Vocabulary from Classical Roots — Lesson 2
50 Multiple-Choice Practice Questions
The Person
GENOS • GENEOS • GENS • GENTIS • GENUS • GENERIS • GIGNO • GIGNERE • GENUI • GENITUM
Questions first • Answer Key second • English explanations last
Lesson 2 Key Words
genealogy
genocide
genre
genteel
gentile
gentry
heterogeneous
homogeneous
congenital
engender
genesis
indigenous
ingenious
progenitor
progeny
Questions 1–2
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1. Which word means a record of descent from one's ancestors?
A. genealogy
B. genre
C. genesis
D. progeny
2. Which word means the planned destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group?
A. genealogy
B. genocide
C. genre
D. genesis
Questions 3–4
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3. A mystery novel and a biography belong to different literary ____.
A. gentries
B. genres
C. geneses
D. progenitors
4. Which adjective means well-mannered, refined, or polite?
A. genteel
B. gentile
C. congenital
D. indigenous
Questions 5–6
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5. In the vocabulary lesson, a gentile is ____.
A. an ancestor
B. a non-Jewish person
C. a well-bred person
D. a native person
6. Which noun can refer to aristocratic or well-bred people?
A. gentry
B. genre
C. genesis
D. genealogy
Questions 7–8
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7. Which word means having parts that are different or unrelated?
A. homogeneous
B. heterogeneous
C. congenital
D. genteel
8. Which word means composed of parts that are alike?
A. heterogeneous
B. indigenous
C. homogeneous
D. ingenious
Questions 9–10
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9. Which word describes a condition that exists at birth but is not necessarily hereditary?
A. congenital
B. indigenous
C. genteel
D. heterogeneous
10. To engender an idea means to ____ it.
A. destroy
B. classify
C. bring into existence
D. inherit
Questions 11–12
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11. The genesis of a movement is its ____.
A. ending
B. beginning or origin
C. descendant
D. category
12. Which adjective means native to or naturally occurring in a particular area?
A. ingenious
B. indigenous
C. congenital
D. homogeneous
Questions 13–14
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13. Which adjective means cleverly inventive and resourceful?
A. indigenous
B. ingenious
C. genteel
D. heterogeneous
14. A direct ancestor or an originator of a line of descent is a ____.
A. progeny
B. progenitor
C. gentile
D. genre
Questions 15–16
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15. Children or descendants can be called one's ____.
A. progeny
B. genesis
C. gentry
D. genealogy
16. The roots GENOS/GENEOS are associated most closely with ____.
A. sight
B. race or family
C. self
D. woman
Questions 17–18
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17. The Latin roots GENS/GENTIS are associated with ____.
A. race, clan, or family
B. water
C. law
D. death
18. The Latin root GENUS/GENERIS can mean birth, race, kind, tribe, or ____.
A. sight
B. clan
C. self
D. woman
Questions 19–20
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19. Which pair are direct antonyms in this lesson?
A. genteel / gentile
B. heterogeneous / homogeneous
C. indigenous / ingenious
D. progenitor / progeny
20. Which two words are easy to confuse because of similar spelling but have very different meanings?
A. indigenous and ingenious
B. genesis and genre
C. gentry and progeny
D. genealogy and genocide
Questions 21–22
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21. Which is the best synonym for congenital?
A. hereditary
B. existing at birth
C. contagious
D. homogeneous
22. Which is the best synonym for genealogy?
A. family history
B. literary category
C. native culture
D. beginning
Questions 23–24
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23. Which is the best synonym for genteel?
A. well-bred and refined
B. native
C. inventive
D. mixed
24. Which is the best synonym for heterogeneous?
A. uniform
B. mixed or diverse
C. hereditary
D. ancestral
Questions 25–26
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25. Which is the best synonym for homogeneous?
A. uniform or similar
B. inventive
C. native
D. aristocratic
26. Which is the best synonym for engender?
A. prevent
B. give rise to
C. examine
D. classify
Questions 27–28
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27. Which is the best synonym for genesis?
A. origin
B. offspring
C. ancestor
D. category
28. Which is the best synonym for indigenous?
A. foreign
B. native
C. clever
D. polite
Questions 29–30
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29. Which is the best synonym for ingenious?
A. resourceful
B. native
C. inherited
D. uniform
30. Which is the best synonym for progeny?
A. ancestors
B. offspring
C. origins
D. aristocrats
Questions 31–32
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31. A museum organizes paintings by style and historical ____.
A. genre
B. genocide
C. genealogy
D. gentry
32. The family hired a researcher to trace its ____ back six generations.
A. genesis
B. genealogy
C. progeny
D. genre
Questions 33–34
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33. The neighborhood contained a ____ population with many languages and cultural backgrounds.
A. homogeneous
B. heterogeneous
C. genteel
D. congenital
34. Because nearly all samples were chemically alike, the mixture was considered ____.
A. heterogeneous
B. homogeneous
C. ingenious
D. indigenous
Questions 35–36
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35. The infant was born with a ____ heart defect.
A. genteel
B. congenital
C. indigenous
D. ingenious
36. The unfair policy helped ____ widespread anger among citizens.
A. engender
B. genealogy
C. genre
D. progeny
Questions 37–38
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37. Historians debated the ____ of the revolution.
A. progeny
B. genesis
C. gentile
D. gentry
38. The plant is ____ to the island and is rarely found anywhere else.
A. ingenious
B. indigenous
C. congenital
D. genteel
Questions 39–40
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39. The engineer designed an ____ device using only simple materials.
A. indigenous
B. ingenious
C. homogeneous
D. gentile
40. The inventor's early machine was the ____ of many modern devices.
A. progenitor
B. progeny
C. genealogy
D. gentry
Questions 41–42
Choose the best answer. Answers are intentionally not shown here.
41. The mare and her ____ were moved to a larger pasture.
A. genesis
B. progeny
C. genre
D. gentry
42. Which word does NOT mean “native”?
A. indigenous
B. inborn
C. ingenious
D. local
Questions 43–44
Choose the best answer. Answers are intentionally not shown here.
43. Which statement about congenital is correct?
A. It always means inherited from one's parents.
B. It means present at birth, whether inherited or not.
C. It means contagious at birth.
D. It means native to a geographic area.
44. Which sentence uses genteel correctly?
A. The genteel host greeted every guest with polished manners.
B. The doctor diagnosed a genteel defect at birth.
C. The island has many genteel plants found nowhere else.
D. The class studied the genteel of the universe.
Questions 45–46
Choose the best answer. Answers are intentionally not shown here.
45. Which sentence uses gentile correctly?
A. The gentile novel belongs to the mystery category.
B. The term gentile can refer to a person who is not Jewish.
C. The gentile defect was present at birth.
D. The gentile population contained identical parts.
46. Which sentence uses progenitor correctly?
A. The child was the progenitor of his grandparents.
B. The early computer was a progenitor of today's personal computers.
C. The library organized books by progenitor.
D. The doctor treated a progenitor condition.
Questions 47–48
Choose the best answer. Answers are intentionally not shown here.
47. Which sentence uses progeny correctly?
A. The scientist studied the progeny produced by two parent plants.
B. The progeny of the war means its beginning.
C. The poem belongs to the progeny of satire.
D. The neighborhood became progeny after renovation.
48. Which word would best describe a class whose students all have very similar backgrounds?
A. heterogeneous
B. homogeneous
C. ingenious
D. indigenous
Questions 49–50
Choose the best answer. Answers are intentionally not shown here.
49. Which word would best describe a collection containing unrelated objects from many periods and cultures?
A. homogeneous
B. heterogeneous
C. congenital
D. genteel
50. Which contrast is correct?
A. Progenitor = descendant; progeny = ancestor
B. Indigenous = clever; ingenious = native
C. Genesis = beginning; progeny = descendants
D. Genteel = non-Jewish; gentile = refined
Answer Key
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. C
11. B
12. B
13. B
14. B
15. A
16. B
17. A
18. B
19. B
20. A
21. B
22. A
23. A
24. B
25. A
26. B
27. A
28. B
29. A
30. B
31. A
32. B
33. B
34. B
35. B
36. A
37. B
38. B
39. B
40. A
41. B
42. C
43. B
44. A
45. B
46. B
47. A
48. B
49. B
50. C
Answers & English Explanations 1–2
1. Answer: A. genealogy
Genealogy is a record of descent from one's ancestors and the study of family records.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
2. Answer: B. genocide
Genocide means the planned annihilation of a racial, political, or cultural group.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 3–4
3. Answer: B. genres
A genre is a type, class, or category, especially in art or literature.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
4. Answer: A. genteel
Genteel means refined, polite, or well-mannered.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 5–6
5. Answer: B. a non-Jewish person
Gentile is used for a person who is not of the Jewish faith.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
6. Answer: A. gentry
Gentry refers to aristocratic or well-bred people; in Britain it can mean the class below the aristocracy.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 7–8
7. Answer: B. heterogeneous
Heterogeneous describes something composed of unlike or different parts.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
8. Answer: C. homogeneous
Homogeneous means of the same kind or composed of similar parts.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 9–10
9. Answer: A. congenital
Congenital means existing at birth; the lesson specifically distinguishes it from hereditary.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
10. Answer: C. bring into existence
Engender means to give rise to or bring something into existence.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 11–12
11. Answer: B. beginning or origin
Genesis means a beginning or origin.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
12. Answer: B. indigenous
Indigenous means native to, occurring in, or characteristic of an area.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 13–14
13. Answer: B. ingenious
Ingenious means cleverly inventive and resourceful.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
14. Answer: B. progenitor
A progenitor is a direct ancestor or an originator of a line of descent.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 15–16
15. Answer: A. progeny
Progeny means children, descendants, or offspring.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
16. Answer: B. race or family
The Greek roots genos and geneos carry meanings related to race and family.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 17–18
17. Answer: A. race, clan, or family
Gens and gentis are Latin roots meaning race, clan, or family.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
18. Answer: B. clan
Genus/generis carries meanings including birth, race, kind, tribe, and clan.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 19–20
19. Answer: B. heterogeneous / homogeneous
Heterogeneous means unlike in composition, while homogeneous means alike in composition.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
20. Answer: A. indigenous and ingenious
Indigenous means native or inborn; ingenious means cleverly inventive.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 21–22
21. Answer: B. existing at birth
Congenital means existing at birth. It does not necessarily mean hereditary.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
22. Answer: A. family history
Genealogy is family history traced through ancestors and descendants.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 23–24
23. Answer: A. well-bred and refined
Genteel describes polished, refined, or well-mannered behavior.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
24. Answer: B. mixed or diverse
Heterogeneous means made up of different or diverse parts.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 25–26
25. Answer: A. uniform or similar
Homogeneous means consisting of the same or similar kinds of parts.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
26. Answer: B. give rise to
To engender is to cause, create, or give rise to something.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 27–28
27. Answer: A. origin
Genesis means the origin or beginning of something.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
28. Answer: B. native
Indigenous means native to a place or naturally belonging there.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 29–30
29. Answer: A. resourceful
Ingenious means clever, inventive, and resourceful.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
30. Answer: B. offspring
Progeny means children, descendants, or offspring.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 31–32
31. Answer: A. genre
Genre refers to a type or category of artistic work.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
32. Answer: B. genealogy
Genealogy is the study or record of a family's descent.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 33–34
33. Answer: B. heterogeneous
A population made up of many different groups is heterogeneous.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
34. Answer: B. homogeneous
Homogeneous describes material whose parts are alike or uniform.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 35–36
35. Answer: B. congenital
A condition present at birth is congenital.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
36. Answer: A. engender
Engender means cause or bring into existence, so a policy can engender anger.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 37–38
37. Answer: B. genesis
The genesis of an event is its beginning or origin.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
38. Answer: B. indigenous
A species native to a particular place is indigenous there.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 39–40
39. Answer: B. ingenious
Ingenious describes a clever and inventive solution.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
40. Answer: A. progenitor
Progenitor can mean an originator or forerunner from which later things develop.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 41–42
41. Answer: B. progeny
Progeny can refer to the offspring or descendants of a person or animal.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
42. Answer: C. ingenious
Ingenious means clever and inventive, not native.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 43–44
43. Answer: B. It means present at birth, whether inherited or not.
Congenital describes something present at birth and does not automatically mean hereditary.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
44. Answer: A. The genteel host greeted every guest with polished manners.
Genteel refers to refined or polite manners, so the host sentence is correct.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 45–46
45. Answer: B. The term gentile can refer to a person who is not Jewish.
In this lesson, gentile means a person who is not of the Jewish faith.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
46. Answer: B. The early computer was a progenitor of today's personal computers.
Progenitor can mean an originator or predecessor, so an early computer can be a progenitor of later computers.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 47–48
47. Answer: A. The scientist studied the progeny produced by two parent plants.
Progeny means offspring or descendants, including the offspring of plants or animals.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
48. Answer: B. homogeneous
Homogeneous describes a group whose members are alike in relevant ways.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
Answers & English Explanations 49–50
49. Answer: B. heterogeneous
Heterogeneous is appropriate when a collection contains very different kinds of items.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.
50. Answer: C. Genesis = beginning; progeny = descendants
Genesis means beginning or origin, while progeny means children or descendants.
Study tip: Connect the word to its classical root, then use context to eliminate choices with unrelated meanings.