Root Words and Affixes Quiz

Grade 5 · English · Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words to unlock word meanings.

Questions

1. What does the prefix 'mis-' mean?

   1. Not
   2. Again
   3. Wrongly or badly
   4. Under
   Show answer

   Answer: Wrongly or badly

   'Mis-' means wrongly or badly — misspell means to spell wrongly, misuse means to use badly.

2. The root 'port' means carry. What does 'export' mean?

   1. Carry back in
   2. Carry across
   3. Carry out of a country
   4. Carry underground
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   Answer: Carry out of a country

   'Ex-' means out + 'port' means carry = to carry goods out of a country.

3. Which word contains the suffix '-less' meaning 'without'?

   1. Careless
   2. Careful
   3. Caring
   4. Career
   Show answer

   Answer: Careless

   'Care' + '-less' (without) = without care or caution.

4. The root 'dict' means say or tell. Which word uses this root?

   1. Direct
   2. Dictionary
   3. Digital
   4. Digest
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   Answer: Dictionary

   Dictionary comes from 'dict' (say/tell) — it tells you what words mean.

5. The prefix 'pre-' means _______, as in the word 'preview.'

   Show answer

   'Preview' = 'pre-' (before) + 'view' — to see something before it is released.

6. What does the word 'submarine' mean? (Root: 'mar' = sea; Prefix: 'sub-' = under)

   1. Ship that sails above the sea
   2. Vehicle that travels under the sea
   3. Fast boat
   4. Person who studies the sea
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   Answer: Vehicle that travels under the sea

   'Sub-' (under) + 'mar' (sea) + '-ine' = something that operates under the sea.

7. Which suffix turns a verb into a noun meaning 'the act of'?

   1. -ful
   2. -less
   3. -tion
   4. -ly
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   Answer: -tion

   '-tion' turns verbs into nouns: act → action, create → creation, direct → direction.

8. What does 'prehistoric' mean? (Prefix: 'pre-' = before; Root: 'hist' = history)

   1. After history was recorded
   2. Within recorded history
   3. Before recorded history
   4. About recent history
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   Answer: Before recorded history

   'Pre-' (before) + 'historic' = existing before history was written down.

9. The suffix '-er' usually means:

   1. Without
   2. A person who does something
   3. Full of
   4. The act of
   Show answer

   Answer: A person who does something

   '-er' creates nouns for people: teach → teacher, build → builder, write → writer.

10. What does 'bicycle' mean? (Root: 'cycle' = circle/wheel; Prefix: 'bi-' = two)

    1. A vehicle with one wheel
    2. A vehicle with two wheels
    3. A vehicle that goes fast
    4. A vehicle with three wheels
    Show answer

    Answer: A vehicle with two wheels

    'Bi-' means two + 'cycle' means wheel = a vehicle with two wheels.

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