09 Vocabulary and Written Communication Free Online FlashCards

What does context do when you encounter an unfamiliar word?

Context is the surrounding text that helps establish a word’s meaning.

What is a prefix?

A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and modifies its meaning. For example, re- means “again” in recheck.

What often happens to a final silent e before a vowel suffix?

Often drop the final silent e before a suffix that begins with a vowel: write becomes writing.

How should purpose and audience shape writing?

Match writing to its purpose and audience. Put the main point where readers can find it, support it with relevant details, and use an appropriate level of formality.

How can you check an inferred word meaning?

Read the sentence and nearby sentences; look for definitions, examples, contrasts, or cause-and-effect clues. Test a possible meaning in the sentence, but do not infer more than the text supports.

In “the temperature remained stable; it neither rose nor fell,” what does stable mean?

In this sentence, stable means unchanged or steady; the clue is that the temperature neither rose nor fell.

Why must you use context to interpret acute?

Acute can mean severe or sudden, or sharp or perceptive. Choose the meaning that fits the passage.

What does a root contribute to a word?

A root carries a word’s central meaning. For example, cardi relates to the heart, as in cardiology.

What is a suffix?

A suffix appears at the end of a word and can modify meaning or grammatical function. In inspection, -tion forms a noun.

Why shouldn’t word parts alone determine a word’s meaning?

Word parts offer useful clues, not guaranteed definitions. Check the whole word against its sentence because parts can have multiple meanings.

What often happens to consonant + y before an ending?

A consonant + y often changes to i before an ending, as in apply → applied. The y usually remains before -ing: applying.

When might a word double its final consonant before a vowel suffix?

Some short-vowel words double a final consonant before a vowel suffix, as in plan → planned. The pattern depends on stress and word structure, so check unfamiliar forms.