Prefixes

In words like 'international' and 'interstate', what does the prefix 'inter-' mean?

• between

• over

• not

• before

Answer explanation

The prefix 'inter-' means 'between' or 'among'. For example, an 'interstate' highway is one that runs between different states.

Match each prefix to its correct meaning.

• not

• re-

• wrongly

• pre-

• before

• un-

• again

• mis-

Answer explanation

Each prefix is matched to its definition: 'pre-' means before (preview), 're-' means again (redo), 'un-' means not (unhappy), and 'mis-' means wrongly (misunderstand).

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: My brother and I have different opinions on everything; we constantly _____.

• agree

• disagree

• preagree

• coagree

Answer explanation

The prefix 'dis-' means 'not' or 'opposite of'. To 'disagree' means to not have the same opinion, which fits the context of having different opinions.

Sort these words into categories based on the meaning of their prefix: "Against," "Around," or "Bad."

Groups:

(a) Against

,

(b) Around

,

(c) Bad

• malfunction

• antisocial

• circumvent

• circumnavigate

• antifreeze

• malicious

Answer explanation

Words are sorted by their prefix's meaning: 'anti-' means against, 'circum-' means around, and 'mal-' means bad or wrongful.

In the word 'supernatural', the prefix 'super-' suggests that something is...

• below or under the normal.

• equal to the normal.

• above or beyond the normal.

• against the normal.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'super-' means 'above', 'beyond', or 'over'. 'Supernatural' events are those considered beyond what is normal or natural.

How does the meaning of 'postpone' differ from 'prepone'?

• 'Postpone' means to do something early, while 'prepone' means to do it late.

• 'Postpone' means to schedule something for later, while 'prepone' means to schedule it for earlier.

• They both mean to cancel an event.

• They both mean to do something again.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'post-' means 'after', so to postpone is to move to a later time. The prefix 'pre-' means 'before', so to prepone (a less common word) is to move to an earlier time.

Match each root word to the prefix that correctly completes it based on the meaning in parentheses.

• pre-

• ...connect (break a link)

• dis-

• ...behave (act wrongly)

• mis-

• ...operate (work together)

• co-

• ...view (see before)

Answer explanation

Each prefix correctly attaches to the root word to form a new word with the intended meaning: 'cooperate', 'preview', 'disconnect', and 'misbehave'.

Even though the instructions were complicated, the new video game was not _____. I figured it out quickly.

• incomprehensible

• comprehensible

• recomprehensible

• decomprehensible

Answer explanation

The prefix 'in-' means 'not'. The sentence states the game was figured out quickly, meaning it was NOT 'incomprehensible' (not able to be understood).

Sort these words based on the number their prefix represents: "One," "Two," or "Three."

Groups:

(a) One

,

(b) Two

,

(c) Three

• uniform

• bilingual

• triangle

• unicycle

• bicycle

• tricycle

Answer explanation

Words are sorted by their numerical prefix: 'uni-' means one, 'bi-' means two, and 'tri-' means three.

What is the meaning of the prefix 'bene-' as in the word 'benefit'?

• Bad or evil

• Good or well

• Against

• Under

Answer explanation

The prefix 'bene-' comes from Latin and means 'good' or 'well'. A 'benefit' is a good or helpful result or advantage.