Question 1

The suffix -ness appears in words like frankness and attentiveness. What does this suffix mean?

• A state or quality of
• B capable of being
• C one who possesses a quality
• D act or process of

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The suffix -ment appears in words like acknowledgment and abandonment. What does this suffix mean?

• A one who performs an action
• B relating to an action or process
• C capable of being acted upon
• D action, process, or result of

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The suffix -ist appears in words like antagonist and specialist. What does this suffix mean?

• A act or practice of
• B relating to a specialized area
• C one who holds a belief, practices, or fills a specialized role
• D belief or doctrine held by a group

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The word methodical contains the suffix -ical, an extended form of the base suffix -ic. Both forms mean "relating to or characteristic of," as in ironic and ironical. How does -ical shape the meaning of methodical?

• A It forms an adjective meaning relating to or characterized by careful, systematic method
• B It forms a verb meaning to apply a method to something
• C It forms an adverb meaning in a methodical manner
• D It forms a noun meaning a person who uses methods

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The suffix -able forms adjectives meaning "capable of or worthy of," as in believable. When attached to Latin roots, the same suffix typically appears as -ible. The word plausible contains -ible, and its root plaus- relates to approval or applause. How does -ible shape the meaning of plausible?

• A It forms an adjective meaning worthy of being accepted as credible or reasonable
• B It forms an adverb meaning in a reasonable-seeming manner
• C It forms a noun meaning something that appears reasonable
• D It forms a verb meaning to make something seem reasonable

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The word moment ends in -ment. A student applies the suffix rule and guesses that moment names the act or result of some underlying verb. What is wrong with this reasoning?

• A The suffix in moment is actually "-ent," not "-ment," so the rule does not apply
• B Nothing — a moment is indeed the result of something moving or changing in time
• C Moment is borrowed from Latin momentum (movement or impulse) — the "-ment" is part of the original Latin root, not a separately added English suffix; there is no English verb "to mome"
• D "-ment" only forms nouns from verbs with two or more syllables, and "mome-" has only one

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The word conformist contains the suffix -ist. Which statement best describes what -ist contributes to this word?

• A It converts the verb conform into a verb meaning to cause others to conform
• B It converts the verb conform into an adverb meaning in a conforming manner
• C It converts the verb conform into an adjective meaning relating to conformity
• D It converts the verb conform into a noun meaning one who accepts and follows established norms

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The suffix -ness appears in obsequiousness. The root obsequious means "excessively eager to please or comply." What does obsequiousness most likely mean?

• A the quality of being stubbornly resistant to outside influence
• B the quality of being excessively compliant or flattering; servile eagerness to gain favor
• C the state of being extremely attentive without seeking anything in return
• D the act of pressing others to conform to a specific standard of behavior

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The suffix -ic appears in sardonic. The root derives from Greek sardonikos, describing a bitter, scornful expression — historically associated with a Sardinian plant said to cause convulsive facial grimacing. What does sardonic most likely mean?

• A relating to a dry, understated form of humor that avoids obvious jokes
• B characterized by bitter or mocking humor; grimly scornful or cynical
• C having the quality of being extremely serious and resistant to laughter
• D relating to the careful avoidance of sarcasm in polite speech

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The suffix -ible appears in irascible. The root irasc- comes from Latin ira, meaning "anger." What does irascible most likely mean?

• A capable of suppressing anger effectively even under great provocation
• B easily provoked to anger; prone to sudden outbursts of temper
• C not capable of feeling genuine anger; emotionally detached
• D relating to the careful management of anger in difficult situations