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Prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and context clues 1. The prefix re- means “back” or “again.” Use the context of the sentences and the meaning of the prefix to explain your answer to each question. When a football coach repositions the players on the field, what is he doing? _________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Context clues are the examples, descriptions, and other details in the text around an unfamiliar or unusual word or expression. Sometimes these clues can help you figure out what the word or expression means. When you come across an unfamiliar word, use the context clues to figure out what the word probably means. Reread and read ahead to confirm the meaning. Read this example from An American Childhood: “But if you flung yourself wholeheartedly at the back of his knees—if you gathered and joined body and soul and pointed them diving fearlessly . . .” Which context clues tell you what wholeheartedly means? If you look for clues before and after the word, you find the phrases “flung yourself,” “joined body and soul,” and “pointed them diving fearlessly.” These suggest that wholeheartedly probably means something like “completely” or “fully”—which it does. DIRECTIONS: Read the quotation from An American Childhood. Figure out the meaning of the underlined word by looking for context clues. Write the context clue or clues on the first line. Write the meaning of the word on the second line. Then, check your definitions in a dictionary. I started making an iceball—a perfect iceball, from perfectly white snow, perfectly spherical, . . . I had just embarked on the iceball project when we heard tire chains come clanking from afar. Context clues:_______________________________________________________________________ Meaning of word:____________________________________________________________________ 3. The Latin prefixes ac-/ad- mean “motion toward,” “addition to,” or “nearness to.” How do the meanings of the prefixes relate to the italicized words in the following sentences? The key allowed me full access to the mansion. _________________________________________________________________________________ __

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Prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and context clues

1. The prefix re- means “back” or “again.” Use the context of the sentences and the meaning of the prefix to explain your answer to each question.

When a football coach repositions the players on the field, what is he doing?

_________________________________________________________________________________

2. Context clues are the examples, descriptions, and other details in the text around an unfamiliar or unusual word or expression. Sometimes these clues can help you figure out what the word or expression means. When you come across an unfamiliar word, use the context clues to figure out what the word probably means. Reread and read ahead to confirm the meaning.

Read this example from An American Childhood:

“But if you flung yourself wholeheartedly at the back of his knees—if you gathered and joined body and soul and pointed them diving fearlessly . . .”

Which context clues tell you what wholeheartedly means? If you look for clues before and after the word, you find the phrases “flung yourself,” “joined body and soul,” and “pointed them diving fearlessly.” These suggest that wholeheartedly probably means something like “completely” or “fully”—which it does.

DIRECTIONS: Read the quotation from An American Childhood. Figure out the meaning of the underlined word by looking for context clues. Write the context clue or clues on the first line. Write the meaning of the word on the second line. Then, check your definitions in a dictionary.

I started making an iceball—a perfect iceball, from perfectly white snow, perfectly spherical, . . . I had just embarked on the iceball project when we heard tire chains come clanking from afar.

Context clues:_______________________________________________________________________

Meaning of word:____________________________________________________________________

3. The Latin prefixes ac-/ad- mean “motion toward,” “addition to,” or “nearness to.” How do the meanings of the prefixes relate to the italicized words in the following sentences?

The key allowed me full access to the mansion.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The toddler had to adhere to strict rules after he ran into the street.

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Analogies and word relationships

For each pair of related words in capital letters, write the letter of the pair of words that best expresses a similar relationship.

EPIDEMIC : DOCTORS ::

A. hospital : nursesB. war : soldierC. sick : wellD. medicine : science

FORMIDABLE : UNIMPORTANT ::

A. dangerous : greatB. square : rectangularC. difficult : simpleD. large : huge

EVIDENTLY : SEEMINGLY ::

A. evidence : trialB. slowly : quicklyC. suddenly : suddenD. certainly : surely

5. The Latin roots -vit- or -viv- mean “life.” Words containing -vit- or –viv include vitality (“liveliness”), survive (“to live through something”), and revive (“to bring back to life”).

Write one sentence in which you use all three of these words.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. The Latin root -man- means “hand.” Explain how the meaning of the root -man- relates to the following uses of the word manual.

The men performed ten long hours of manual labor.

__________________________________________________________________________

7. The Latin root -dict- means “to speak, assert.” In the following sentences, think about the meaning of -dict- in each italicized word. On the line before each sentence, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false.

A prediction tells what happened in the past.___________

A dictionary contains the roots and definitions of words.___________

A dictator is the democratically elected head of a country.___________

8. The Latin root -sper- means “hope.” Think about the meaning of -sper- in each italicized word. On the line before each sentence, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. The prefix “de” can mean opposite", "remove", or "reduce". The meaning of the prefix “pro” can be forward, forth, toward the front".

Someone who feels desperate on first seeing an exam expects to do well._________

A person who is in despair has a negative outlook on life.____________

In a time of prosperity, most people are living in poverty.____________