Spot The Parts
What is the prefix in UNEXPECTED?
UN-
I give you the meaning and you construct the word!
Meaning: To build something again.
Prefix: Re-
REBUILD
The neuralyser is a fictional device created for the Men in Black movies.
Question: What does 'fictional' mean in this sentence?
Explain your answer using parts of the word.
FICTION + -AL
Therefore:
fictional = related to fiction / imaginary
Then connect to the passage:
(Answer) It is imaginary / created for a story rather than real.
Identify the suffix in personal.
-al
I give you the meaning and you construct the word!
Meaning: Having no hope
Suffix: -less
HOPELESS
Passage:
Scientists must take precautionary measures before testing memory-changing technology on humans.
Question:
How does the word 'precautionary' help you understand what the scientists are doing?
Explain your answer using parts of the word.
PRE- + CAUTION + -ARY
Therefore:
precautionary = related to taking care or taking action beforehand.
Then connect to the passage:
(Answer) The scientists are taking steps beforehand to prevent danger or problems.
Identify the prefix, base word and suffix in DISAGREEMENT.
DIS- + AGREE + -MENT
I give you the meaning and you construct it!
Meaning: An action taken beforehand to prevent something bad from happening.
Base word: CAUTION
PRECAUTION
Passage:
However, it would be a misconception to think that simply staring at a bright light can erase a person's memories.
Question:
The author calls this belief a misconception. How does the author think about this belief?
Explain your answer using parts of the word.
MIS- + CONCEPT + -ION
Therefore:
misconception = a wrong idea or belief
Then connect to the passage:
(Answer) The author is telling us that the belief is incorrect / wrong, not merely unusual.
Identify the prefix, base word and suffix in UNHELPFULNESS.
UN- + HELP + -FUL + -NESS
I give you the meaning and you construct the word!
Meaning: Not able to be avoided or prevented.
UN + AVOID + ABLE → UNAVOIDABLE
Passage:
Removing painful memories might seem helpful, but it could be counterproductive because people may lose the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
Question:
The author says removing memories could be counterproductive. Break the word into its meaningful parts. How do these parts, together with the sentence, help you understand what the author is warning us about?
Explain your answer using parts of the word.
COUNTER- + PRODUCTIVE
Therefore:
counterproductive = having the opposite effect from what is intended
Then connect to the passage:
(Answer) Removing memories may seem helpful, but instead it could cause another problem — people might lose important lessons from their experiences.
Identify the prefix, base word and suffix in UNDENIABLY.
UN- + DENY + -ABLE + -LY
I give you the meaning and you construct it!
Meaning: Not able to be trusted or depended on.
Base word: rely
UN- + RELY + -ABLE → UNRELIABLE
Not in passage:
To find new ways to make this a reality, some scientists have proposed unconventional ways of studying how memories are formed and changed.
Question:
The word unconventional may be unfamiliar. Break it into its meaningful parts. What does each part tell you? Then use the sentence to work out what the author means by unconventional.
UN- + CONVENTION + -AL
Therefore:
unconventional = not usual / not following the usual way
Then connect to the passage:
(Answer) The scientists are using unusual or less traditional approaches.