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Question

Difficulty: HardWord Formation: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

The legal reform committee stressed that an effective magistrate must be completely ________ in reviewing evidence, remaining unbiased and free from personal self-interest, rather than merely showing a lack of attention.

Which of the following words correctly completes the sentence?

  1. disinterestedAnswer
  2. B
    uninterested
  3. C
    noninterested
  4. D
    hyperinterested

Answer

The word 'disinterested' correctly completes the sentence because the prefix 'dis-' in this morphological context denotes impartiality and freedom from selfish interest.
The word 'disinterested' is formed by attaching the prefix 'dis-' (meaning apart from or free from) to 'interested'. In formal English vocabulary, particularly in legal and academic contexts, 'disinterested' specifically signifies having no personal or private involvement, thereby remaining impartial and objective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the semantic context of the sentence stem.
The target word must mean 'unbiased and free from personal self-interest' in a formal legal context.
The sentence specifically contrasts being free from personal stake with merely showing a lack of attention.
2
Evaluate the prefix semantics of the candidate forms derived from the root 'interest'.
'disinterested' uses the prefix 'dis-' to mean impartial/unbiased, whereas 'uninterested' uses 'un-' to mean bored or lacking attention.
English morphology distinguishes between negative/privative prefixes depending on whether state of mind (un-) or neutrality/impartiality (dis-) is expressed.
3
Select the option that aligns precisely with formal register and morphological rules.
'disinterested' is the exact formal adjective required.
It fulfills the requirement of morphological accuracy and precise contextual meaning.

Key Concept

Prefix Morpheme Differentiation (dis- vs. un-)
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Topics

Word Formation: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

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