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Question 1
Which suffix means process?
Correct Answer:
-osis
Explanation:
Suffix -osis comes from Greek and is used to name a process that leads to a state or condition. It’s common in medical terms to describe a process that results in a disease or ongoing condition, so words ending in -osis embody the idea of a process in action. For example, cirrhosis describes the process by which liver tissue becomes scarred, resulting in a chronic condition, and neurosis names a psychological state tied to underlying processes. Other endings lean toward describing actions or qualities rather than the ongoing process itself, which is why -osis is the best fit for “process” in this sense.
Question 2
The suffix -oid denotes which meaning?
Correct Answer:
Resembling
Explanation:
The idea behind this suffix is likeness. -oid signals that something is like or in the form of the base word—in other words, it describes appearance or shape rather than action, origin, or viewing. Think of examples: a humanoid is human-like, an asteroid is star-shaped or star-like, a spheroid is sphere-shaped, and an android is man-shaped. The focus is on how something resembles the base concept, not on breaking down, creating, or seeing something. So, the best fit describes resemblance or likeness. The other possibilities refer to different ideas (breaking down, making, or viewing) and don’t capture what -oid conveys.
Question 3
Cyto- refers to which cellular component?
Correct Answer:
Cell
Explanation:
Cyto- is a prefix that means cell. It shows up in terms like cytology (the study of cells) and cytoplasm (the material inside a cell), signaling a relationship to the cell itself or its contents. This makes it the best fit for describing cellular components at the cell level. References to the nucleus would use nucle-, while membranes or other substructures use different roots, such as membran- or organell-. So cyto- points to the cell as a whole, not to a specific subcomponent.
Question 4
Which prefix means 'apart'?
Correct Answer:
Ana
Explanation:
The idea behind this prefix is that it often signals separation or taking apart in terms. Ana- comes from Greek and in many scientific words it conveys the sense of apart, up, or again. For instance, anatomy literally involves cutting the body apart to study its parts, and anaphase is the stage of cell division where chromosomes separate from each other. That sense of separation aligns with meaning “apart.” The other prefixes point to different ideas: auto- means self, bi/di/diplo means two or double, and arche/archaea means ancient or primitive. So ana- best fits the sense of apart.
Question 5
Which meaning matches the prefix hydro?
Correct Answer:
Water
Explanation:
Hydro- signals water. It comes from the Greek hydōr for water, so terms with this prefix are about water or fluids. That’s why it best matches water in the list, as seen in words like hydroelectric (powered by water), hydrotherapy (treatment using water), and hydroponics (growing plants in water-based solutions). The other ideas don’t fit because they come from different roots: earth is geo- (as in geology), blood is hemo-/haemo- (as in hematology or hemodynamics), and equal is iso- (as in isometric or isotherm).
Question 1
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Prepare with the GSS Etymology Practice Test practice quiz. This question bank includes 10 questions covering meaning, prefix, suffix, denotes, and city. Use it to review important concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for the related exam, course, or assessment.

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GSS Etymology Practice Test

This practice set contains 10 questions from the matching question bank and focuses on meaning, prefix, suffix, denotes, and city. Work through each question carefully, review the provided solutions, and revisit topics that need more study before your next attempt.

This is an independent study resource intended for practice and review; it is not an official examination or an endorsement by any organization named in the title.

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