A STUDENT sits at a desk. He finishes writing on some index cards.
STUDENT: Did you know that you can break the prefix or suffix off a word to help determine their meaning? All you have to do is recognize the affix and what it means. Like this.
The STUDENT holds up an index card with atypical written on it.
STUDENT: I just read the word atypical. I don’t know the meaning of this word but I can break the prefix, a, from the root word, typical.
The STUDENT cuts the index card to show this. He holds up the two pieces separately.
STUDENT: I know that the prefix a means not or without, and the root word typical means what is expected.
STUDENT: So, putting the words back together...
The STUDENT moves the card pieces back together.
STUDENT: ...atypical means, not what is expected. That makes sense in the sentence, snow in Miami is an atypical weather experience.
The STUDENT holds up an index card that shows the word deforestation.
STUDENT: Here’s another word I came across recently, deforestation. I recognized this word has both a prefix and a suffix.
The STUDENT cuts the card into three pieces. He holds up each piece as he speaks.
STUDENT: The prefix, de, means to reduce. The suffix ation means the state of. If I put those words together with the root word forest...
The STUDENT holds the three pieces of card together and shows them to the camera.
STUDENT: ...I can determine that the word means the state of a forest is being reduced. That makes sense in the sentence, much of the deforestation is due to trees being cleared to create new farms.
STUDENT: I’m always looking for ways to understand words I'm not familiar with. What’s your strategy?
give the main idea on 7th grade level.
The main idea of this passage is that by understanding prefixes and suffixes, you can determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. The student in the passage demonstrates this strategy by breaking down the words "atypical" and "deforestation" into their affixes and root words to decipher their meanings. This helps the student make sense of these words in context.
The main idea is that by recognizing and understanding prefixes and suffixes, you can break down unfamiliar words to help determine their meaning. This can be done by knowing the meanings of common prefixes and suffixes, and combining them with the root word. By doing this, you can make sense of words and better understand their meanings.
One strategy to understand unfamiliar words is to break them down into smaller parts. Words can have prefixes and suffixes attached to them, which can give us clues about their meaning.
For example, if we see the word "atypical," we can break it into two parts: the prefix "a" and the root word "typical." We know that the prefix "a" means "not" or "without," and the root word "typical" means "what is expected." Putting them together, we can determine that "atypical" means "not what is expected." This can make sense in a sentence like "snow in Miami is an atypical weather experience."
Another example is the word "deforestation." This word has both a prefix and a suffix. The prefix "de" means "to reduce," and the suffix "ation" means "the state of." When we combine these with the root word "forest," we can determine that "deforestation" means "the state of a forest being reduced." This makes sense in a sentence like "much of the deforestation is due to trees being cleared to create new farms."
By breaking words into smaller parts and understanding the meaning of those parts, we can better understand unfamiliar words and their meanings. This strategy can help us expand our vocabulary and improve our reading comprehension.