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Question

Difficulty: EasyPrefix and Suffix Analysis

During the routine inspection, the technician observed that the cooling system began to malfunction. In this context, what does the word malfunction most nearly mean?

  1. A
    maintain
  2. B
    improve
  3. failAnswer
  4. D
    multiply

Answer

fail
The word 'malfunction' is formed from the prefix 'mal-', which signifies 'bad' or 'wrongly', and the base word 'function', which means 'to operate'. Combining these parts shows that to malfunction means to operate poorly or cease working properly, making 'fail' the correct synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prefix and base word of the target term.
The word 'malfunction' consists of the Latin prefix 'mal-' (meaning bad, poorly, or wrongly) and the base word 'function' (meaning to operate or perform).
Deconstructing affixes reveals the core meaning of derived vocabulary.
2
Combine the morphological parts to deduce the complete definition and match it with a synonym.
To malfunction means to operate defectively or break down, which corresponds directly to 'fail'.
Connecting affix meanings establishes the proper definition in context.

Key Concept

Prefix Analysis ('mal-' meaning bad or wrong)
Estimated Time:30s
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Topics

Prefix and Suffix Analysis

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