Question 1
The prefix bene- appears in benefit and benevolent. What does bene- mean?
"bene-" means "good" or "well." In benefit, it combines with a root meaning "to do," producing "a good thing done." In benevolent, it combines with a root meaning "to wish," producing "wishing well" toward others.
🔒
Answer question 1 to unlock
The prefix mal- appears in malfunction and malnutrition. What does mal- mean?
"mal-" means "bad," "poorly," or "wrong." In malfunction, it describes something that works badly. In malnutrition, it describes a state of poor nutrition.
🔒
Answer question 2 to unlock
The prefix eu- appears in euphoria and eulogy. Like bene-, it means "good" or "well" — but eu- comes from Greek while bene- comes from Latin. What does eu- mean?
"eu-" means "good" or "well." It is the Greek counterpart to the Latin "bene-." In euphoria, it combines with a root meaning "to carry" to produce "carrying good feeling." In eulogy, it combines with a root meaning "speech" to produce "a good speech" of praise.
🔒
Answer question 3 to unlock
The prefix de- appears in descend and demote. The root -mote relates to "moving" in rank. How does de- shape the meaning of demote?
"de-" means "down" in this context. In demote, it combines with a root related to movement to describe being moved down to a lower rank or level.
🔒
Answer question 4 to unlock
The prefix auto- appears in autobiography. The root -bio- means "life" and -graphy means "writing." How does auto- shape the meaning of autobiography?
"auto-" means "self." In autobiography, it indicates that the life (-bio-) and the writing (-graphy) are both one's own — the author is writing the story of their own life.
🔒
Answer question 5 to unlock
The prefix de- appears in detach. The root -tach comes from a word meaning "to fasten." Which best describes what de- contributes here?
In detach, "de-" carries the meaning "reverse" or "undo" rather than "down." Combined with a root meaning "to fasten," detach means "to undo the fastening" — to remove or separate. "de-" has two related senses: "down" (as in descend) and "reverse/undo" (as in detach, defrost).
🔒
Answer question 6 to unlock
The word benefactor contains the prefix bene-. The root -fact- comes from a Latin word meaning "to do" or "to make." How does bene- shape the meaning of benefactor?
"bene-" means "good" or "well." In benefactor, it combines with -fact- (to do) to describe someone who does good — typically by providing financial support or other assistance to a cause or person.
🔒
Answer question 7 to unlock
The prefix mal- appears in malevolent. The root -vol- comes from a Latin word meaning "to wish." What does malevolent most likely mean?
"mal-" means "bad" or "evil." Combined with -vol- (to wish), malevolent means "wishing evil" — having or showing a desire to cause harm or suffering to others.
🔒
Answer question 8 to unlock
The prefix eu- appears in euphemism. The root -phemi comes from a Greek word meaning "to speak." What does euphemism most likely mean?
"eu-" means "good" or "well." Combined with -phemi (to speak), euphemism means "speaking well" — using a gentler word or phrase in place of one that might feel blunt, offensive, or uncomfortable.
🔒
Answer question 9 to unlock
The prefix auto- appears in autocratic. The root -crat- comes from a Greek word meaning "to rule" or "power." What does autocratic most likely mean?
"auto-" means "self." Combined with -crat- (to rule), autocratic means "self-ruling" — exercising absolute, unchecked authority with no accountability to others.
correct answers
💡Tip: Want to see new SAT Vocabulary quizzes?
Make sure the "Notify me about new quizzes" is enabled in your Dashboard.
Make sure the "Notify me about new quizzes" is enabled in your Dashboard.