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Meaning inferable from roots and prefixes

DR. Byrnes' TOEFL Reading Self-study Course: Sample Lecture


 Meaning inferable from roots and prefixes

Many TOEFL vocabulary questions can be easily answered if you know the meanings of roots, prefixes and suffixes. So, in this section, we examine TOEFL questions that relate to the meanings of roots, prefixes and suffixes. 


The most common TOEFL vocabulary questions relate to the prefixes that mean ‘not.’ The following prefixes all have a negative meaning, ‘not’ or ‘without’:

a- (an-), di- (dif-, dis-), im- (ig-, il-, in-, ir-), mis-, un-


These are example words with these prefixes:


achromatic (without color) 

amorphous (without a form, formless)

anomaly (non normal thing)

apathy (without feeling, indifference)

analgesic (without pain, relieving pain)

anarchy (no government)


disdain (to consider someone unworthy, scorn)

disappear (to move out of sight) 

disfigure (to spoil the attractiveness of)

disingenuous (not candid, dishonest, untruthful)

disinterested (not interested, unbiased)


ignoble (not noble, dishonorable)

ignominious (losing good name, disgraceful, shameful)

illegal (not legal) 

illicit (not legitimate)

immaculate (without stain, clean, spotless, unblemished, pure)

immediate (without intervention, instant, prompt, speedy)

impossible (not possible)

impudent (not showing due respect for another person; impertinent)

inappropriate (not appropriate)

insecure (not secure)

incompetent (not competent)

irresponsible (not responsible)

irregular (not regular)


misbehave (to behave badly) 

misprint (an error in printing) 

misplace (to put in a wrong place, to lose)

misnomer (an error in naming a person or thing) 


unable (not able)

unfair (not fair)

unprecedented (never done or known before)

unabridged (not shortened) 

unfriendly (lacking friendliness)


Example 1 (medium)

It was an implausible claim.

  1. far-fetched

  2. impossible

  3. feasible

  4. realistic

Analysis

‘Implausible’ means ‘not plausible,’ and ‘plausible’ means ‘reasonable, feasible, probable.’ So, ‘implausible’ means not seemingly reasonable or probable. These are synonyms of ‘implausible’:


unlikely, improbable, questionable, doubtful, debatable, far-fetched, unrealistic, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, inconceivable, fanciful, ridiculous, absurd, preposterous


A: ‘far-fetched’ means ‘implausible.’

B: ‘impossible’ is too strong. ‘Impossible’ implies a zero chance to be true, but ‘implausible’ implies a very small chance to be true.

C and D: ‘feasible’ and ‘realistic’ are the opposite meanings of ‘implausible.’

Answer: A


Example 2 (medium)

Early in the nineteenth century, encounters with Aboriginal rock art tended to be infrequent and open to speculative interpretation, but since the late nineteenth century, awareness of the extent and variety of Australian rock art has been growing.

The word “infrequent” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. puzzling

  2. uncommon

  3. questionable

  4. undocumented

Analysis

‘Infrequent’ is the opposite of ‘frequent,’ which means ‘often.’ So, ‘infrequent’ means ‘not often.’ If something happens not often, it is uncommon.

Answer：B


Example 3 (hard)

The immense volume of clay tablets unearthed in the ruins of the Sumerian temples where the accounts were kept suggests a social differentiation within the scribal class, with a virtual army of lower-ranking tabulators performing the monotonous job of tallying commodities. 

The word “unearthed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. discovered

  2. protected

  3. buried

  4. forgotten

Analysis

“Earth,” as a verb, means ‘to cover the roots of the plant with dirt.’ So ‘unearthed' means 'uncovered, discovered.’ 

Answer：A


Example (hard)

The undisputed pre-Columbian presence in Oceana of the sweet potato, which is a New World domesticate, has sometimes been used to support Heyerdahl’s “American Indians in the Pacific” theories.

The word “undisputed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. mysterious

  2. unexpected

  3. acknowledged

  4. significant

Analysis
“Undisputed” means ‘not disputed.’ ‘Dispute’ means ‘to question whether a statement is true.’ So ‘undisputed’ means ‘not questioned, undoubted, uncontested, unchallenged.’ The derived meaning of ‘undisputed” from this is, ‘decided, accepted, acknowledged. 
Answer：C


TOEFL Vocab Exercise Questions


Question 1 (easy)

Some of these weapons will invariably hit the wrong targets, and competitive pressures might result in deployment of more systems that are not ready for the battlefield.

The word “invariably ” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. easily

  2. accurately

  3. always

  4. soon


Question 2 (medium)

This is the time period in which most scientists formerly believed the area to be inhospitable for humans. 

The word “inhospitable”in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. not familiar

  2. not suitable

  3. not dangerous

  4. not reachable


Question 3 (medium)

While these molecules might stay intact beneath the surface (as they evidently do on asteroids and comets), they probably cannot react with each other unless some kind of liquid or gas is available to move them about.

The word “intact” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. buried

  2. whole

  3. confined

  4. active


Question 4 (medium)

This unprecedented development of a finite groundwater resource with an almost negligible natural recharge rate—that is, virtually no natural water source to replenish the water supply—has caused water tables in the region to fall drastically. 

The word “unprecedented” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. difficult to control

  2. without any restriction

  3. unlike anything in the past

  4. rapidly expanding

 

Question 5 (medium)

 It is a monumental scientific achievement, and its development illustrates the essential interplay between observation, prediction, and testing required for scientific progress.

The word “interplay” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. sequence

  2. interpretation

  3. requirement

  4. interaction


Question 6 (medium)

The large hind legs were used for propulsion in water.

The word "propulsion" in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. Staying afloat

  2. Changing direction

  3. Decreasing weight

  4. Moving forward


Question 7 (easy)

In the animal world the task of moving about is fulfilled in many ways. For some animals locomotion is accomplished by changes in body shape.

The word locomotion in the passage is closest in meaning to 

  1. evolution 

  2. movement 

  3. survival 

  4. escape 


Question 8 (easy)

This rapid origin and diversification of animals is often referred to as “the Cambrian explosion.”

The word “diversification” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. emergence of many varieties

  2. steady decline in number

  3. gradual increase in body size

  4. sudden disappearance

 

Question 9 (easy)

The onrushing water arising from these flash floods likely also formed the odd teardrop-shaped “islands” (resembling the miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low tide) that have been found on the plains close to the ends of the outflow channels. 

The word “miniature” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. temporary

  2. small

  3. multiple

  4. familiar


Question 10 (medium)

When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity

The word “autonomous” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. artistic

  2. important

  3. independent

  4. established


Question 11 (medium)

Later Byzantine columns were monolithic and usually made of marble.

The word “monolithic” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. huge

  2. formed of straight line

  3. formed of monotonous pattern

  4. formed of single stone


Question 12 (hard)

The undisputed pre-Columbian presence in Oceana of the sweet potato, which is a New World domesticate, has sometimes been used to support Heyerdahl’s “American Indians in the Pacific” theories.

The word “undisputed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

  1. mysterious

  2. unexpected

  3. acknowledged

  4. significant