Which base word yields the occupation Artist when combined with 'agent'?

Which base word yields the occupation Artist when combined with 'agent'?

• A. Art
• B. Creative
• C. Design
• D. Craft

Answer: (A)

The best base word is art. In English, many occupations are formed by taking a field name and adding a suffix that designates a person who practices that field. When you attach the common ending that marks someone who works in that field to art, you get artist—the person who creates art. The other base options don’t point to a field that yields the occupation artist with that same ending. Creative is an adjective, design points to a different role or term, and craft signals a craft area that would lead to different job names. So art is the base that directly leads to the occupation artist.

The best base word is art. In English, many occupations are formed by taking a field name and adding a suffix that designates a person who practices that field. When you attach the common ending that marks someone who works in that field to art, you get artist—the person who creates art. The other base options don’t point to a field that yields the occupation artist with that same ending. Creative is an adjective, design points to a different role or term, and craft signals a craft area that would lead to different job names. So art is the base that directly leads to the occupation artist.