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Morphology – Quiz 1
Morphology Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of morphological concepts, including the identification and application of bound and free morphemes in English words. It also assesses knowledge of inflectional morphology, word formation rules, and their applications in scientific studies such as plant morphology and crystal habits.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
What does the prefix word sub mean?
A) With, thoroughly.
B) State of, condition of.
C) Possessing the qualities of.
D) Under, from below.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The prefix "sub" in English means "under, from below." This is why option D is the correct answer. It indicates a position or state beneath something else.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
With, thoroughly. Incorrect; this describes other prefixes like "with-" or "com-".
Option B:
State of, condition of. Incorrect; this is related to suffixes like "-ness" or "-ity", not the prefix "sub".
Option C:
Possessing the qualities of. Incorrect; this describes the prefix "super-".
Option D:
Under, from below. Correct; it accurately defines the meaning of "sub" as a prefix.
2.
In the context of lead morphology, what does the term 'crystal habit' refer to?
A) The density of lead.
B) The color of lead compounds.
C) The solubility of lead.
D) The shape of lead crystals.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Crystal habit refers to the characteristic shape and form that a crystal takes, which is determined by the way atoms are arranged during crystallization. In lead morphology, it describes how lead crystals typically grow and their overall appearance.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Density relates to mass per unit volume, not shape.
Option B:
Incorrect. Color is a visual property unrelated to crystal structure.
Option C:
Incorrect. Solubility refers to how easily a substance dissolves in a solvent, not the shape of crystals.
Option D:
Correct. The shape of lead crystals accurately describes what 'crystal habit' means.
3.
Select the sentence that uses the word audible correctly.
A) Silence is audible.
B) Audible is moving tomorrow.
C) The car's audible inreases in speed.
D) The audible train is very loud.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The word "audible" means capable of being heard. In option D, "The audible train is very loud," the term "audible" correctly describes that the train can be heard, which aligns with its definition.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect use; silence cannot be described as audible or inaudible without context.
Option B:
Grammatically incorrect and nonsensical usage of the word "audible."
Option C:
Incorrect use; "inreases" is misspelled, and the sentence structure does not fit the meaning of "audible."
Option D:
Correct usage as it accurately conveys that the train can be heard.
4.
Suffixes are added to words to change their meaning.
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Suffixes are indeed added to words to change their meaning, such as turning a noun into a verb (e.g., "friend" to "friendly") or modifying the intensity of an adjective (e.g., "happy" to "happier"). This is a fundamental concept in morphology.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Suffixes do change word meanings.
Option B:
Incorrect. Suffixes can alter the meaning of words, so this statement is false.
Option C:
Incorrect. Only one option is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
5.
Basic unit in the eye of cockroach/Insect is
A) Rhabdome.
B) Ommatidium.
C) Corneal facet.
D) Retina.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The basic unit in the eye of a cockroach/insect is
ommatidium
. Each ommatidium contains its own lens and photoreceptor cells, allowing insects to have a unique vision system characterized by many small eyes working together.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Rhabdome is a component within the ommatidium, not the basic unit itself.
Option B:
Correct. Ommatidium is the fundamental building block of insect compound eyes.
Option C:
Corneal facet refers to the outer layer of the eye and does not represent the basic structural unit.
Option D:
Retina is a term used in vertebrate eyes, not in describing the basic unit of insect compound eyes.
6.
What does immunity mean?
A) Increase in speed.
B) Resistance, defense, guard.
C) People in the same location.
D) Slow.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Immunity refers to the body's ability to resist and defend against harmful pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, which is a form of resistance, defense, or guard. This aligns with option B.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Increase in speed - Incorrect; immunity does not relate to physical speed.
Option B:
Resistance, defense, guard - Correct; this accurately describes the concept of immunity.
Option C:
People in the same location - Incorrect; this is unrelated to the definition of immunity.
Option D:
Slow - Incorrect; immunity does not pertain to speed or slowness.
7.
Affixes are considered as bound morpheme.
A) TRUE.
B) FALSE.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Affixes are indeed considered bound morphemes because they cannot stand alone as words and must be attached to other morphemes (free or bound) to form meaningful units in a language.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
TRUE. Affixes, by definition, are bound morphemes.
Option B:
FALSE. This is incorrect as affixes do qualify as bound morphemes.
Option C:
ALL THE ABOVE. Incorrect since only option A is true.
Option D:
NONE OF THE ABOVE. Incorrect because option A is correct.
8.
Lead morphology is often studied in conjunction with which other scientific field?
A) Toxicology.
B) Geology.
C) Physics.
D) All of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Lead morphology, the study of the shape and structure of lead particles, is often intersected with toxicology (the study of poisons), geology (the study of Earth's materials and processes), and physics (the study of matter and energy). Therefore, all these fields are relevant to understanding lead morphology.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Toxicology - Relevant as it deals with the effects of lead on health.
Option B:
Geology - Pertinent because lead can be found in geological formations and its particles can originate from these sources.
Option C:
Physics - Important for understanding the physical properties and behavior of lead particles.
Option D:
All of the above - Correct as it encompasses all three fields mentioned.
9.
A free morpheme:
A) Costs nothing.
B) Is easy to spell.
C) Has escaped captivity.
D) Is a word.
Show Answer
Explanations:
A free morpheme is a word that can stand alone as a complete unit of meaning and does not require any affixes (prefixes or suffixes) to be meaningful. This aligns with the correct answer: D) Is a word.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Costs nothing - Irrelevant to morpheme definition.
Option B:
Is easy to spell - Not a defining characteristic of free morphemes.
Option C:
Has escaped captivity - Metaphorical and not related to linguistic terminology.
Option D:
Is a word - Correct, as free morphemes are independent words.
10.
Bound morphemes can stand alone.
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Bound morphemes cannot stand alone because they are not meaningful on their own and require an affix to form a word. Examples include prefixes, suffixes, and roots that need to attach to other morphemes to create complete words.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Bound morphemes do not stand alone.
Option B:
Correct. Bound morphemes cannot function as independent words.
Option C:
Incorrect. All options except B are wrong.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option B is the correct answer.
11.
Which of the following words contains a derivational morpheme?
A) Played.
B) Cats.
C) Happiness.
D) Running.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The word "happiness" contains a derivational morpheme, specifically the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Played is a past tense verb form and does not contain a derivational morpheme.
Option B:
Cats is a plural noun and does not contain a derivational morpheme.
Option C:
Happiness contains the derivational morpheme "-ness," transforming "happy" (an adjective) into "happiness" (a noun).
Option D:
Running is a present participle or gerund and does not contain a derivational morpheme.
12.
What does the prefix 'tele-' mean?
A) Close.
B) Within.
C) Far.
D) Near.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The prefix 'tele-' in Greek means "far" or "distant." This is why option C) Far is the correct answer. Words like telephone, telescope, and telegram all use this prefix to indicate that they relate to communication or vision over a distance.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Close - Incorrect as 'tele-' refers to far, not close.
Option B:
Within - Incorrect as 'tele-' indicates something beyond the immediate vicinity.
Option C:
Far - Correct as it accurately describes the meaning of the prefix 'tele-'.
Option D:
Near - Incorrect as 'tele-' denotes distance, not proximity.
13.
The prefix ir-means
A) Able to.
B) Full.
C) Today.
D) Not.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The prefix "ir-" in English often indicates a negation, meaning "not." This is consistent with the claimed correct answer D) Not.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Able to. Incorrect as this does not represent the meaning of "ir-".
Option B:
Full. Incorrect, as full means complete or entire.
Option C:
Today. Incorrect, as today refers to the present day.
Option D:
Not. Correct, as "ir-" often negates the meaning of a word.
14.
Leafbase is swollen to form pulvinus in-
A) Some cycads.
B) Some leguminous plants.
C) Some crucifers.
D) Some monocots.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The pulvinus is a specialized part of the leaf base that allows for movement, such as in some leguminous plants (Option B). This structure enables the plant to move its leaves in response to light or touch, which is an example of nastic movements.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Some cycads do not typically exhibit pulvini on their leaf bases.
Option B:
Correct. Some leguminous plants have a pulvinus that allows for leaf movement.
Option C:
Crucifers (Option C) generally do not possess pulvini in their leaves.
Option D:
Monocots usually do not have specialized structures like pulvini on their leaf bases.
15.
Which of the following words means full of wonder?
A) Woeful.
B) Wondy.
C) Waffle.
D) Wonderful.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D) Wonderful is the correct answer because it means full of wonder, which directly matches the definition provided in the question.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Woeful means sorrowful or miserable, not related to wonder.
Option B:
Wondy is not a standard English word and does not convey the meaning of full of wonder.
Option C:
Waffle means to speak or act in an unclear or evasive way, unrelated to wonder.
Option D:
Wonderful directly means full of wonder, making it the correct choice.
16.
In "audible" , the center morpheme "audi" is a .....
A) Stem.
B) Bound base.
C) Free base.
D) Base.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The center morpheme "audi" in "audible" is a
bound base
. A bound base, also known as a root or stem when it functions independently, cannot stand alone and must be combined with other affixes. In the word "audible," "audi" is combined with the suffix "-ble" to form an adjective.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Stem - This term typically refers to a free base or a root that can function independently as a word, such as in "audio."
Option B:
Correct - Bound base.
Option C:
Free base - This would be applicable if the morpheme could stand alone as a word, which is not the case for "audi" in "audible."
Option D:
Base - While this term can sometimes refer to roots or stems, it is more accurate to specify that "audi" is a bound base in this context.
17.
Petiole when becomes green, flat and tend to function as leaf, is called as
A) Cladophyll.
B) Phyllode.
C) Cladode.
D) Phylloclade.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Phyllode refers to a petiole that becomes green, flat, and functions as a leaf. This adaptation is common in plants that grow in arid environments where minimizing water loss is crucial.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Cladophyll - A modified stem that performs photosynthesis but does not fit the description of a petiole.
Option B:
Phyllode - Correct. This term accurately describes a petiole that has taken on leaf-like functions.
Option C:
Cladode - A modified stem or leaf without petiole characteristics, often fleshy and photosynthetic.
Option D:
Phylloclade - A modified stem that performs photosynthesis but retains some stem-like features, not a petiole.
18.
What is the pair of phrases which are homophobic?
A) Allomorph.
B) Deletion.
C) Morpheme.
D) Oronyms.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Oronyms are a type of phonological phenomenon, not related to homophobia in any way. The correct answer is D) Oronyms.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Allomorph - refers to different forms of the same morpheme.
Option B:
Deletion - a process where sounds or syllables are omitted in speech.
Option C:
Morpheme - the smallest meaningful unit in language.
Option D:
Oronyms - refers to words that sound alike but have different meanings, unrelated to homophobia.
19.
What is the meaning of the root word aud-?
A) To become.
B) To navigate.
C) To see.
D) To hear/listen.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The root word
aud-
is derived from Latin and means "to hear/listen." This prefix is commonly found in English words related to hearing, such as
audit,
audio,
and
audible.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The root does not relate to becoming.
Option B:
Incorrect. The root is unrelated to navigation.
Option C:
Incorrect. While "see" can be related to some words,
aud-
specifically means "to hear/listen."
Option D:
Correct. This is the accurate meaning of the root word
aud-.
20.
In pea flower, the stamens are
A) Polyadelphous.
B) Monoadelphous.
C) Diadelphous.
D) Free.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Diadelphous stamens refer to a flower where the stamens are united into a single bundle with one filament remaining separate. This is the correct description for pea flowers (Pisum sativum).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Polyadelphous means stamens are united in several bundles, which does not match the description of pea flower stamens.
Option B:
Monoadelphous indicates a single bundle of stamens, with all filaments fused. This is incorrect for pea flowers.
Option C:
Diadelphous correctly describes the structure where most stamens are united into one bundle and one filament remains separate, which matches pea flower anatomy.
Option D:
Free stamens mean each stamen is separate. This does not apply to pea flowers as their stamens are united in a specific way.
21.
There are 18 Inflections in English.
A) TRUE.
B) FALSE.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The claim that there are 18 inflections in English is incorrect. Inflection, also known as grammatical inflection, refers to the modification of a word to express different grammatical categories such as tense, aspect, voice, mood, person, number, gender, case, and degree. The exact number can vary depending on how one categorizes certain forms, but it does not amount to 18 in standard English grammar.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as the statement is false.
Option B:
Correct. The claim about 18 inflections is false.
Option C:
Not applicable since only one option is correct.
Option D:
Not applicable since all other options are incorrect.
22.
What word is the adjective in the following sentence? The clumsy horse trotted slowly down the track.
A) Horse.
B) Slowly.
C) Clumsy.
D) Trotted.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The word "clumsy" is the adjective in the sentence because it describes a characteristic of the subject, "horse." Adjectives modify nouns by providing more information about their qualities or states.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Horse - This is a noun, not an adjective.
Option B:
Slowly - This is an adverb modifying the verb "trotted," not an adjective describing "horse."
Option C:
Clumsy - Correct. It describes the horse's quality or state.
Option D:
Trotted - This is a verb, not an adjective.
23.
When the margins of sepals or petals overlap one another without any particular direction, the condition is termed as
A) Valvate.
B) Twisted.
C) Imbricate.
D) Vexillary.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Imbricate refers to the overlapping arrangement of sepals or petals in a manner where each structure partially covers the next, but there is no particular directionality to this overlap. This matches the description given in the question.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Valvate describes structures that fold back like a valve, not overlapping.
Option B:
Twisted implies a rotational or spiral arrangement, which is not applicable here.
Option C:
Imbricate correctly describes the condition where margins of sepals or petals overlap without any particular direction.
Option D:
Vexillary pertains to a specific type of petal position in some flowers, not overlapping margins.
24.
This process forms a word by removing what is mistaken for an affix
A) Blend.
B) Back Formation.
C) Proper Name.
D) Acronym.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Back Formation involves creating a new word by removing what is mistakenly considered an affix, often from a longer word that has been misinterpreted as a compound or derivative form. For example, the word "editor" was back-formed from "edit."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Blend refers to combining two words into one new word, such as smog (smoke + fog), not removing affixes.
Option B:
Correct. Back Formation involves creating a word by mistakenly removing what is thought to be an affix from another word.
Option C:
Proper Name refers to names of specific people, places, or things and does not involve the creation of new words through misinterpretation of affixes.
Option D:
Acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of other words (e.g., NASA for National Aeronautics and Space Administration), unrelated to removing mistaken affixes.
25.
What statement is true about inflectional morpheme?
A) Inflectional morphemes are bound morphemes which modify noun number or verb tenses without modifying the base of the word.
B) There are 7 types of inflectional morphemes.
C) The comparative-er is not an inflectional morpheme.
D) It must not appear in suffix in English.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Inflectional morphemes are indeed bound morphemes that modify the number of nouns (e.g., "cats") or the tense of verbs (e.g., "walked"). They do not change the base form of the word, making option A correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Inflectional morphemes modify noun number or verb tenses without altering the base word.
Option B:
Incorrect. The exact number of inflectional morphemes can vary, and there is no universally accepted count of 7 types.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Comparative-er" is an inflectional morpheme used to form comparatives (e.g., "taller").
Option D:
Incorrect. Inflectional morphemes can appear as suffixes in English, such as "-s" for plural nouns or "-ed" for past tense verbs.
26.
What are morphemes?
A) The smallest independent unit of language.
B) Create a word that is completely different from its base.
C) Form new words by combining to or more existing words.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in language, which can stand alone as free morphemes (like 'cat' or 'run') or combine with other morphemes to form words (like adding '-s' to 'cat' to make 'cats'). They cannot be divided into smaller meaningful parts.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Morphemes are indeed the smallest independent units of language that carry meaning.
Option B:
Incorrect. While morphemes can change a word's form, they do not create completely different words from their base forms.
Option C:
Incorrect. This describes word formation or compounding, which involves combining words rather than the smallest units of meaning.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option A is correct and explains morphemes accurately.
27.
Morphology studies .....
A) Word pronunciation.
B) Word formation.
C) The meaning of words.
D) Sentence formation.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Morphology studies the structure of words and the rules for forming them, making
Option B) Word formation.
correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Focuses on pronunciation rather than word structure.
Option C:
Concerns itself with meanings of words, not their construction.
Option D:
Deals with sentence structure and syntax, not individual words.
28.
Which is a bound morpheme?
A) Form.
B) Tion.
C) Er.
D) Teach.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Tion is a bound morpheme because it cannot stand alone and must be attached to a root word, such as in "education" (edu- + cation) or "information" (inform + ation). Bound morphemes are always parts of words that need to be combined with other morphemes to form complete words.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Form. This is a free morpheme, as it can stand alone and has meaning by itself (e.g., "the form").
Option B:
Tion. Correct answer. It is a bound morpheme that typically indicates the noun form of a verb ending in -ate or -ify (e.g., information).
Option C:
Er. This can be both a free and bound morpheme, depending on its use; however, it is not as commonly used as "tion" to form nouns from verbs.
Option D:
Teach. This is a free morpheme that functions as a verb (e.g., "teach me").
29.
What does the root word "micro" mean in the word "microscope" ?
A) Life.
B) Small.
C) Bad.
D) Round.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The root word "micro" in the term "microscope" means small. This prefix is derived from Greek and indicates something that is tiny or minute, which aligns with the function of a microscope to magnify very small objects for detailed examination.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Life - Incorrect. The root "micro" does not relate to life.
Option B:
Small - Correct. This is the accurate meaning of "micro" in this context.
Option C:
Bad - Incorrect. There is no connection between "micro" and a negative connotation like bad.
Option D:
Round - Incorrect. The term does not imply anything about shape or form being round.
30.
All are examples of blending except .....
A) Frenemy.
B) Staycation.
C) Facebook.
D) Docudrama.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Blending is a process in morphology where parts of two words are combined to form a new word, often with a shortened form. Examples include "frenemy" (friend + enemy), "staycation" (stay + vacation), and "docudrama" (documentary + drama). However, "Facebook" is not an example of blending; it is a proper noun referring to the name of a social media platform.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Frenemy - Blending: friend + enemy
Option B:
Staycation - Blending: stay + vacation
Option C:
Facebook - Proper noun, not blending
Option D:
Docudrama - Blending: documentary + drama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a morpheme?
A morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit in language that cannot be divided into smaller units without losing its meaning. It can be free, which stands alone as a word, or bound, which needs to attach to another morpheme to form a word.
How does morphology relate to English grammar?
Morphology in English involves the study of how smaller units combine to form words and how these words can change their form to express different grammatical categories, such as tense or number.
What is derivational morphology?
Derivational morphology deals with the formation of new words by adding affixes to existing roots, such as changing "happy" to "unhappiness" or creating "friendship" from "friend."
Can you explain inflectional morphology?
Inflectional morphology involves changes in a word's form to indicate grammatical categories such as tense, number, or case without altering the word’s core meaning. For example, changing "walk" to "walked" or "dog" to "dogs."
What is an example of a bound morpheme?
A bound morpheme, such as the suffix "-ness," cannot stand alone and must attach to another morpheme. For instance, "happiness" combines the root "happy" with the suffix "-ness."