MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What can the suffix -ism imply in terms of concept?

1. A doctrine or belief

2. A physical state

3. An action performed

4. Quality of being

The correct answer is: A doctrine or belief

The suffix -ism is often used to form nouns that indicate a doctrine, system, or belief associated with a particular ideology or philosophy. It conveys a sense of a structured set of beliefs or practices, such as in terms like "realism," which reflects a belief in perceiving things as they truly are, or "capitalism," which is a doctrine advocating for an economic system based on private ownership and free markets. Therefore, using -ism in a word usually transforms it into a term that represents a specific ideological framework or belief system. Other options, while they represent different grammatical functions or meanings, do not align with the core implication of -ism. For instance, a physical state relates more to conditions or characteristics, actions pertain to verbs, and qualities refer to attributes, none of which encapsulate the ideological nature that -ism suggests.