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Question

Difficulty: MediumVerb and Adverb Suffixes

The technician placed the support beam slantwise across the frame to reinforce the structure. In this sentence, the word slantwise most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    with careful judgment and wisdom
  2. in an oblique or diagonal directionAnswer
  3. C
    a steep or inclined surface
  4. D
    in a completely vertical position

Answer

in an oblique or diagonal direction
The word 'slantwise' is formed by combining the base word 'slant' (meaning to slope or deviate from a straight horizontal/vertical line) with the adverbial suffix '-wise' (meaning in the manner, position, or direction of). Therefore, placing a beam 'slantwise' means orienting it in an oblique or diagonal direction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the base word and affix structure of the target word
The word consists of the base word 'slant' (meaning slope or incline) and the adverb-forming suffix '-wise'.
Deconstructing the morphological components isolates the core meaning and grammatical role.
2
Determine the semantic function of the suffix '-wise'
The suffix '-wise' creates an adverb denoting manner, position, or direction (e.g., clockwise, lengthwise).
Suffix rules dictate how the affix alters the base word's meaning and part of speech.
3
Synthesize the morphology with the sentence context
Placing a beam 'slantwise' means positioning it diagonally or in an oblique manner across the frame.
Applying the derived definition ensures it accurately describes the physical action in the sentence.

Key Concept

The suffix '-wise' attaches to nouns or adjectives to form adverbs that describe direction, position, or manner.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Verb and Adverb Suffixes

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