IMO Practice Test — Word Formation — Advanced
8 Questions • 15 min • Olympiad level
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Decode 'misanthrope': mis(o) (hate) + anthrop (human). It means:
a lover of humanity
a hater of humankind
a student of humans
a leader of people
Explanation: 'one who hates humankind'.
Question 2 of 8
Choose the correctly formed word: 'in-' + 'responsible' =
inresponsible
irresponsible
imresponsible
unresponsible
Explanation: Before 'r', in- becomes ir-: 'irresponsible'.
Question 3 of 8
Which word uses conversion (zero derivation)?
The committee will chair the session.
The chairman spoke.
It was a chairlike posture.
She sat on the chair.
Explanation: 'chair' (noun) used as a verb meaning 'to preside'.
Question 4 of 8
Form the abstract noun: 'able' →
ableness
ability
ably
enabling
Explanation: 'ability'.
Question 5 of 8
Which compound is correctly hyphenated as an adjective before a noun?
a state of the art system
a state-of-the-art system
a state-of the art system
a stateoftheart system
Explanation: 'state-of-the-art' is fully hyphenated before the noun.
Question 6 of 8
'circum-' + 'spect' (look) gives 'circumspect', meaning:
careless
looking around / cautious
very fast
secretive
Explanation: Literally 'looking around' → cautious.
Question 7 of 8
Build the word: 'across' + 'continent' + adjective suffix =
transcontinent
transcontinental
intercontinent
subcontinental
Explanation: trans- + continent + -al = transcontinental.
Question 8 of 8
Which sentence shows correct hyphenation rules?
The author is well-known. The event was well organised.
The author is well known. The event was a well-organised one.
The author is well-known. The event was a well organised one.
The author is well known. The event was a well organised one.
Explanation: After a verb 'well known' (no hyphen); before a noun 'well-organised' (hyphen).