Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

Affixes are components added to the beginning or end of root words to modify their meanings, which is specifically what prefixes and suffixes do. For instance, the prefix "un-" can be added to the root word "happy" to create "unhappy," indicating the opposite meaning. Similarly, suffixes like "-ed" or "-ing" alter the tense or form of the verb, such as changing "play" to "played" or "playing." Understanding affixes is crucial in reading instruction as they help learners decode and understand new vocabulary by providing hints about meaning and grammatical function. This insight into how words are formed supports vocabulary development and reading comprehension.