| A good reader can sometimes guess what an
unknown word means by breaking that word into parts. Prefixes, roots and suffixes are
parts of words.
Prefixes: are word parts that are
added at the beginning of a word to produce a different form of the word.
Examples: pre, post, re, un, il, anti
Roots: are the basic forms of words.
Often prefixes or suffixes are added to the root form to make words. Many roots in
English come from Greek and Latin.
Examples: mot, port, ped, scribe, cred
Suffixes: are word parts added to the end
of a word. The suffix indicates the part of speech of the word (noun, verb, adjective,
adverb) rather than changing the meaning.
Examples: ness, less, ly, ian, ist, tion
Read the clues about the prefixes, suffixes
and roots in these sentences. Then choose
the word closest in meaning to the underlined word.
1."De" means down or away from. Joe was demoted by
his boss for his incompetence.
- given a better job
- fired from his job
- given more money
- given a lower job
2. "Post" means after. Because of the weather, the game had
to be postponed.
- scheduled
- delayed
- canceled
- checked
3. The prefix "a" means not. His pro-war attitude seems atypical.
- antipathetic
- bad
- unusual
- upsetting
4. "Vers" means turn or change. The students in our class
come from diverse backgrounds.
- ethnic
- ethical
- different
- distinctive
5. "Co" means together or with. Doctors believe there is a correlation
between exercise and the strength of the heart.
- written relationship
- measurable relationship
- unwritten relationship
- false relationship
6. After is the best meaning for "post." Harry is completing
his postgraduate work at USC.
- studies after graduating
- studies after a bachelor's degree
- studies after a graduate degree
- studies for a graduate degree
7. The prefix "in" means not and sometimes changes to
"il" or "ir." His illegal behavior led to his arrest.
- misbehavior
- conduct
- improper
- unlawful
8. "Pro" means forward. "Cede" or "cess" means
move or go. Please proceed with caution.
- go before
- continue
- precede
- go after
9. "Post" means after. We must recycle to save the world for
our posterity.
- future leaders
- future protestors
- future generations
- the after world
10. "Anti" meaning against sometimes changes its form. The antagonist
in a fictional piece of writing is which of the following?
- the person we favor
- the person we are against
- the person causing the conflict
- the person leading to resolution
11. If "ab" means away from,
which of the following is a synonym for the crime of abduction?
- murder (killing someone)
- cheating (doing something dishonestly)
- kidnaping (holding someone without permission, usually not
at his/her home)
- arson (burning down a building)
12. A baby that is born early, before the
correct time, is referred to as:
congenital
genetics
premature
13. "Bene" means good. Which of the following is not beneficial
to one's heath?
proper diet
clean air
cigarette smoking
14. "Un" "a" and "non" all mean not.
"Nom" means name. A letter which is written, but not signed is:
amoral
anonymous
apathetic
15. "Logy" means the study of something. "Theo" means
knowledge or God. A theologian studies:
natural disasters
biology, medicine
religion
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