What this area covers
- Using context to determine meaning
- Prefixes, suffixes and root words
- Medical terminology built from word parts
- Commonly confused word pairs
- Denotation versus connotation
Concepts that come up most in our question bank:
Where students lose marks
Commonly confused pairs — ensure and insure, affect and effect, their and there — appear reliably, and reading the sentence quickly is exactly how you get them wrong.
How to study it
Learn word parts rather than whole words. Knowing that brady- means slow, tachy- means fast, -itis means inflammation and -ectomy means removal lets you decode terms you have never seen, which is what the exam is actually testing.
Practice questions
Answer these, then check them to see the full explanation for every option — including why each wrong answer is wrong.
- Question 1
What does the root word 'cardi' mean?
Correct answer: B. 'Cardi' or 'cardio' comes from the Greek word for heart. Examples: cardiology (study of the heart), cardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle), cardiovascular (relating to the heart and blood vessels), tachycardia (fast heart rate).
- A. Brain is represented by the root 'cerebr-' or 'encephal-' (e.g., cerebral, encephalitis).
- C. Lung is represented by the root 'pulmon-' or 'pneum-' (e.g., pulmonary, pneumonia).
- D. Kidney is represented by the root 'ren-' or 'nephr-' (e.g., renal, nephrology).
- Question 2
Using context clues, determine the meaning of 'lethargic' in the following sentence: 'After receiving the sedative, the patient became lethargic, barely able to keep his eyes open or respond to questions.'
Correct answer: B. Context clues: 'after receiving the sedative' (sedatives cause drowsiness), 'barely able to keep his eyes open' (drowsy), and 'respond to questions' (lacking energy/alertness). 'Lethargic' means sluggish, drowsy, and lacking energy.
- A. The opposite of lethargic. The context clues show decreased alertness and energy.
- C. Anxiety and restlessness would show agitation, not inability to keep eyes open.
- D. Anger and combativeness are behavioral states unrelated to the sedative-induced drowsiness described.
- Question 3
What does the prefix 'anti-' mean?
Correct answer: B. 'Anti-' means against or opposing. Examples: antibiotic (against bacteria), antiseptic (against infection), antidote (against poison), anti-inflammatory (against inflammation).
- A. Before is the meaning of 'pre-' (e.g., prenatal, preoperative).
- C. Together is the meaning of 'syn-' or 'con-' (e.g., synthesis, combine).
- D. Self is the meaning of 'auto-' (e.g., autoimmune, autonomy).
- Question 4
Which word is an antonym of 'exacerbate'?
Correct answer: B. 'Exacerbate' means to make worse or more severe. 'Alleviate' means to make less severe, to relieve — the opposite. Example: 'The medication will alleviate your symptoms' vs. 'Stress can exacerbate your condition.'
- A. 'Worsen' is a synonym of exacerbate, not an antonym.
- C. 'Intensify' is a synonym — both mean to make stronger/worse.
- D. 'Aggravate' is a synonym — both mean to make worse.
- Question 5
What does the suffix '-ectomy' mean?
Correct answer: B. '-ectomy' means surgical removal or excision. Examples: appendectomy (removal of appendix), mastectomy (removal of breast), cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder), tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils).
- A. Inflammation is '-itis' (e.g., arthritis).
- C. Study of is '-ology' (e.g., biology).
- D. Pain is '-algia' (e.g., neuralgia, myalgia).
- Question 6
Using context clues, determine the meaning of 'prognosis' in the following sentence: 'The doctor explained that the prognosis was favorable, and the patient was expected to make a full recovery within six weeks.'
Correct answer: B. Context clues: 'favorable' (a positive prediction) and 'expected to make a full recovery within six weeks' (predicted outcome). 'Prognosis' means the likely course and outcome of a disease or condition.
- A. The cause of a disease is the 'etiology,' not the prognosis.
- C. The symptoms are part of the 'presentation' or 'clinical picture,' not the prognosis.
- D. The medication prescribed is part of the 'treatment plan,' not the prognosis.
- Question 7
What does the prefix 'sub-' mean?
Correct answer: B. 'Sub-' means below, under, or beneath. Examples: subcutaneous (under the skin), sublingual (under the tongue), subnormal (below normal), submarine (under the sea).
- A. Above is the meaning of 'super-' or 'supra-' (e.g., superficial, supraclavicular).
- C. Around is the meaning of 'peri-' or 'circum-' (e.g., pericardium, circumference).
- D. Between is the meaning of 'inter-' (e.g., intercostal, international).
- Question 8
Which word is a synonym for 'abrupt'?
Correct answer: B. 'Abrupt' means sudden, unexpected, or happening without warning. 'Sudden' shares this meaning. Example: 'The abrupt onset of chest pain alarmed the nurse.'
- A. 'Gradual' is an antonym meaning slow and progressive.
- C. 'Slow' is an antonym — abrupt implies quickness.
- D. 'Expected' is an antonym — abrupt implies unexpectedness.
- Question 9
What does the root word 'derma' or 'derm' mean?
Correct answer: B. 'Derma/derm' comes from the Greek word for skin. Examples: dermatology (study of skin), dermatitis (inflammation of skin), epidermis (outer layer of skin), hypodermic (under the skin).
- A. Bone is represented by 'osteo-' (e.g., osteoporosis, osteology).
- C. Blood is represented by 'hemo-' or 'hemat-' (e.g., hemorrhage, hematology).
- D. Nerve is represented by 'neuro-' (e.g., neurology, neuropathy).
- Question 10
Using context clues, determine the meaning of 'contraindicated' in the following sentence: 'Aspirin is contraindicated for patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding because it could make the condition worse.'
Correct answer: B. Context clues: 'patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding' (a risk factor) and 'could make the condition worse' (potential harm). 'Contraindicated' means a treatment should not be used because it may cause harm in that situation.
- A. The opposite — contraindicated means it should NOT be used, not that it is recommended.
- C. Availability has nothing to do with whether a medication is advisable for a specific patient.
- D. FDA approval doesn't mean a drug is safe for every patient. Contraindicated drugs may be FDA-approved but inappropriate for certain conditions.
Keep going
TEAS Dojo has 80 questions on vocabulary and expression alone, plus timed full-length exams across all four sections.
Start studying free →