Multiple Choice
Which word best describes something that gives helpful feedback meant to improve work?
A. aggressive
B. constructive
C. expressive
D. competitive
B. constructive
Which word means hopefulness and expecting good things?
A. realism
B. optimism
C. criticism
D. activism
The painting style focused on simple shapes and very little detail, a key feature of —
A. modernism
B. pluralism
C. minimalism
D. realism
C. minimalism
Scientist ends in -ist.
What does the suffix tell you about the word’s meaning?
-ist = a person who practices or studies something
Protective ends in -ive.
How does the suffix help you understand what kind of word this is?
-ive = describes a quality (an adjective)
Which sentence uses the word relative correctly?
A. She gave a relative speech about kindness.
B. My relative lives in another state.
C. That movie was very relative and funny.
D. He relative the answer quickly.
B. My relative lives in another state.
What word means a person who writes news stories or reports information for newspapers, TV, or online media?
A. chemist
B. journalist
C. therapist
D. novelist
Even after failing once, her __________ helped her keep trying.
A. optimism
B. realism
C. aggression
D. activism
A. optimism
Capitalism ends in -ism.
What does this suffix tell you about the type of idea the word represents?
-ism = belief, system, or practice
Compare: real → realist → realism
How does the meaning change as the suffix changes?
base meaning → person → belief/system
Which word describes something that can easily be noticed because it stands out?
A. sensitive
B. massive
C. expressive
D. selective
C. expressive
3. Which word describes something that helps or gives assistance?
A. selective
B. aggressive
C. supportive
D. expressive
The coach made sure players wore helmets as a __________ safety measure.
A. expressive
B. protective
C. competitive
D. creative
B. protective
Expressive and expression share a base.
How does -ive change the meaning compared to the noun form?
-ive makes it describing (full of expression)
What do words ending in -ist usually name?
What do words ending in -ism name?
Give an example of each.
-ist = person (artist), -ism = idea/system (realism)
Which word refers to an economic system based on private ownership and profit?
A. socialism
B. criticism
C. capitalism
D. tourism
C. capitalism
5. Which word means a style that keeps things very simple?
A. realism
B. minimalism
C. modernism
D. materialism
The __________ studies rocks and Earth’s layers to understand how the planet formed.
A. linguist
B. pharmacist
C. geologist
D. novelist
C. geologist
Look at minimalism and materialism.
How does knowing -ism help you predict what these words might be about?
-ism signals a belief or style
The word supportive describes a person’s behavior.
Why does -ive make sense for a describing word?
-ive forms adjectives that describe qualities someone "tends to do"
Which word means a person who studies language?
A. journalist
B. linguist
C. novelist
D. realist
B. linguist
What word means a system of ideas about sharing wealth in society?
A. capitalism
B. tourism
C. socialism
D. pluralism
The city attracts many visitors each year because of its famous landmarks and cultural sites, making it a center of __________.
A. modernism
B. realism
C. tourism
D. patriotism
C. tourism
How can suffixes help you figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word like futurist?
-ist signals “a person connected to the future”
Which suffix would you expect in the word for a person who studies geology? Explain your thinking.
-ist → geologist, because it names a person