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Difficulty: MediumCommon Prefixes

The engineer warned that the minor pressure drop was a precursor to a total system breakdown. What does the word precursor most nearly mean?

  1. A sign or event that comes before anotherAnswer
  2. B
    A direct consequence or final outcome
  3. C
    A tool used for measuring precise values
  4. D
    An unrelated and sudden interruption

Answer

A sign or event that comes before another
The prefix 'pre-' means 'before' or 'prior to'. When attached to the root 'cursor' (from the Latin for 'runner'), the word literally denotes a forerunner—something that happens before and signals a future development.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prefix and root components of the target word.
The word contains the prefix 'pre-' (meaning 'before' or 'in advance') and the root 'curs' (meaning 'to run').
Prefix analysis helps determine the foundational temporal relationship of the word.
2
Combine the morphological meaning with the contextual usage in the sentence.
The minor pressure drop occurred ahead of the total breakdown, functioning as an advance warning or forerunner.
Applying the prefix meaning to the sentence verifies that the event comes before the main occurrence.

Key Concept

Understanding the common temporal prefix 'pre-', meaning 'before' or 'prior to'
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Common Prefixes

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