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Question

Difficulty: EasyRoot Word Analysis

The technician noticed an unexpected malfunction in the backup power generator. In this sentence, the word malfunction most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    upgrade
  2. breakdownAnswer
  3. C
    inspection
  4. D
    manufacture

Answer

breakdown
The word 'malfunction' is formed from the Latin prefix 'mal-' (meaning bad, wrong, or ill) and the root 'function' (meaning to perform or operate). Therefore, a malfunction is a faulty operation or breakdown.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the word parts of the target word
The prefix 'mal-' means bad, wrong, or faulty, and the base root 'function' means to operate or work.
Breaking down morphological elements reveals the core definition of the word.
2
Combine the root meanings and match with the closest synonym
A 'faulty operation' or failure to work properly corresponds directly to a breakdown.
Synthesizing root components determines the exact synonymous meaning.

Key Concept

Identifying word meaning using the Latin prefix 'mal-' (bad/faulty) and root 'function' (to operate).
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Root Word Analysis

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