Prefixes

The instructions were so confusing that I had to ask the teacher to ________ them for the class.

• unexplain

• misexplain

• reexplain

• disexplain

Answer explanation

The prefix 're-' means 'again'. To 'reexplain' something is to explain it again, which is the logical action when instructions are confusing. The other prefixes do not fit the context.

Match each prefix to its correct meaning.

• After; behind

• anti-

• Against; opposite

• co-

• Before; in advance

• pre-

• With; together

• post-

Answer explanation

Each prefix is correctly matched with its primary meaning: 'anti-' (against), 'pre-' (before), 'post-' (after), and 'co-' (together).

Sort these words into two groups based on the meaning of their prefix: 'Not/Opposite' or 'Wrongly/Badly'.

Groups:

(a) Not/Opposite

,

(b) Wrongly/Badly

• disagree

• unhappy

• mislead

• nonfat

• misspell

• misjudge

Answer explanation

The prefixes 'dis-', 'un-', and 'non-' all mean 'not' or 'the opposite of'. The prefix 'mis-' means 'wrongly' or 'badly'. The words are sorted according to which prefix they contain.

In a play, a long speech by a single character is a *monologue*. What is the term for a conversation that occurs *between two or more* characters?

• Dialogue

• Soliloquy

• Epilogue

• Prologue

Answer explanation

The prefix 'di-' means 'two'. A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. A monologue, with the prefix 'mono-' meaning 'one', is a speech by one person. A soliloquy is also a speech by one person, but it is their thoughts spoken aloud.

In words like 'submarine' and 'subway', what does the prefix 'sub-' mean?

• Above

• Across

• Under

• Against

Answer explanation

The prefix 'sub-' means 'under' or 'below'. A submarine travels under the sea, and a subway runs under the ground.

Match each definition to the word that correctly uses a prefix to describe it.

• Rewrite

• To not approve of a plan

• Preheat

• To heat an oven before baking

• Misjudge

• To judge a situation incorrectly

• Disapprove

• To write an essay over again

Answer explanation

Each word is formed by adding a prefix to a root word: 'mis-' (incorrectly) + judge, 'pre-' (before) + heat, 're-' (again) + write, and 'dis-' (not) + approve.

My old phone doesn't work with the new app because the software is ________.

• compatible

• incompatible

• recompatible

• discompatible

Answer explanation

The prefix 'in-' means 'not'. If the software is 'incompatible', it is not able to work with the phone. The other prefixes do not create a word that fits the sentence's meaning.

Sort these words based on whether their prefix means 'Before' or 'After'.

Groups:

(a) Prefix means 'Before'

,

(b) Prefix means 'After'

• preview

• postpone

• pre-algebra

• foresee

• postscript

• post-game

Answer explanation

The prefixes 'pre-' and 'fore-' both mean 'before'. The prefix 'post-' means 'after'. The words are grouped according to the meaning of their prefix.

The hero in the story had superhuman strength. What does the prefix 'super-' suggest about his strength?

• It was less than normal.

• It was exactly average.

• It was beyond or above normal.

• It was not real.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'super-' means 'above', 'beyond', or 'over'. Therefore, 'superhuman' strength is strength that is beyond the normal level of a human.

Match each word to the function of its prefix.

• Prefix reverses the action of the root verb.

• unhappy

• Prefix negates the meaning of the root adjective.

• reread

• Prefix indicates an action is done incorrectly.

• misunderstand

• Prefix indicates an action is done again.

• disappear

Answer explanation

The prefix 're-' means to do again. The prefix 'mis-' means to do wrongly or incorrectly. The prefix 'dis-' reverses the action of a verb (to do the opposite of appear). The prefix 'un-' negates an adjective (not happy).