What does the suffix -scope mean?

What does the suffix -scope mean?

• A. An instrument for viewing/ exam
• B. To view
• C. Left
• D. Spleen

Answer: (A)

The suffix -scope names an instrument designed for viewing or examining something. It signals that the word refers to a device used to look at something, not the act of looking. That’s why terms like microscope, telescope, endoscope, and otoscope all fit this pattern: they’re tools whose purpose is to observe. The idea of “to view” is related but describes the action, not the tool itself. The other options don’t fit because they refer to an action, a direction, or an organ, none of which convey the idea of a viewing instrument.

The suffix -scope names an instrument designed for viewing or examining something. It signals that the word refers to a device used to look at something, not the act of looking. That’s why terms like microscope, telescope, endoscope, and otoscope all fit this pattern: they’re tools whose purpose is to observe. The idea of “to view” is related but describes the action, not the tool itself. The other options don’t fit because they refer to an action, a direction, or an organ, none of which convey the idea of a viewing instrument.