Word Knowledge - Word Formation in Context

Guided Practice

Sometimes the meanings of words become clearer within a context larger than a single sentence. Read the paragraph below and complete the sentences by choosing the correct word from each group of words appearing in a pull-down window. Each pull-down window is preceded by a synonym or defining phrase in parentheses to help you make your choice. You will receive feedback in the answer bar at the bottom of the page.

  1. Many American voters have no interest in voting in the yearly elections. Every year, newspapers have stories that complain about (uninterested)    voters who do not bother to go to the polls to vote. Of course, this (lack of interest)    is nothing new, and it seems to get worse each year as fewer and fewer people vote. Then, when voters complain that they do not like the government, no one can (share the same feeling)    with their complaints because we all know that they are responsible for not being interested enough to take the time to vote for change. Interestingly, many people say they can't stand politics and have a real (deep hatred)    towards the politicians who are in office. This feeling towards the politicians does not change anything because the (uninterested)    voting public gets no (shared feeling)    from the rest of the people who vote in every election.

    apathy: INCORRECT. Try again.

    apathetic: CORRECT! The ­ic ending is a typical adjective ending for words that explain nouns. Other adjectives that end in ­ic are frantic, sympathetic, pathetic, etc. The INCORRECT choice apathy ends with ­y, a typical noun ending.

    apathy: CORRECT! The ­y is a typical noun ending for words like sympathy, harmony, misery, etc.

    The INCORRECT choice apathetic ends with ­ic, a typical adjective ending. apathetic

    sympathy: INCORRECT. Try again.

    sympathize: CORRECT! The ­ize ending is typical of many verbs like empathize, realize, summarize, etc.

    sympathetic: INCORRECT. Try again.

    antipathy: CORRECT! Again, ­y is a typical noun ending for words like this.

    antipathetic: INCORRECT. Try again.

    apathy: INCORRECT. Try again.

    apathetic: CORRECT! The ­ic adjective ending explains the noun public.

    sympathy: CORRECT! -y is the noun ending.

    sympathetic: INCORRECT. Try again.

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