerous.

• A: This is the noun base; an adjective target needs an adjective synonym.
• B (correct): Hazard means a danger, and -ous means full of or having, so hazardous means dangerous.
• C: Accidental means happening by chance, which says nothing about how risky something is.
• D: Protected means kept safe, which is closer to the opposite of risky.

Answer: A

Correct answer: easily affected. Sense plus -itive gives a word meaning tending to react to what it senses. The sentence confirms it: small bumps would disturb the readings. Do not confuse sensitive with sensible, which means showing good judgment.

• A (correct): Sensitive means quick to react to small changes, which is why the gauge needs padding.
• B: This is the meaning of sensible, a lookalike word, not of sensitive.
• C: A sensitive gauge may be costly, but the sentence is about how easily it reacts, not its price.
• D: Sturdy and tough mean strong and hard to damage, the opposite of what the foam padding suggests.

Answer: C

Correct answer: complete. Cover -ize to find final, meaning last. The verb ending -ize means to make or cause to become, so finalize means to make final, or complete. The answer must be a verb, which rules out final.

• A: Revise means change or correct, which could happen before finishing but is not the same as completing.
• B: Final is the adjective base; after "will" the sentence needs a verb.
• C (correct): The ending -ize means to make, so finalize means to make final, that is, to complete.
• D: Begin work on means start, the opposite of putting the last touches on something.

Answer: C

Correct answer: route planner. Cover -or to find navigate, to plan and steer a course. The ending -or names the doer of the action, so a navigator is the person who plans the route.

• A: This noun names the activity of steering a course, not the person who does it.
• B: A passenger rides along without directing the trip, unlike someone who navigates.
• C (correct): The base navigate means plan and direct a course, and -or names the person who does it.
• D: A ship is the vessel, not the person who works out its course.

Answer: A

Correct answer: considered. Do not split pondered into pond plus -er plus -ed; a pond has nothing to do with the meaning. Treat ponder as a whole verb meaning to think about carefully. Keep the past tense: considered.

• A (correct): Ponder is a whole verb meaning to think over carefully, so considered fits the sentence and the past tense.
• B: This treats the word as pond plus a suffix, as if it involved water, which is a false split.
• C: Ignored means paid no attention to, the opposite of studying the map for minutes.
• D: Folding up the map is a physical action; the sentence describes careful thought.

Answer: C

Correct answer: support. Cover -ment to find encourage, to give someone confidence. The ending -ment forms a noun naming that act, so encouragement is support. Courage and encourage are the wrong word class.

• A: Courage is the inner base of the word, not the act of urging someone on.
• B: This is the verb base; the target is a noun, so a verb cannot replace it.
• C (correct): The ending -ment turns encourage into a noun naming the act of giving confidence, which is support.
• D: Criticism points out faults, the opposite of cheering someone on.

Answer: B

Correct answer: confirm. Verify combines the root ver (true) with -ify (make or cause to be). To verify a fact is to show it is true, so the closest verb is confirm.

• A: This adjective reflects the root ver (true) but is not a verb.
• B (correct): The ending -ify means to make, so verify means to show to be true, which is to confirm.
• C: To doubt is to question whether something is true, the opposite direction.
• D: Revise means to change something, not to check that it is accurate.

Answer: B

Correct answer: extend. The ending -en on an adjective forms a verb meaning to make or become. Lengthen means to make longer, so the verb extend is the match.

• A: This is the noun base; lengthen is a verb, so a noun cannot replace it.
• B (correct): Long plus -en means to make longer, which is to extend.
• C: Shorten uses the same -en ending on the opposite base.
• D: Measuring finds how long something is without changing it.

Answer: A

Correct answer: unable to be undone. Read from the inside out: reverse means undo, -ible makes it able to be undone, and ir- (not) reverses that. So irreversible means unable to be undone. Skipping the prefix gives the exact opposite.

• A (correct): Reverse plus -ible means able to be undone, and ir- means not, so the word means unable to be undone.
• B: This reading uses -ible but skips the prefix ir-, which flips the meaning.
• C: This takes only the base reverse and ignores both the prefix and the suffix.
• D: This adds the idea of incomplete work, which is not part of the word.

Answer: C

Correct answer: momentous. Historic and historical share a base but split in meaning. Historic means significant in history, while historical simply means about the past. An event people still talk about is significant, so momentous fits.

• A: Ancient means very old, but the moon landing is recent history and the word stresses importance, not age.
• B: This is the sense of historical, a lookalike with an extra -al ending.
• C (correct): Historic means important or famous in history, which is momentous.
• D: An event can be well recorded without being important, so this misses the sense.

Answer: D

Correct answer: suffering. Hard plus -ship gives a noun naming a hard state or condition. In the sentence it describes a difficult winter, so suffering is the closest noun. The -ship ending has nothing to do with boats.

• A: This is a lookalike built with -ness; it names firmness, not a time of trouble.
• B: Leadership shares the -ship ending but has a different base and names the role of leading.
• C: This treats -ship as a boat, a false reading of the noun ending.
• D (correct): The ending -ship forms a noun of state, and hardship is a state of difficulty, which is suffering.

Answer: D

Correct answer: probability. Undo the spelling change: likelihood is likely (y to i) plus -hood, a noun ending for a state. So it means the state of being likely, or probability. Watch that the base is likely, not like.

• A: Likeness means resemblance; it comes from like in the sense of similar, not likely.
• B: Likely is the adjective base; the target is a noun.
• C: Fondness takes like in the sense of enjoy, which is the wrong base meaning.
• D (correct): Likely plus -hood forms a noun meaning the state of being likely, which is probability.

Answer: C

Correct answer: tedium. The ending -dom forms nouns naming a state, so boredom is the state of being bored. Keep the noun answers and test them in the sentence: tedium, the feeling of dull, repetitive time, is the match.

• A: Bored is an adjective describing a person; the target names a state, so it must be a noun.
• B: Excitement is a state of strong interest, the opposite of feeling dull.
• C (correct): Bore plus -dom names the state of being bored, which is tedium, a noun for dull sameness.
• D: Exhaustion is deep physical tiredness, which is stronger and different from feeling uninterested.

Answer: D

Correct answer: bicycle rider. The -ist ending names a person who practices or does something. Cycle plus -ist is a person who cycles, so a cyclist is a bicycle rider.

• A: This names the machine, not the person who rides it.
• B: Cycling names the activity, not a person.
• C: A shop is a place; -ist names a person.
• D (correct): The ending -ist names a person who does something, so a cyclist is a person who rides a bicycle.

Answer: D

Correct answer: love of country. Patriot plus -ism names the attitude of a patriot, which is devotion to one's country. Choices that name a person, such as patriot, belong with -ist-type endings, not -ism.

• A: A patriot is a person; -ist and similar endings name people, but -ism names the idea or attitude.
• B: Nationality is the country a person belongs to, not a feeling about it.
• C: Bravery in combat is courage; a patriot may be brave, but the word names devotion to country.
• D (correct): The ending -ism names an attitude or belief, so patriotism is the attitude of a patriot: love of country.

Answer: C

Correct answer: reduction in size. Cover -age to find shrink, to become smaller. The ending -age forms a noun naming a result or amount, as in breakage. So shrinkage is a reduction in size.

• A: Shrink is the verb base; the target is a noun naming the result.
• B: Stretching out makes material larger, the opposite of the change described.
• C (correct): The ending -age names a result or amount, so shrinkage is the amount a thing gets smaller.
• D: Hot water can fade colors, but shrinkage is about size, not color.

Answer: D

Correct answer: confiscation. Cover -ure to find seize, to take hold of by force. The -ure ending forms a noun naming an act, as in closure, so seizure is the act of taking. When officials take illegal goods, that act is confiscation.

• A: Seize is the verb base; after "announced the" a noun is needed.
• B: A sale trades goods for money, while officers taking goods is not a sale.
• C: Release means letting something go, the opposite of taking control of it.
• D (correct): Seize plus -ure names the act of seizing, and officers taking illegal goods is confiscation.

Answer: B

Correct answer: motionless. Stationary is an adjective built with -ary, meaning staying in one place. The truck waits without moving until waved through, so motionless fits. Do not confuse it with the noun stationery, which names writing paper.

• A: This is the meaning of stationery, a lookalike spelled with -ery that names paper and envelopes.
• B (correct): The -ary ending forms an adjective here, and stationary means standing still, which is motionless.
• C: This takes the base too literally; a checkpoint is not a station, and the word means not moving.
• D: Temporary means lasting a short time, which describes how long, not whether it moved.

Answer: C

Correct answer: damaging. Destroy changes to destruct before -ive, an adjective ending meaning tending to do the action. So destructive winds tend to destroy things. Among the adjectives, damaging fits; destroyed would describe the roofs, not the winds.

• A: Destroyed is a past participle describing something already ruined, not winds that cause ruin.
• B: Destruction is the noun; the target describes the noun winds, so it is an adjective.
• C (correct): The -ive ending means tending to do the action, so destructive means tending to destroy, which is damaging.
• D: Protective uses the same ending on the opposite idea, tending to protect.

Answer: D

Correct answer: goal. Words ending in -ive are usually adjectives, but some act as nouns, like detective. Here "main objective" is followed by what the platoon must do, so it is a noun meaning goal. The adjective sense, fair or unbiased, does not fit.

• A: This is the adjective sense of objective, but here the word follows "main" and acts as a noun.
• B: An object is a physical thing; the sentence names something the platoon aims to do.
• C: An objection is a statement of disagreement, a different noun from the same base.
• D (correct): Here objective is a noun naming the target of an effort, which is a goal.

Answer: B

Correct answer: sour. Cover -ic to find acid. The ending -ic forms an adjective meaning relating to or like the base, so acidic means like acid, sharp or sour in taste.

• A: Acid is the noun base; the target is an adjective, so the base cannot replace it.
• B (correct): The ending -ic means relating to or having the quality of, so acidic means having the sharp taste of acid, which is sour.
• C: Sweet is the opposite taste of something acidic.
• D: Bitter is a different harsh taste, not the sharp tang of acid.

Answer: A

Correct answer: occurring at certain times of year. Cover -al to find season. The ending -al forms an adjective meaning relating to the base, so seasonal means tied to a season. The fall harvest example confirms work done only at certain times of year.

• A (correct): Season plus -al means relating to a season, so seasonal work happens only during part of the year.
• B: Season is the noun base; the target describes work, so it is an adjective.
• C: This is the opposite of work tied to one season, such as the harvest.
• D: This confuses seasonal with seasoned, which describes food with added flavor.

Answer: C

Correct answer: slow-moving. The ending -ish can mean like or typical of the base. A slug moves very slowly, so sluggish means slow-moving. The phrase "slow to collect their bags" confirms that sense.

• A: This takes slug as a literal animal and pictures its texture rather than its pace.
• B: Energetic means full of energy, the opposite of slow and heavy.
• C (correct): The ending -ish means like, so sluggish means like a slug, that is, slow-moving.
• D: Tired travelers may be grouchy, but sluggish describes slow, heavy movement, not a bad mood.

Answer: A

Correct answer: unhurried. Leisure is a noun, and -ly on a noun often forms an adjective, as in costly or friendly. Leisurely describes the walk, so the answer must be an adjective. Unhurried matches.

• A (correct): Leisurely ends in -ly but describes the noun walk, so it is an adjective meaning relaxed and unhurried.
• B: Very quickly is an adverb phrase meaning fast, which is wrong in both word class and meaning.
• C: Leisure is the noun base meaning free time; it cannot describe the walk.
• D: Lazily is an adverb, and laziness is an unwillingness to work, not a relaxed pace.

Answer: A

Correct answer: unwillingly. Here -ly turns the adjective reluctant into an adverb telling how the private agreed. Reluctant means unwilling, so reluctantly means unwillingly.

• A (correct): Reluctant means not wanting to, and -ly makes an adverb of manner, so the private agreed unwillingly.
• B: This is the adjective base; the target tells how he agreed, so it must be an adverb.
• C: Eagerly means with keen interest, the opposite manner.
• D: Quietly describes volume, not willingness.

Answer: B

Correct answer: strengthened. The -ed ending is inflectional: it marks past tense without changing the meaning of reinforce, to make stronger. A synonym must also be in the past tense, so strengthened fits and strengthen does not.

• A: Weakened is in the right tense but means the opposite of adding steel support.
• B (correct): Reinforce means to make stronger, and the -ed ending keeps it in the past tense, so strengthened fits.
• C: Adding beams to make a wall stronger is not painting or decoration.
• D: Forced shares letters with the target but means compelled, which does not fit adding beams.

Answer: D

Correct answer: person who stockpiles. Ask what the base is. Hoard is a verb meaning to collect and store up, so -er is the agent ending, naming the doer. The sentence calls the clerk a hoarder, so it means a person who stockpiles.

• A: This reads -er as a comparative on hoarse, a lookalike adjective meaning rough-voiced.
• B: This names the action, hoarding, not the person who does it.
• C: Some -er words name instruments or tools, but the sentence says the clerk was one, so it is a person.
• D (correct): Hoard is a verb meaning to store up, and the agent -er names the person who does it.

Answer: B

Correct answer: easily carried. The root port means carry, and -able means able to be. Together, portable means able to be carried, such as a portable radio.

• A: Heavy things are hard to carry, which works against the meaning.
• B (correct): The root port means carry, and -able means able to be, so portable means able to be carried.
• C: This confuses the root port with the noun port, a harbor.
• D: Fixed in place is the opposite of something you can move around.

Answer: B

Correct answer: unfortunate. Regrettable (regret plus -able, with the t doubled) describes something that deserves regret, while regretful describes a person who feels it. The word modifies mistake, not a person, so unfortunate is the match.

• A: Carelessness may have caused the mistake, but regrettable describes the mistake as unfortunate, not its cause.
• B (correct): Regret plus -able means deserving regret, so a regrettable mistake is an unfortunate one.
• C: Forgettable shares the -able ending but means easily forgotten, a different base.
• D: Unavoidable means it could not be prevented, which the sentence never says.

Answer: A

Correct answer: spread out control. Work from the inside out: central, then -ize (to make central), then de- (reverse). Decentralize means to move control away from one center. The sentence confirms it: each company now decides for itself.

• A (correct): Central plus -ize means make central, and de- reverses it, so decentralize means spread control away from one center.
• B: This reads the -ize suffix but skips the prefix de-, which reverses the meaning.
• C: Central is the adjective base; the target follows "to" and must be a verb.
• D: Cancel means call off; the decisions still happen, just at company level.

Answer: A

Correct answer: dependence. Undo the spelling change: reliance is rely plus -ance. The -ance ending forms a noun naming a state, so reliance is the state of depending on something. Dependence matches in meaning and class.

• A (correct): Rely plus -ance (with y changing to i) is a noun naming the state of relying, which is dependence.
• B: Rely is the verb base; the target is a noun after "heavy."
• C: Reliable is an adjective meaning trustworthy, the wrong word class.
• D: Independence means not relying on something, the opposite.

Answer: D

Correct answer: crash. Collision comes from collide, with the d changing to s before -ion. The ending forms a noun naming an act, so a collision is the act of hitting, a crash. The damage to both trucks confirms it.

• A: Collide is the verb base; after "The" the sentence needs a noun.
• B: This is the meaning of collusion, a lookalike word with a different base.
• C: A near miss means the vehicles did not touch, yet both were damaged.
• D (correct): Collide plus -sion names the act of colliding, which is a crash.

Answer: D

Correct answer: abundant. Plentiful is plenty (y to i) plus -ful, an adjective ending meaning full of. So plentiful means existing in large amounts, which is abundant.

• A: Scarce and rare mean in short supply, the opposite of having plenty.
• B: Plenty is the noun base; the target is an adjective.
• C: Empty means containing nothing, the opposite idea.
• D (correct): Plenty plus -ful means full of plenty, which is abundant.