MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

Which suffix denotes a quality that is 'marked by' or 'given to'?

1. -ic

2. -ful

3. -ous

4. -ish

The correct answer is: -ous

The suffix that denotes a quality that is "marked by" or "given to" is "-ous." When added to a root word, "-ous" transforms the word into an adjective that expresses the presence of a particular quality or characteristic. For example, the word "famous" indicates being marked by fame. Similarly, "generous" suggests being characterized by generosity. In contrast, the other suffixes have different implications. The suffix "-ic" typically indicates a relationship to a subject or field, as in "historic," which relates to history, while "-ful" expresses a sense of abundance or being full of something, as in "joyful," implying full of joy. The suffix "-ish" often conveys a sense of being somewhat like or having the qualities of something, as in "childish," which means resembling a child but does not necessarily indicate an intrinsic quality in the same way that "-ous" does. These distinctions clarify why "-ous" is the appropriate choice for indicating a quality that is marked by or given to something.