2nd Grade ELA Quiz: Determine Meanings Of Words With Prefixes

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Determine Meanings Of Words With Prefixes, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for 2nd Grade ELA.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. means kind again
2. means very kind
3. means not kind (correct answer)

Explanation: We are learning how prefixes change words. The prefix 'un-' means 'not.' So 'unkind' means 'not kind.'

Question 2

1. place it first
2. place it wrong (correct answer)
3. place it again

Explanation: This is about the prefix 'mis-.' The prefix 'mis-' means 'wrong.' So 'misplace' means 'place it wrong.'

Question 3

1. very safe
2. not safe (correct answer)
3. safe again

Explanation: We are using the prefix 'un-.' The prefix 'un-' means 'not.' So 'unsafe' means 'not safe.'

Question 4

1. heat after
2. heat before (correct answer)
3. not heat

Explanation: We're learning about the prefix 'pre-.' The prefix 'pre-' means 'before.' So 'preheat' means 'heat before.'

Question 5

1. again (correct answer)
2. not
3. before

Explanation: This is about the prefix 're-.' The prefix 're-' means 'again.' So 'retell' means to tell again.

Question 6

1. heat after
2. heat before (correct answer)
3. not heat

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'pre-' means before. Preheat means to heat before cooking.

Question 7

1. very happy
2. not happy (correct answer)
3. happy
4. happy again

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.4.b (determining the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word). A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. Common grade 2 prefixes: (1) UN- means "not" or "opposite" (unhappy = not happy, unsafe = not safe, unlock = opposite of lock/remove lock, untie = opposite of tie), (2) RE- means "again" (reread = read again, retell = tell again, redo = do again, rebuild = build again), (3) PRE- means "before" (preview = view before, preheat = heat before, preschool = before regular school), (4) MIS- means "wrong" or "incorrectly" (misspell = spell wrong, misbehave = behave wrong, misplace = place wrong). When you know what a prefix means and what the base word means, you can figure out what the new word means by combining them: prefix meaning + base word meaning = new word meaning. This helps you understand many new words without looking them up. Choice C is correct because it combines the prefix meaning un- = not with the base word meaning happy = feeling good to get unhappy = not feeling good. The prefix un- added to happy changes the meaning to not happy, following the predictable pattern for this prefix. Choice B shows thinking un- means "very" instead of "not." Second graders often think un- means "very" instead of "not," forget that re- means "again," ignore the prefix and just use base word meaning, confuse which prefix means what, think unhappy means "very happy," think reread means just "read" without the "again," reverse prefix meanings (unlock = to lock). To help students: Create prefix meaning chart: UN- = not/opposite (unhappy, unsafe, unfair, unlock, untie, unwrap), RE- = again (reread, retell, redo, rewrite, rebuild, replay), PRE- = before (preview, preheat, pretest, preschool), MIS- = wrong (misspell, misbehave, misplace, misunderstand). Teach the formula: PREFIX meaning + BASE WORD meaning = NEW WORD meaning. Example: un- (not) + happy (feeling good) = unhappy (not feeling good).

Question 8

1. happy again
2. not happy (correct answer)
3. very happy
4. happy

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.4.b (determining the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word). A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. Common grade 2 prefixes: (1) UN- means "not" or "opposite" (unhappy = not happy, unsafe = not safe, unlock = opposite of lock/remove lock, untie = opposite of tie), (2) RE- means "again" (reread = read again, retell = tell again, redo = do again, rebuild = build again), (3) PRE- means "before" (preview = view before, preheat = heat before, preschool = before regular school), (4) MIS- means "wrong" or "incorrectly" (misspell = spell wrong, misbehave = behave wrong, misplace = place wrong). When you know what a prefix means and what the base word means, you can figure out what the new word means by combining them: prefix meaning + base word meaning = new word meaning. This helps you understand many new words without looking them up. Choice B is correct because it combines the prefix meaning un- = not with the base word meaning happy = feeling good to get unhappy = not feeling good. The prefix un- added to happy changes the meaning to not happy, following the predictable pattern for this prefix. Choice C shows thinking un- means "very" instead of "not." Second graders often think un- means "very" instead of "not," forget that re- means "again," ignore the prefix and just use base word meaning, confuse which prefix means what, think unhappy means "very happy," think reread means just "read" without the "again," reverse prefix meanings (unlock = to lock). To help students: Create prefix meaning chart: UN- = not/opposite (unhappy, unsafe, unfair, unlock, untie, unwrap), RE- = again (reread, retell, redo, rewrite, rebuild, replay), PRE- = before (preview, preheat, pretest, preschool), MIS- = wrong (misspell, misbehave, misplace, misunderstand). Teach the formula: PREFIX meaning + BASE WORD meaning = NEW WORD meaning.

Question 9

1. reread (correct answer)
2. unread
3. preread
4. read

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.4.b (determining the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word). A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. Common grade 2 prefixes: (1) UN- means "not" or "opposite" (unhappy = not happy, unsafe = not safe, unlock = opposite of lock/remove lock, untie = opposite of tie), (2) RE- means "again" (reread = read again, retell = tell again, redo = do again, rebuild = build again), (3) PRE- means "before" (preview = view before, preheat = heat before, preschool = before regular school), (4) MIS- means "wrong" or "incorrectly" (misspell = spell wrong, misbehave = behave wrong, misplace = place wrong). When you know what a prefix means and what the base word means, you can figure out what the new word means by combining them: prefix meaning + base word meaning = new word meaning. This helps you understand many new words without looking them up. Choice A is correct because it combines the prefix meaning re- = again with the base word meaning read = to look at and understand words to get reread = read again. The prefix re- added to read changes the meaning to read again, following the predictable pattern for this prefix. Choice B shows using the wrong prefix meaning, thinking un- means not read instead of re- for again. Second graders often think un- means "very" instead of "not," forget that re- means "again," ignore the prefix and just use base word meaning, confuse which prefix means what, think unhappy means "very happy," think reread means just "read" without the "again," reverse prefix meanings (unlock = to lock). Example: un- (not) + happy (feeling good) = unhappy (not feeling good). Practice with known words: Start with base word students know well ("happy"), add prefix ("un-"), guide through combining meanings ("un- means not, happy means feeling good, so unhappy means not feeling good").

Question 10

1. wrong
2. before
3. again
4. not (correct answer)

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.4.b (determining the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word). A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. Common grade 2 prefixes: (1) UN- means "not" or "opposite" (unhappy = not happy, unsafe = not safe, unlock = opposite of lock/remove lock, untie = opposite of tie), (2) RE- means "again" (reread = read again, retell = tell again, redo = do again, rebuild = build again), (3) PRE- means "before" (preview = view before, preheat = heat before, preschool = before regular school), (4) MIS- means "wrong" or "incorrectly" (misspell = spell wrong, misbehave = behave wrong, misplace = place wrong). When you know what a prefix means and what the base word means, you can figure out what the new word means by combining them: prefix meaning + base word meaning = new word meaning. This helps you understand many new words without looking them up. Choice C is correct because it combines the prefix meaning un- = not with the base word meaning safe = protected from harm to get unsafe = not safe. The prefix un- added to safe changes the meaning to not safe, following the predictable pattern for this prefix. Choice A shows confusing un- with re-, using "again" instead of "not." Second graders often think un- means "very" instead of "not," forget that re- means "again," ignore the prefix and just use base word meaning, confuse which prefix means what, think unhappy means "very happy," think reread means just "read" without the "again," reverse prefix meanings (unlock = to lock). Watch for: students who think un- means "very" (unhappy = very happy), students who ignore prefix (unhappy = happy), students who forget what prefix means (reread = read first time instead of again), students who confuse prefixes (using wrong meaning), students who don't know base word so can't figure out prefix word (need to know base first), students who treat prefix as separate word (un happy). To help students: Create prefix meaning chart: UN- = not/opposite (unhappy, unsafe, unfair, unlock, untie, unwrap), RE- = again (reread, retell, redo, rewrite, rebuild, replay), PRE- = before (preview, preheat, pretest, preschool), MIS- = wrong (misspell, misbehave, misplace, misunderstand).

Question 11

1. spell again
2. spell right
3. spell wrong (correct answer)
4. spell

Explanation: This tests CCSS.L.2.4.b (determining the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word). A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. Common grade 2 prefixes: (1) UN- means "not" or "opposite" (unhappy = not happy, unsafe = not safe, unlock = opposite of lock/remove lock, untie = opposite of tie), (2) RE- means "again" (reread = read again, retell = tell again, redo = do again, rebuild = build again), (3) PRE- means "before" (preview = view before, preheat = heat before, preschool = before regular school), (4) MIS- means "wrong" or "incorrectly" (misspell = spell wrong, misbehave = behave wrong, misplace = place wrong). When you know what a prefix means and what the base word means, you can figure out what the new word means by combining them: prefix meaning + base word meaning = new word meaning. This helps you understand many new words without looking them up. Choice C is correct because it combines the prefix meaning mis- = wrong with the base word meaning spell = to write letters correctly to get misspell = spell wrong. The prefix mis- added to spell changes the meaning to spell wrong, following the predictable pattern for this prefix. Choice A shows confusing mis- with re-. Second graders often think un- means "very" instead of "not," forget that re- means "again," ignore the prefix and just use base word meaning, confuse which prefix means what, think unhappy means "very happy," think reread means just "read" without the "again," reverse prefix meanings (unlock = to lock). Build words: Give students prefix cards (un-, re-) and base word cards (happy, lock, read, tell), combine them and determine meanings. Act it out: Physically demonstrate (tie shoe, then untie; read book, then reread page; lock door, then unlock).

Question 12

1. kind again
2. very kind
3. not kind (correct answer)

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'un-' means 'not.' Unkind means not kind.

Question 13

1. play again (correct answer)
2. not play
3. play before

Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 're-' means again. Replay means to play again.

Question 14

1. reread (correct answer)
2. unread
3. read

Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 're-' means to do something again. When you reread, you read again.

Question 15

1. lock it
2. not lock it
3. open the lock (correct answer)

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'un-' reverses actions. Unlock means to open the lock.

Question 16

1. not safe (correct answer)
2. safe again
3. very safe

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'un-' means 'not.' Unsafe means not safe.

Question 17

1. tell again (correct answer)
2. not tell
3. tell quietly

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 're-' means again. Retell means to tell a story again.

Question 18

1. read again (correct answer)
2. read first time
3. read very fast

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 're-' means to do something again. When you reread, you read again.

Question 19

1. again (correct answer)
2. not
3. before

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 're-' always means again. Both rebuild and redo mean to do again.

Question 20

1. open the lock (correct answer)
2. make a new lock
3. lock again

Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'un-' reverses the action. Unlock means to open the lock.