Which approach best helps decode unfamiliar words by examining prefixes and suffixes?

• A. Relying only on pictures
• B. Memorizing a whole word list
• C. Analyzing prefixes and suffixes to infer meaning
• D. Ignoring morphology

Answer: (C)

Understanding how to decode unfamiliar words by examining prefixes and suffixes relies on recognizing morphemes—the smallest units of meaning in language. Prefixes like un-, re-, and dis- modify a word’s meaning, while suffixes such as -ing, -ed, -ness, or -able indicate tense, part of speech, or a certain idea. By separating a word into its prefix, root, and suffix, you can infer what the word means even if you’ve never seen it before. For example, in unbelievable, un- signals negation, believe is the root, and -able shows a possible action or state, helping you grasp the overall sense without needing to memorize the full form. This approach is especially powerful because it builds a flexible strategy for reading new vocabulary, beyond relying on pictures that might not always be present or helpful, and beyond memorizing arbitrary word lists. It also leverages morphology instead of ignoring the way words are built, which makes decoding more efficient and transferable across many different words.