Question 1
The suffix -tion appears in description, and the variant
-sion appears in tension. What does this suffix signal
about a word?
"-tion" and "-sion" mark a word as a noun naming an act
or state. Description = the act of describing;
tension = the state of being stretched or strained. The variant
"-sion" appears when the root ends in d or s.
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Answer question 1 to unlock
The suffix -ance appears in tolerance, and the variant
-ence appears in persistence. What does this suffix mean?
"-ance" and "-ence" form nouns meaning "state, quality,
or process of." Tolerance = the quality of tolerating difference;
persistence = the state of persisting despite obstacles. The vowel
(a vs. e) follows the root's spelling and must be memorized — the meaning is
identical in both forms.
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Answer question 2 to unlock
The suffix -ize appears in emphasize and
stabilize. In British English, the same suffix is spelled
-ise. What does this suffix mean?
"-ize" converts nouns and adjectives into verbs meaning "to make,
cause, or become." Emphasize = to cause something to stand out;
stabilize = to make stable. The British spelling "-ise"
carries the same meaning.
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Answer question 3 to unlock
The suffix -ous appears in words like glorious. In
voracious, the same suffix takes the form -ious. The
root vorac- relates to devouring or consuming. How does
-ious shape the meaning of voracious?
"-ious" (a variant of "-ous") forms adjectives meaning
"full of or having the quality of." Voracious = having the quality
of consuming greatly — often used to describe an insatiable appetite for
food, reading, or experience.
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Answer question 4 to unlock
The word candidly contains the suffix -ly. How does
-ly shape the meaning of this word?
"-ly" converts adjectives into adverbs indicating how something is
done. Candidly = in a candid (frank, honest) manner. The adjective
form (candid) is always identifiable beneath the adverb.
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Answer question 5 to unlock
The word nuance ends in -ance. A student applies the
suffix rule and predicts that nuance means "the state or quality
of nuan-ing." What is wrong with this reasoning?
Not every "-ance" ending is the abstract noun suffix.
Nuance is borrowed from French (from nuer = to shade or
tint), and its "-ance" is part of the root. When "-ance"
is a productive suffix in English, there is a recognizable verb or adjective
beneath it: tolerate → tolerance, persist → persistence.
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Answer question 6 to unlock
The word scrutinize contains the suffix -ize. Which
statement best describes what -ize contributes to this word?
"-ize" converts nouns into verbs meaning "to make or cause."
Scrutinize = to apply scrutiny — to examine something carefully
and in detail. The root scrutiny is identifiable beneath the
suffix.
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Answer question 7 to unlock
The suffix -sion appears in derision. The root
derid- comes from Latin meaning "to laugh at or mock." What does
derision most likely mean?
"-sion" marks a word as a noun naming an act or state.
Derision = the act of deriding — of mocking or treating someone
with contempt. The root appears in related words: derisive
(tending to mock) and derisory (so inadequate as to invite
mockery).
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Answer question 8 to unlock
The suffix -ious appears in mendacious. The root
mendac- comes from Latin meaning "lying" or "untruthful." What
does mendacious most likely mean?
"-ious" (a variant of "-ous") means "full of or having
the quality of." Mendacious = having the quality of mendacity —
of lying or being untruthful. The suffix does the same work here as in
voracious (full of consuming appetite) and tenacious
(full of holding-on).
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Answer question 9 to unlock
The suffix -ly appears in perfunctorily. The root
perfunctory means "carried out as a routine duty, with minimal
effort or care." What does perfunctorily most likely mean?
"-ly" converts an adjective into an adverb. Perfunctorily
= in a perfunctory manner — performing a task out of habit or obligation
rather than genuine attention. The adjective form (perfunctory) is
identifiable beneath the adverb.
correct answers
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