Prefixes & Suffixes
Rhetorical Devices
You know what it issss :)
TSIA Sample Questions
Grammar Yes or Grammar NO
100
Previewed
- Prefix: pre- — before
- Root: view — to see; an act of seeing or looking
- Suffix: -ed — past tense; indicates completed action
- Definition: Watched or seen beforehand; something that was shown or inspected before the main presentation.
100
Hyperbole, you must also provide an example!
An extreme exaggeration
100
In what year was Twitter (x) invented?
A. 2005
B. 2006
C. 2007
D.2008
B. 2006
100
Passage excerpt: “Sara placed her mug on the counter and smiled. The sun streamed through the window, warming the kitchen.”
Question: The tone of the excerpt is best described as:
A. anxious
B. cheerful
C. sarcastic
D. thankful
Answer: B. cheerful
Explanation: Words like “smiled” and “sun streamed… warming” create a pleasant, upbeat mood.
100
The cat chased the mouse across the yard.
Answer: No mistake.
Explanation: Spelling, capitalization, and commas are all correct.
200
Disable
- Prefix: dis- — not; opposite of; to reverse
- Root: able (from Latin habilis) — able; having the capacity or means
- Suffix: none (the core is able as the root in this case)
- Definition: To make not able; to take away the ability, function, or effectiveness of something.
200
What is Diction?
(Hint: break this word down. What does it sound like?)
The author's word choice establishes tone and mood.
200
When & WHERE was the first Thanksgiving?
1621 @ Plymouth Rock
200
Passage excerpt: “The mayor announced the new park would open next spring, promising trees, playgrounds, and walking trails. Yet funding remained uncertain, and timelines looked optimistic.”
Question: Which choice best describes the author’s attitude toward the mayor’s announcement?
A. Fully trusting
B. Indifferent
C. Skeptical
D. Outraged
You must explain WHY you chose this answer. No, "It looked right," or you will LOSE the points just as if you got it incorrect.
Answer: C. skeptical
Explanation: The mention of “funding remained uncertain” and “timelines looked optimistic” signals doubt about the announcement’s feasibility.
200
Sentence: He doesnt like broccoli.
Answer: Mistake — spelling (missing apostrophe).
Corrected: He doesn't like broccoli.
Explanation: The contraction requires an apostrophe: "doesn't" (does + not).
300
Interaction
- Prefix: inter- — between; among; mutual
- Root: act — do; perform; a deed or action
- Suffix: -ion — action or process; the result of
- Definition: Reciprocal action or communication between two or more people, things, or systems.
300
What is an Analogy?
- Definition: A comparison that shows similarities between two different things to clarify or persuade. Metaphors state one thing is another; similes use "like" or "as."
300
What car do these taillights belong to?
Range Rover
300
Passage excerpt: “Although the company’s annual report touted record growth, its workforce shrank by 12 percent and several regional offices closed. Investors cheered the stock rise; employees read the fine print.”
Question: The passage most strongly implies that:
A. Employees and investors share the same perspective on the company’s success.
B. The company’s reported growth is unambiguously positive.
C. There is a contrast between surface-level appearances and underlying realities.
D. Regional office closures caused the stock price to fall.
Answer: C. There is a contrast between surface-level appearances and underlying realities.
Explanation: The report’s “touted record growth” contrasts with workforce reductions and office closures; investors react positively while employees, aware of negative details (“fine print”), experience a different reality.
300
Sentence: The library closes at 6:00 p.m., on weekdays.
Answer: Mistake — comma error.
Corrected: The library closes at 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Explanation: No comma needed after the period; the phrase "on weekdays" is essential information and should follow the abbreviation without an intervening comma.
400
Incomprehensible
- Prefix: in- — not
- Root: comprehend — to understand; to grasp the meaning of
- Suffix: -ible — capable of being; able to be (here combined with in- gives not able to be understood)
- Definition: Not able to be understood; difficult or impossible to grasp mentally.
400
What is Irony? You may give an example as your answer.
- Definition: A contrast between expectation and reality; includes verbal irony (saying the opposite of what’s meant), situational irony (an outcome contrary to expectations), and dramatic irony (reader knows more than characters).
- Example: Saying “Great weather!” during a storm (verbal irony).
400
How much money does the most expensive hotel in the world cost to stay PER NIGHT?
A. 97,000 per night
B. 100,000 per night
C. 120,000 per night
D. 130,000 per night
The most expensive hotel in the world is Atlantis the Royal in Dubai, with its Royal Mansion suite costing around $100,000 per night, making it the most expensive single hotel suite currently available.
400
Passage excerpt: “In the debate over urban redevelopment, proponents argued that new developments would revitalize neighborhoods and increase property values. Critics countered that rising rents would displace longtime residents and erode local culture. Policy makers cited economic models projecting net gains, while sociologists pointed to qualitative studies of community loss.”
Question: The author’s purpose in this passage is best described as:
A. To advocate for redevelopment by presenting economic projections.
B. To criticize sociologists for ignoring economic benefits.
C. To present multiple perspectives and highlight the complexity of the issue.
D. To recommend a specific policy solution balancing growth and preservation.
Answer: C. To present multiple perspectives and highlight the complexity of the issue.
Explanation: The passage summarizes arguments from proponents, critics, policymakers, and sociologists without endorsing any one, indicating an intent to show complexity rather than argue for a single solution.
400
Sentence: although the report was thoruogh, it lacked supporting data.
Answer: Mistake — capitalization.
Corrected: Although the report was thorough, it lacked supporting data.
Explanation: Sentence-initial word must be capitalized. Spelling issue.
500
Antidisestablishment
Antidisestablishment
- Prefix: anti- — against; opposing
- Combining prefix: dis- — removal; reversal; opposite of
- Root: establish — set up; found; institute
- Suffix: none (the full historic form adds -ment as a noun; here the word stem antidisestablishment refers to the movement opposing disestablishment)
- Definition: Opposition to the disestablishment (removal of an official state church); historically refers to resisting the separation of church and state institutions.
500
****DAILY DOUBLE; ALL OR NOTHING******
(Only applies to the team that CHOSE the question)
You must answer the question in its entirety. Failure to do so will result in a loss of points. Meaning that you will lose HALF of your points or GAIN 1000 points!
What are the three types of Irony, AND what do they mean?
- Verbal irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean (often sarcastic).
- Situational irony: When the actual outcome is the opposite of what was expected.
- Dramatic irony: The audience knows something a character does not.
500
The longest-living animal is...?
A. Bowhead Whale
B. Glass Sponge
C. Seychelles Giant Tortoise
D. Red Sea Urchin
The glass sponge (over 10,000 years)
500
Passage excerpt: “The novel’s unreliable narrator recounts events with confident detail, yet small contradictions accumulate: a referenced weather pattern that is impossible for the stated season, a character’s knowledge of a private conversation they should not have attended, and dates that shift subtly across chapters. Readers are forced to recalibrate trust as narrative authority erodes.”
Question: Which choice most accurately describes the rhetorical effect produced by the narrator’s unreliability?
A. It simplifies the plot so readers can easily identify the truth.
B. It heightens dramatic tension by compelling readers to question and actively interpret the text.
C. It makes the narrative wholly implausible and disengaging.
D. It provides definitive proof that another character is the true storyteller.
Answer: B. It heightens dramatic tension by compelling readers to question and actively interpret the text.
Explanation: Unreliable narration creates tension and interpretive activity as readers reconcile contradictions; it does not simplify the plot or definitively prove another narrator’s identity.
500
Sentence: Dr. Patel will arrive on Monday, She plans to speak at noon.
Answer: Mistake — comma splice and capitalization.
Corrected: Dr. Patel will arrive on Monday. She plans to speak at noon.
Explanation: Two independent clauses are incorrectly joined with a comma; replace with a period (or use a semicolon). Also, after the period the next sentence correctly capitalizes "She."