Skill
Determine Meanings From Word Parts
No description
When you face an unfamiliar long word in the TOEFL ITP Reading section, you can often determine its meaning by analyzing its word parts—prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Many English words come from Latin or Greek, and knowing common word parts can help you understand the meaning even if you have never seen the word before.
This skill is especially useful when:
- The word has a clear and recognizable prefix (e.g., sub-, mis-, contra-)
- The root appears in other words you already know (e.g., spect- in inspect, spectator)
- The context gives only limited clues and you must rely on structure
By identifying these parts, you can eliminate incorrect choices and select the closest meaning.
Exercise
Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:
Read each question and choose the best answer based on the meaning of the underlined word part.
PASSAGE 1 (Questions 1–5)
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese-born explorer known for his exploration of the coast of present-day California. Early records show that he served in the Spanish army from 1520 to 1524 during Spain’s efforts at the subjugation of the native populations in Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala. Little is known of his activities afterward, but he apparently advanced through the ranks. In 1541, he was ordered to explore the western coast of North America. Cabrillo reached San Diego Bay in 1542 and claimed the terrain for Spain. Today, the landing site is honored as a national monument where an annual celebration is held.
Cabrillo continued northward along the spectacular California coastline until storms forced him to turn back. He eventually veered south and died on San Miguel Island before returning to Mexico.
1. The word subjugation is closest in meaning to
(A) freedom
(B) control
(C) improvement
(D) agreement
2. The word decades refers to
(A) centuries
(B) ten-year periods
(C) long ages
(D) short months
3. The word terrain is closest in meaning to
(A) minerals
(B) population
(C) land
(D) economy
4. The word spectacular is closest in meaning to
(A) visually impressive
(B) completely uneven
(C) extremely remote
(D) uninteresting
5. The word veered is closest in meaning to
(A) turned
(B) continued
(C) settled
(D) completed
PASSAGE 2 (Questions 6–10)
Checks and balances are a key concept in the U.S. Constitution. Each branch of government is given powers that limit the others, preventing any branch from achieving total dominance. The government is tripartite, consisting of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. For example, Congress may pass a law by a simple majority, but the president can veto it. Congress may then counteract the veto with a two-thirds majority. Even so, the Supreme Court may declare a law contradictory to the Constitution and therefore invalid.
6. The expression dominance over is closest in meaning to
(A) authority over
(B) cooperation with
(C) rejection of
(D) understanding of
7. The word tripartite most nearly means
(A) divided into three
(B) extremely powerful
(C) highly democratic
(D) unevenly divided
8. The word judiciary refers to
(A) the electorate
(B) the legal system
(C) the government as a whole
(D) the military
9. The word counteract is closest in meaning to
(A) support
(B) work against
(C) debate
(D) surpass
10. The phrase contradictory to is closest in meaning to
(A) supported by
(B) similar to
(C) opposite to
(D) consistent with
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