Examkin

Base Word Identification

6 questions

All types6Multiple choice2Matching2Fill in the blank2
Question 1Question →

Match each multi-affix derivative word on the left with its underlying core base word on the right by identifying and stripping away all prefixes and suffixes.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

demagnetization
reinvigoration
disillusionment
interchangeability

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'demagnetization' matches with 'magnet', 'reinvigoration' matches with 'vigor', 'disillusionment' matches with 'illusion', and 'interchangeability' matches with 'change'.
Each target term is formed by attaching multiple prefixes and suffixes to an independent root or base word. Stripping all surrounding morphemes correctly pairs 'demagnetization' to 'magnet', 'reinvigoration' to 'vigor', 'disillusionment' to 'illusion', and 'interchangeability' to 'change'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze 'demagnetization' by peeling away outer morphological layers.
Removed the prefix 'de-' and the suffix chain '-ize' + '-ation', revealing the free base 'magnet'.
Base word identification requires separating both inflectional and derivational affixes from the root.
2
Deconstruct 'reinvigoration' by systematically stripping all attached affixes.
Removed dual prefixes 're-' and 'in-' along with the suffix ending '-ation', exposing 'vigor'.
Multiple affixes must be stripped to prevent confusing intermediate stems with the true base word.
3
Examine 'disillusionment' to isolate its root morpheme.
Stripped prefix 'dis-' and suffix '-ment', leaving the standalone base 'illusion'.
Recognizing morpheme boundaries isolates the core word carrying the essential lexical meaning.
4
Break down 'interchangeability' into its structural components.
Separated the prefix 'inter-' and the compound suffix '-ability' to expose the root 'change'.
Complex Latinate suffix combinations must be fully detached to reveal the underlying free root.

Key Concept

Deconstruction of complex multi-affix words into uninflected base words through systematic affix identification and removal.
Question 2Question →

In the sentence 'The weather in the mountains was completely unpredictable,' what is the base word of unpredictable?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: predict

Answer

predict
Removing the prefix 'un-' and the suffix '-able' from 'unpredictable' reveals the standalone base verb 'predict', which carries the core meaning of the word.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and remove the prefix from the target word.
Removing the negative prefix 'un-' leaves 'predictable'.
A prefix is an affix attached to the beginning of a base word.
2
Identify and remove the suffix from the remaining word form.
Removing the adjectival suffix '-able' leaves 'predict'.
A suffix is an affix added to the end of a base word to alter its grammatical function or meaning.
3
Confirm that the isolated root functions independently as a standard English word.
'Predict' is a standalone English verb meaning to declare or state in advance.
A base word is a free morpheme that holds core meaning without requiring any attached affixes.

Key Concept

Base Word Identification through Affix Removal
Estimated Time:30s
Question 3Question →

Read the sentence below and determine the core base word of the emboldened term after removing all prefixes and suffixes. What is the base word of nonperishable?

Fill in the blanks below

Emergency supply kits must be stocked with nonperishable goods. The core base word of 'nonperishable' is .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The base word is 'perish'.
The word 'nonperishable' is formed by attaching the negative prefix 'non-' and the adjective-forming suffix '-able' to the base verb 'perish'. Removing both affixes leaves the standalone base word 'perish'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and isolate the prefix.
The prefix is 'non-', meaning 'not'. Removing it leaves 'perishable'.
Prefixes attach to the beginning of a root word to alter its meaning.
2
Identify and isolate the suffix.
The suffix is '-able', meaning 'capable of'. Removing it leaves 'perish'.
Suffixes attach to the end of a base word to modify its grammatical form.
3
Verify the remaining root as a standalone base word.
The word 'perish' is a valid standalone English verb meaning to decay, spoil, or die.
A base word is the simplest meaningful form of a word that remains once all derivational and inflectional affixes are removed.

Key Concept

Base Word Identification through Affix Removal
Estimated Time:45s
Question 4Question →

The factory supervisor addressed the staff to resolve the growing discontentment among the assembly crew. What is the base word of discontentment?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: content

Answer

content
The word 'discontentment' is formed by attaching the negative prefix 'dis-' and the noun-forming suffix '-ment' to the root word 'content'. Stripping away both affixes isolates the true base word 'content'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the morphological structure of the target word 'discontentment'.
The word consists of the prefix 'dis-', the root 'content', and the suffix '-ment'.
Identifying all attached affixes is necessary to separate them from the root.
2
Remove the prefix 'dis-' and the suffix '-ment'.
The core word remaining is 'content'.
A base word is the foundational form that remains after all affixes are stripped away.
3
Verify that the remaining word is a valid free base.
'Content' is a complete, meaningful standalone word meaning satisfied or pleased.
Confirms that the segment is a legitimate base word and not an over-truncated fragment.

Key Concept

Base Word Identification through Affix Removal
Estimated Time:45s
Question 5Question →

In vocabulary analysis, complex words often consist of prefixes and suffixes attached to a root. For each derivative term below, identify its underlying base word by removing all attached affixes. Which base word corresponds to each derivative term?

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

irreplaceable
unfaithfulness
reconstruction
mismanagement

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The derivative words correctly match their foundational base words as follows: 'irreplaceable' pairs with 'place', 'unfaithfulness' pairs with 'faith', 'reconstruction' pairs with 'construct', and 'mismanagement' pairs with 'manage'.
Each derivative term is formed by attaching prefixes and suffixes to a single root word. Removing the prefixes ('ir-', 'un-', 're-', 'mis-') and suffixes ('-able', '-ful', '-ness', '-tion', '-ment') isolates the underlying base words: 'place', 'faith', 'construct', and 'manage'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze 'irreplaceable' by separating all affixes.
Identify prefix 'ir-' and suffix '-able', isolating the foundational base word 'place'.
Complete affix removal isolates the core morpheme capable of standing alone.
2
Analyze 'unfaithfulness' by separating all affixes.
Identify prefix 'un-' and suffixes '-ful' and '-ness', isolating the base noun 'faith'.
Successive removal of layered derivational affixes exposes the central root.
3
Analyze 'reconstruction' by separating all affixes.
Identify prefix 're-' and suffix '-tion', isolating the base verb 'construct'.
Stripping the prefix indicating repetition and the Latinate action suffix uncovers the root.
4
Analyze 'mismanagement' by separating all affixes.
Identify prefix 'mis-' and suffix '-ment', isolating the base verb 'manage'.
Removing the prefix indicating error and the state-denoting suffix leaves the core verb.

Key Concept

Base Word Identification through Systematic Affix Stripping
Question 6Question →

Determine the underlying base word for the term in the statement below. What is the base word after removing all affixes?

Fill in the blanks below

After stripping both the prefix and the suffix from the word "disagreement", the remaining base word is .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

agree
Removing the prefix "dis-" and the suffix "-ment" from the word "disagreement" isolates the root verb "agree", which is the complete and unadorned base word.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and isolate any prefixes attached to the beginning of the target word.
Removing the negative prefix "dis-" from "disagreement" leaves "agreement".
Prefixes are bound morphemes placed before a base word to alter its meaning.
2
Identify and isolate any suffixes attached to the end of the word.
Removing the noun-forming suffix "-ment" from "agreement" yields "agree".
Suffixes are bound morphemes attached to the end of a base word to alter its grammatical category or form.
3
Verify that the remaining component functions as an independent, meaningful base word.
"agree" is a complete, standalone English root word.
A base word is the core element that remains after all inflectional and derivational affixes have been removed.

Key Concept

Base Word Identification
Estimated Time:30s
Base Word Identification Practice Questions — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) | Examkin