1
Which prefix can be added to happy to form a word with the opposite meaning?
Word Building
Easy
A. mis-
B. un-
C. pre-
D. re-
Correct Answer: un-
Explanation:
Adding un- to happy forms unhappy , which means not happy.
2
Which noun is formed from the adjective kind ?
Word Building
Easy
A. kindly
B. unkind
C. kinder
D. kindness
Correct Answer: kindness
Explanation:
The suffix -ness changes kind into the noun kindness .
3
Which word means "a person who teaches"?
Word Building
Easy
A. teachable
B. retaught
C. teaching
D. teacher
Correct Answer: teacher
Explanation:
The suffix -er is added to teach to form teacher .
4
Which word is the opposite of possible ?
Word Building
Easy
A. possibly
B. possibility
C. impossible
D. possiblely
Correct Answer: impossible
Explanation:
The prefix im- gives possible its opposite meaning: impossible .
5
Which adjective is formed from the noun care ?
Word Building
Easy
A. careless
B. caringly
C. careful
D. carefully
Correct Answer: careful
Explanation:
Adding -ful to care forms the adjective careful .
6
Which adjective is formed from the noun beauty ?
Word Building
Easy
A. beautify
B. beautician
C. beautiful
D. beautifully
Correct Answer: beautiful
Explanation:
Beautiful is the adjective form of the noun beauty .
7
Which adverb is formed from the adjective quick ?
Word Building
Easy
A. quickest
B. quickness
C. quicker
D. quickly
Correct Answer: quickly
Explanation:
The suffix -ly changes quick into the adverb quickly .
8
What does the prefix re- mean in the word rewrite ?
Word Building
Easy
A. before
B. again
C. without
D. wrongly
Correct Answer: again
Explanation:
The prefix re- means again, so rewrite means to write again.
9
Which noun is formed from the verb decide ?
Word Building
Easy
A. decisive
B. decision
C. decided
D. deciding
Correct Answer: decision
Explanation:
Decision is the noun form of the verb decide .
10
Which word means "without hope"?
Word Building
Easy
A. hopeless
B. hoped
C. hopeful
D. hopefully
Correct Answer: hopeless
Explanation:
The suffix -less means without, so hopeless means without hope.
11
In the sentence She drives a fast car , what part of speech is fast ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Adjective
B. Noun
C. Adverb
D. Verb
Correct Answer: Adjective
Explanation:
Fast describes the noun car , so it is an adjective.
12
In the sentence The horse runs fast , what part of speech is fast ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Adverb
D. Pronoun
Correct Answer: Adverb
Explanation:
Fast describes how the horse runs, so it is an adverb.
13
In which sentence is hard used as an adjective?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Maya worked hard today.
B. They studied hard yesterday.
C. This is a hard question.
D. Please try hard again.
Correct Answer: This is a hard question.
Explanation:
Hard describes the noun question , so it is an adjective.
14
In which sentence is hard used as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. He bought a hard mattress.
B. The table has a hard top.
C. That was a hard test.
D. The students worked hard.
Correct Answer: The students worked hard.
Explanation:
Hard describes how the students worked, so it is an adverb.
15
In the sentence We caught the early train , what part of speech is early ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Adjective
B. Verb
C. Noun
D. Adverb
Correct Answer: Adjective
Explanation:
Early describes the noun train , so it is an adjective.
16
In the sentence They arrived early , what part of speech is early ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Adverb
B. Adjective
C. Noun
D. Verb
Correct Answer: Adverb
Explanation:
Early describes when they arrived, so it is an adverb.
17
In which sentence is daily used as an adjective?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. We exercise daily at home.
B. I read the daily newspaper.
C. Buses arrive daily here.
D. They practise daily together.
Correct Answer: I read the daily newspaper.
Explanation:
Daily describes the noun newspaper , so it is an adjective.
18
In which sentence is daily used as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. She follows a daily plan.
B. She keeps a daily record.
C. She practises daily.
D. She reads a daily report.
Correct Answer: She practises daily.
Explanation:
Daily describes how often she practises, so it is an adverb.
19
In the sentence Follow the straight road , what part of speech is straight ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Verb
B. Adjective
C. Noun
D. Adverb
Correct Answer: Adjective
Explanation:
Straight describes the noun road , so it is an adjective.
20
In the sentence Go straight home , what part of speech is straight ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Easy
A. Noun
B. Adjective
C. Pronoun
D. Adverb
Correct Answer: Adverb
Explanation:
Straight describes how to go, so it is an adverb.
21
Choose the correct form of persuade to complete the sentence: The lawyer presented a highly ___ argument.
Word Building
Medium
A. persuasive
B. persuasively
C. persuade
D. persuasion
Correct Answer: persuasive
Explanation:
Persuasive is an adjective formed by adding the suffix -ive and correctly describes the noun argument .
22
Choose the correct word: This small car is more ___ than the larger model because it uses less fuel.
Word Building
Medium
A. economy
B. economic
C. economical
D. economically
Correct Answer: economical
Explanation:
Economical means efficient and not wasteful, especially in the use of money or resources.
23
Although she was an experienced scientist, she retained a ___ curiosity about nature.
Word Building
Medium
A. childish
B. childlike
C. youthful
D. childless
Correct Answer: childlike
Explanation:
Childlike means having the positive qualities of a child, such as innocence or curiosity. Childish usually suggests immaturity.
24
Which option correctly divides the word misinterpretation into its main word-building elements?
Word Building
Medium
A. mis- + interpret + -ation
B. mis- + inter + pretation
C. mist- + interpret + -ion
D. misinterpret + -tation
Correct Answer: mis- + interpret + -ation
Explanation:
The prefix mis- means wrongly, interpret is the base, and -ation forms a noun.
25
Which sequence correctly shows how the adverb truthfully is formed?
Word Building
Medium
A. true + -ly + -ful
B. truth + -ly + -ness
C. truth + -ful + -ly
D. truthful + -ment + -ly
Correct Answer: truth + -ful + -ly
Explanation:
The suffix -ful changes truth into the adjective truthful , and -ly changes it into the adverb truthfully .
26
Choose the correct noun form of maintain : Regular ___ of the equipment prevents breakdowns.
Word Building
Medium
A. maintain
B. maintainance
C. maintenance
D. maintaining
Correct Answer: maintenance
Explanation:
Maintenance is the correctly spelled noun meaning the process of keeping something in good condition.
27
What does the word reusable mean in the sentence, "The restaurant provides reusable containers"?
Word Building
Medium
A. required to be used now
B. able to be used again
C. safe to be used once
D. likely to be used rarely
Correct Answer: able to be used again
Explanation:
The prefix re- means again, while the suffix -able means capable of being.
28
Because two members refused to collaborate, the group became increasingly ___.
Word Building
Medium
A. uncooperative
B. cooperation
C. cooperative
D. uncooperatively
Correct Answer: uncooperative
Explanation:
Uncooperative is an adjective meaning unwilling to work with others, and it follows the linking verb became .
29
Choose the correct form of scarce : Water ___ forced the town to introduce strict usage limits.
Word Building
Medium
A. scarcely
B. scarcer
C. scarcity
D. scarce
Correct Answer: scarcity
Explanation:
Scarcity is the noun form of scarce and means an insufficient supply of something.
30
Choose the correct form of reassure : The nurse spoke ___ to the anxious child.
Word Building
Medium
A. reassured
B. reassurance
C. reassuring
D. reassuringly
Correct Answer: reassuringly
Explanation:
Reassuringly is an adverb formed from reassuring and modifies the verb spoke .
31
Which pair uses early first as an adjective and then as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The early flight left; we arrived early .
B. We arrived early ; the early flight left.
C. The early flight left; an early bus followed.
D. We arrived early ; they departed early .
Correct Answer: The early flight left; we arrived early .
Explanation:
In early flight , early describes a noun and is an adjective. In arrived early , it modifies a verb and is an adverb.
32
In which sentence does hard function as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The examination was hard .
B. The hard surface suddenly cracked.
C. They selected a hard mattress.
D. She worked hard all evening.
Correct Answer: She worked hard all evening.
Explanation:
Hard modifies the verb worked , so it functions as an adverb describing how she worked.
33
In the sentence, "The fast runner moved fast ," how are the two uses of fast classified?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. Adverb, then adjective
B. Adjective, then adjective
C. Adverb, then adverb
D. Adjective, then adverb
Correct Answer: Adjective, then adverb
Explanation:
The first fast describes the noun runner , while the second modifies the verb moved .
34
Which sentence uses daily as an adjective?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The records are updated daily .
B. The team meets daily .
C. The daily report is brief.
D. The reports arrive daily .
Correct Answer: The daily report is brief.
Explanation:
Daily describes the noun report , so it functions as an adjective.
35
In the sentence, "Walk straight along the straight path," what are the functions of the two uses of straight ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. Adjective, then adjective
B. Adverb, then adverb
C. Adjective, then adverb
D. Adverb, then adjective
Correct Answer: Adverb, then adjective
Explanation:
The first straight modifies walk , while the second describes the noun path .
36
In which sentence does late function as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The train arrived late .
B. The late train was crowded.
C. A late passenger called us.
D. We caught the late train.
Correct Answer: The train arrived late .
Explanation:
Late modifies the verb arrived by indicating when the train arrived, so it is an adverb.
37
Which pair uses close first as an adjective and then as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. A close friend visited; our close neighbor called.
B. Come close to me; a close friend visited.
C. A close friend visited; stand close to me.
D. Stand close to me; move close to her.
Correct Answer: A close friend visited; stand close to me.
Explanation:
In close friend , the word describes a noun. In stand close , it modifies the verb and means nearby.
38
In the sentence, "Turn right at the right corner," how are the two uses of right classified?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. Adverb, then adjective
B. Adjective, then adverb
C. Adverb, then adverb
D. Adjective, then adjective
Correct Answer: Adverb, then adjective
Explanation:
The first right modifies turn , while the second right describes which corner is meant.
39
In which sentence does high function as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The eagle flew high above the valley.
B. A high wall surrounded the garden.
C. They climbed the high mountain slowly.
D. The upper shelf was extremely high .
Correct Answer: The eagle flew high above the valley.
Explanation:
High modifies the verb flew and indicates the height at which the eagle flew.
40
Which pair uses wide first as an adjective and then as an adverb?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Medium
A. The door swung wide ; her eyes opened wide .
B. The door swung wide ; we crossed a wide bridge.
C. A wide bridge appeared; a wide road followed.
D. We crossed a wide bridge; the door swung wide .
Correct Answer: We crossed a wide bridge; the door swung wide .
Explanation:
In wide bridge , wide describes a noun. In swung wide , it modifies the verb by describing how the door opened.
41
Which sequence correctly shows the derivational stages used to build decentralization from its lexical base?
Word Building
Hard
A. center → centralize → centralization → decentral → decentralization
B. center → centrality → decentralize → decentral → decentralization
C. center → central → centralize → decentralize → decentralization
D. center → decentral → decentralize → centralization → decentralization
Correct Answer: center → central → centralize → decentralize → decentralization
Explanation:
The suffix -al forms central , -ize forms centralize , de- forms decentralize , and -ation forms the process noun.
42
Which group consists entirely of words in which in- or its assimilated forms il- , im- , and ir- express negation?
Word Building
Hard
A. illegible, impassioned, irrelevant, inflammable
B. illegal, immobile, irregular, intolerant
C. illuminate, impermeable, irresponsible, inactive
D. illiberal, immortal, irradiate, indirect
Correct Answer: illegal, immobile, irregular, intolerant
Explanation:
All four prefixes mean not . In the other groups, words such as irradiate , impassioned , inflammable , and illuminate do not contain the negative prefix in that sense.
43
Choose the sentence that correctly distinguishes the derived forms economic , economical , and economically .
Word Building
Hard
A. The policy may be economic beneficial without being economically to administer.
B. The policy may be economically beneficial without being economical to administer.
C. The policy may be economical beneficial without being economic to administer.
D. The policy may be economically beneficial without being economicly to administer.
Correct Answer: The policy may be economically beneficial without being economical to administer.
Explanation:
Economically modifies beneficial , while economical means efficient or inexpensive to operate. Economicly is not the standard spelling.
44
Which interpretation correctly distinguishes comprehensible from comprehensive in the sentence: “The explanation was comprehensible but not comprehensive”?
Word Building
Hard
A. It was persuasive but not supported by evidence.
B. It was grammatically correct but not stylistically formal.
C. It was complete in coverage but not understandable.
D. It was understandable but not complete in coverage.
Correct Answer: It was understandable but not complete in coverage.
Explanation:
Comprehensible means capable of being understood; comprehensive means extensive or complete in scope.
45
The word unlockable can have two meanings because its affixes may be grouped differently. Which pair gives the correct structures and meanings?
Word Building
Hard
A. un-[lockable] : unable to be locked; [unlock]-able : able to be unlocked
B. un-[lockable] : able to be unlocked; [unlock]-able : unable to be locked
C. [un-lock]-able : locked repeatedly; un-[lockable] : locked only once
D. [unlockable] : lacking a lock; un-[lock]-able : containing several locks
Correct Answer: un-[lockable] : unable to be locked; [unlock]-able : able to be unlocked
Explanation:
Prefixing un- to lockable produces not lockable , while adding -able to unlock produces capable of being unlocked .
46
Which list correctly pluralizes every compound by inflecting its semantic head?
Word Building
Hard
A. passers-bys, sisters-in-laws, courts-martials, attorneys generals
B. passers-by, sisters-in-law, courts-martial, attorneys general
C. passer-by's, sister's-in-law, court's-martial, attorney's general
D. passer-bys, sister-in-laws, court-martials, attorney generals
Correct Answer: passers-by, sisters-in-law, courts-martial, attorneys general
Explanation:
The head nouns are passer , sister , court , and attorney , so those elements receive the plural inflection.
47
Which option contains only correctly spelled abstract nouns formed from the given adjectives: indispensable , unintelligible , and irreversible ?
Word Building
Hard
A. indispensability, unintelligibility, irreversibility
B. indispensibility, unintelligibility, irreversability
C. indispensableness, unintelligibleness, irreversability
D. indispensability, unintelligability, irreversibleness
Correct Answer: indispensability, unintelligibility, irreversibility
Explanation:
When -ity is added, final -le commonly changes to -ility : indispensability , intelligibility , and reversibility .
48
Which sentence contains conversion —the formation of a new word class without adding an affix?
Word Building
Hard
A. The technicians bottled the samples before noon.
B. The technicians examined the samples before noon.
C. The technicians purified the samples before noon.
D. The technicians classified the samples before noon.
Correct Answer: The technicians bottled the samples before noon.
Explanation:
The noun bottle is used directly as a verb with no added derivational affix. The other verbs contain overt derivational morphology or are established verbal bases.
49
Which pair is conventionally analyzed as back-formation , where a shorter verb was created by removing what appeared to be an affix from a longer word?
Word Building
Hard
A. act from actor ; direct from director
B. write from writer ; teach from teacher
C. edit from editor ; babysit from babysitter
D. read from reader ; sing from singer
Correct Answer: edit from editor ; babysit from babysitter
Explanation:
Edit and babysit were historically formed by removing apparent agent suffixes from editor and babysitter . The verbs in the other pairs existed before their agent nouns.
50
Which stress pattern correctly represents the word family photograph → photography → photographic ?
Word Building
Hard
A. pho-TO -graph → PHO -tog-ra-phy → PHO -to-graph-ic
B. pho-to-GRAPH → pho-tog-ra-PHY → PHO -to-graph-ic
C. PHO -to-graph → pho-TOG -ra-phy → pho-to-GRAPH -ic
D. PHO -to-graph → PHO -tog-ra-phy → PHO -to-graph-ic
Correct Answer: PHO -to-graph → pho-TOG -ra-phy → pho-to-GRAPH -ic
Explanation:
The derivational suffixes trigger stress shifts: first syllable in photograph , second in photography , and third in photographic .
51
In the sentence “The early train arrived early ,” how are the two occurrences of early classified?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. The first is an adjective; the second is an adverb.
B. Both are adjectives serving different syntactic functions.
C. The first is an adverb; the second is an adjective.
D. Both are adverbs modifying different sentence elements.
Correct Answer: The first is an adjective; the second is an adverb.
Explanation:
The first early modifies the noun train . The second modifies the verb arrived by indicating when it arrived.
52
Which sentence uses hard first as an adjective and then as a flat adverb with the meaning with great effort ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. The hard assignment made every student work hard.
B. The students found hard the work they hardly attempted.
C. The hard assignment was hardly worth completing.
D. The students worked hardly on the hard assignment.
Correct Answer: The hard assignment made every student work hard.
Explanation:
The first hard modifies assignment ; the second modifies work . Hardly means scarcely , not with great effort .
53
In “Although the late bus arrived late , it has lately been more reliable,” which analysis is correct?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. Adjective meaning former; adverb meaning recently; adjective meaning after schedule
B. Adjective meaning delayed; adverb meaning after schedule; adverb meaning recently
C. Adverb meaning recently; adjective meaning delayed; adverb meaning after schedule
D. Adverb meaning after schedule; adjective meaning former; adverb meaning reluctantly
Correct Answer: Adjective meaning delayed; adverb meaning after schedule; adverb meaning recently
Explanation:
The first late modifies bus , the second modifies arrived , and lately has the distinct meaning recently .
54
Which sentence correctly uses near as an adjective, near as a flat adverb, and nearly as an adverb meaning almost , in that order?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. The near lane was blocked, so she stayed near and nearly missed the turn.
B. The near lane was blocked, so she stayed nearly and near missed the turn.
C. The nearly lane was blocked, so she stayed nearly and nearly missed the turn.
D. The nearly lane was blocked, so she stayed near and near missed the turn.
Correct Answer: The near lane was blocked, so she stayed near and nearly missed the turn.
Explanation:
Near modifies lane adjectivally, then indicates location adverbially. Nearly means almost in nearly missed .
55
In the sentence “The doorway was wide , she pushed it wide open, and the incident became widely known,” what do the highlighted forms express?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. Breadth as an adverb; broad distribution as an adjective; full extent as an adverb
B. Breadth as an adjective; full extent as an adverb; broad distribution as an adverb
C. Full extent as an adverb; breadth as an adjective; physical width as an adjective
D. Broad distribution as an adjective; breadth as an adverb; full extent as an adjective
Correct Answer: Breadth as an adjective; full extent as an adverb; broad distribution as an adverb
Explanation:
The first wide is a predicate adjective. The second is a flat adverb intensifying open , while widely means over a broad range.
56
Which sentence correctly uses straight as both an adjective and an adverb without adding -ly ?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. Use a straight edge and draw the line straightly.
B. Use a straightly edge and draw the line straight.
C. Use a straightened edge and draw the line straightness.
D. Use a straight edge and draw the line straight.
Correct Answer: Use a straight edge and draw the line straight.
Explanation:
Straight modifies edge as an adjective and modifies draw as a flat adverb. Straightly is not the standard form for this meaning.
57
Which analysis of daily is correct in the sentence “The daily briefing occurs daily ”?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. The first is an adjective modifying occurs ; the second is a noun naming a repeated event.
B. The first is an adverb modifying briefing ; the second is an adjective modifying occurs .
C. The first is a noun naming a publication; the second is an adjective functioning predicatively.
D. The first is an adjective modifying briefing ; the second is an adverb modifying occurs .
Correct Answer: The first is an adjective modifying briefing ; the second is an adverb modifying occurs .
Explanation:
Daily can retain the same form across word classes. It describes the noun briefing and then states how often the briefing occurs .
58
In “You selected the right key and guessed right ,” why does right belong to different word classes?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. It modifies the noun key first and the verb guessed second.
B. It modifies the verb selected first and the noun key second.
C. It functions as a noun first and as a preposition second.
D. It functions as a determiner first and as a conjunction second.
Correct Answer: It modifies the noun key first and the verb guessed second.
Explanation:
The first right is an adjective meaning correct . The second is a flat adverb describing how the person guessed.
59
Which interpretation correctly distinguishes the three highlighted forms in “The close observer stood close and watched closely ”?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. Attentive adverb; nearby adjective; carefully adjective
B. Attentive adjective; nearby adverb; carefully adverb
C. Carefully adjective; attentive adverb; nearby adverb
D. Nearby adjective; carefully adverb; nearby adverb
Correct Answer: Attentive adjective; nearby adverb; carefully adverb
Explanation:
Close observer means an attentive observer, stood close indicates proximity, and watched closely means watched carefully.
60
In “Children under five travel free , but a free press must report freely ,” which sequence of meanings and functions is correct?
Same words used as different parts of speech: Adjectives and Adverbs
Hard
A. Without constraint, adverb; unrestricted, adverb; without payment, adjective
B. Unrestricted, adjective; without payment, adverb; without constraint, adjective
C. Without payment, adjective; without constraint, adjective; unrestricted, adverb
D. Without payment, adverb; unrestricted, adjective; without constraint, adverb
Correct Answer: Without payment, adverb; unrestricted, adjective; without constraint, adverb
Explanation:
Travel free uses a flat adverb meaning without payment . Free press uses an adjective, while report freely uses an adverb meaning without constraint .