Elementary School Writing Quiz: Determine Meanings Of Words With Prefixes
20 questions · exam conditions
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Determine Meanings Of Words With PrefixesQuestion 1 of 20

How does the prefix un- change the meaning of kind in unkind?

means kind again
means very kind
means not kind
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Elementary School Writing Quiz

Elementary School Writing Quiz: Determine Meanings Of Words With Prefixes

Practice Determine Meanings Of Words With Prefixes in Elementary School Writing with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

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 Elementary School Writing.

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.

All questions

Question 1

How does the prefix un- change the meaning of kind in unkind?

  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

If place means put something somewhere, what does misplace mean?

  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

If safe means not in danger, what does unsafe mean?

  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

If heat means make warm, what does preheat mean?

  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

The word retell means to tell  .

  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

We will preheat the oven before cookies. What does preheat mean?

  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

If happy means feeling good, what does unhappy mean?

  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 8

Keisha was kind, but her words were unkind. What does unkind mean?

  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 9

How does the prefix re- change the meaning of the word play in replay?

  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 10

If you tell the story again, you re  it. What word fits?

  1. retell (correct answer)
  2. untell
  3. tell
Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 're-' means again. When you retell, you tell again.

Question 11

Maya tied her shoe, then she untied it. What does untied mean?

  1. tied it again
  2. made it not tied (correct answer)
  3. tied it tight
Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 'un-' means to undo. When you untie, you make it not tied.

Question 12

If you read a page again, you re  it. What word fits?

  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 13

Keisha was kind, but her words were unkind. What does unkind mean?

  1. kind again
  2. not kind (correct answer)
  3. very kind
Explanation: This tests prefix meanings. The prefix 'un-' means 'not.' Unkind means not kind.

Question 14

If happy means feeling good, what does unhappy mean?

  1. happy again
  2. not happy (correct answer)
  3. very happy
Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 'un-' means not. Unhappy means not happy.

Question 15

Chen spelled the word wrong. He did not mean to misspell it. What does misspell mean?

  1. spell again
  2. spell wrong (correct answer)
  3. spell well
Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 'mis-' means wrong or bad. Misspell means to spell wrong.

Question 16

If you fill a cup again, you re  it. What word fits?

  1. refill (correct answer)
  2. unfill
  3. fill
Explanation: This tests prefixes. The prefix 're-' means again. When you refill, you fill again.

Question 17

What does the prefix un- mean in unsafe?

  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 D 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 C 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 18

If spell means write a word, what does misspell mean?

  1. spell
  2. spell wrong (correct answer)
  3. spell again
  4. spell before
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 mis- = wrong with the base word meaning spell = write a word 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 C shows confusing mis- with re-, using "again" instead of "wrong." 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). Highlight pattern: Show multiple examples of same prefix so students see consistent meaning (re-: reread, retell, redo, rebuild - all mean "again"). Compare prefixes: "How is unhappy different from rehappy? Un- means not, re- means again."

Question 19

The drawer was locked. Mom unlocked it. What does unlock mean?

  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 20

If safe means not in danger, what does unsafe mean?

  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.