Quiz-Tree
Question 1
The word vividness contains the suffix -ness. Which
statement best describes what -ness contributes to this word?
"-ness" converts any adjective into a noun naming that quality.
Vividness = the quality of being vivid — bright, sharp, and
lifelike. The underlying adjective (vivid) is always identifiable
beneath a "-ness" noun.
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Answer question 1 to unlock
The word assessment contains the suffix -ment. How does
-ment shape the meaning of this word?
"-ment" converts a verb into a noun referring to an action, process,
or result. Assessment = the act or result of assessing. Compare
achievement (the result of achieving) and movement
(the process of moving).
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Answer question 2 to unlock
The suffix -ence appears in quiescence. The root
quiesc- comes from Latin meaning "to become quiet or still."
What does quiescence most likely mean?
"-ence" converts the root into a noun meaning "state or quality of."
Quiescence = the state of being quiescent — still, quiet, or
inactive. The suffix does the same work in confidence (quality
of being confident) and resistance (state of resisting).
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Answer question 3 to unlock
The suffix -tion appears in common words like celebration.
When the root ends in d or s, the suffix typically becomes -sion,
as in revision. What does this suffix mean?
"-tion" and "-sion" both mark a word as a noun referring
to an act or state. Celebration = the act of celebrating;
revision = the act of revising. The spelling shifts to "-sion"
when the root ends in d or s, but the meaning is identical.
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Answer question 4 to unlock
The suffix -ity appears in words like clarity and
ambiguity. A shorter variant, -ty, appears in words
like loyalty and safety. What does this suffix mean?
"-ity" converts adjectives into nouns meaning "state or quality of."
Clarity = the quality of being clear; ambiguity = the
state of being ambiguous. The shorter variant "-ty" carries the
same meaning: loyalty = the quality of being loyal.
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Answer question 5 to unlock
The suffix -ance appears in resistance. The same suffix
appears as -ence in words like confidence and
patience — the vowel follows the root's spelling and must be
memorized. What does this suffix mean?
"-ance" and "-ence" are variant spellings of the same
suffix — both form nouns meaning "state, quality, or process of."
Resistance = the state of resisting; confidence = the
quality of being confident. The vowel (a vs. e) is determined by the root
and must be memorized; the meaning is identical.
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Answer question 6 to unlock
The suffix -ity appears in perspicacity. The root
perspicac- comes from a Latin word meaning "sharp-sighted" or
"clear-seeing." What does perspicacity most likely mean?
"-ity" signals that the word is a noun meaning "state or quality of."
Perspicacity = the quality of being perspicacious — of thinking
and perceiving with sharpness and clarity. The suffix works identically in
clarity (the quality of being clear) and ambiguity
(the state of being ambiguous).
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Answer question 7 to unlock
The suffix -ment appears in disenchantment. The root
disenchant means "to free someone from an illusion or an idealized
belief." What does disenchantment most likely mean?
"-ment" converts the verb disenchant into a noun referring
to the result or state of that action. Disenchantment = the state
of having been freed from illusion — disappointment felt when something
idealized turns out to be ordinary.
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Answer question 8 to unlock
The suffix -ness appears in words like kindness and
awareness. What does this suffix mean?
"-ness" attaches to adjectives to form nouns meaning "state or
quality of." Kindness = the state of being kind; awareness
= the quality of being aware. Almost any adjective can take "-ness."
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Answer question 9 to unlock
The word nation ends in -tion. A student concludes that
since -tion means "act or state of," nation must mean
"the act of nat-ing." What is wrong with this reasoning?
Not every word ending in "-tion" uses it as an independently added
suffix. Nation is borrowed whole from Latin natio, meaning
"a people born together" — the "-tion" is part of the root itself,
not a separately attached suffix. When "-tion" is a true suffix,
there is a recognizable English verb beneath it: celebrate +
"-tion," revise + "-sion."
correct answers
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