BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit One: Chapter 6
Common word parts—also known as prefixes, suffixes, and roots—
are used in forming many words in English.
• auto-
• re-
• ex-
• super-
• -ful
• un-
• multi-
• uni-
• pre-
• vis, vid
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
1 auto• Years ago, in restaurants called automats, people served
themselves by putting coins in slots and removing food from
behind small glass doors.
• It is possible to hypnotize yourself through a process called
autohypnosis.
The word part auto- means
A. see.
B. self.
C. above.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
1 auto• Years ago, in restaurants called automats, people served
themselves by putting coins in slots and removing food from
behind small glass doors.
• It is possible to hypnotize yourself through a process called
autohypnosis.
The word part auto- means
A. see.
B. self.
C. above.
Automats are self-service restaurants. Autohypnosis is hypnotizing
oneself.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
2 ex• “Inhale as you lower your head,” called out the exercise
instructor, “And exhale as you do the sit-up.”
• My uncle isn’t a very good businessman. He once tried to export
rice to China and perfume to France.
The word part ex- means
A. before.
B. out.
C. not.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
2 ex• “Inhale as you lower your head,” called out the exercise
instructor, “And exhale as you do the sit-up.”
• My uncle isn’t a very good businessman. He once tried to export
rice to China and perfume to France.
The word part ex- means
A. before.
B. out.
C. not.
An exit is a way out.
The opposite of inhaling is
breathing out or exhaling. The
uncle tried to ship out rice to
China and perfume to France.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
3 -ful
• Even though the movie and the meal were pretty bad, I had a
delightful evening because the company was so good.
• Many children, fearful of the dark, feel comforted by a nightlight.
The word part -ful means
A. not.
B. full of.
C. again.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
3 -ful
• Even though the movie and the meal were pretty bad, I had a
delightful evening because the company was so good.
• Many children, fearful of the dark, feel comforted by a nightlight.
The word part -ful means
A. not.
B. full of.
C. again.
The good company would make the evening full of delight. The dark
can make a child full of fear.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
4 multi• Luan is multilingual—she speaks English, French, and Chinese.
• Ours is a multiracial neighborhood. In fact, the area attracts
people who want their children to grow up among many ethnic
groups.
The word part multi- means
A. many.
B. one.
C. out.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
4 multi• Luan is multilingual—she speaks English, French, and Chinese.
• Ours is a multiracial neighborhood. In fact, the area attracts
people who want their children to grow up among many ethnic
groups.
The word part multi- means
A. many.
B. one.
C. out.
Multigrain
cereal is made
of many
grains.
Someone who speaks English,
French, and Chinese speaks many
languages. If the neighborhood has
many ethnic groups it must be an
area where many races live.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
5 pre• People who believe in fate think our lives are mainly
predetermined and that we therefore can’t do much to change
things.
• I like to get to the theater in time to see the previews of coming
movies.
The word part pre- means
A. again.
B. one.
C. before.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
5 pre• People who believe in fate think our lives are mainly
predetermined and that we therefore can’t do much to change
things.
• I like to get to the theater in time to see the previews of coming
movies.
The word part pre- means
A. again.
B. one.
C. before.
If we can’t do much to change things, the course of our
lives must have been determined beforehand. A preview
gives us a glimpse of the movie before it is shown in the
theater.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
6 re• I don’t recommend saving leftover coffee. Reheated coffee
tastes like mud.
• Publishers sell books to bookstores, which then resell the books
to customers.
The word part re- means
A. again.
B. above.
C. see.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
6 re• I don’t recommend saving leftover coffee. Reheated coffee
tastes like mud.
• Publishers sell books to bookstores, which then resell the books
to customers.
The word part re- means
A. again.
B. above.
C. see.
Leftover coffee would need to be heated again. After a
book has been sold once to the bookstore, it is sold again
to customers.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
7 super• Oprah Winfrey is such a superstar that “ordinary” stars are
eager to appear on her show.
• The superintendent of schools is the highest-ranking official in
a school system.
The word part super- means
A. out.
B. see.
C. above.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
7 super• Oprah Winfrey is such a superstar that “ordinary” stars are
eager to appear on her show.
• The superintendent of schools is the highest-ranking official in
a school system.
The word part super- means
A. out.
B. see.
C. above.
Oprah Winfrey is a star who is above “ordinary” stars. The highestranking official in the school system is above all the other officials.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
8 un• Our history teacher has an unusual approach to teaching. He
often wears costumes to class and lectures as one of the historical
people we’re learning about.
• When I am involved in reading a good novel, I am totally
unaware of the world around me.
The word part un- means
A. before.
B. not.
C. many.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
8 un• Our history teacher has an unusual approach to teaching. He
often wears costumes to class and lectures as one of the historical
people we’re learning about.
• When I am involved in reading a good novel, I am totally
unaware of the world around me.
The word part un- means
A. before.
B. not.
C. many.
Wearing costumes to class is not a usual approach to teaching.
If one were involved in a good novel, he or she might not be
aware of the surroundings.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
9 uni• The company combined crayons, paints, and paper into a unit
and sold it as a children’s art kit.
• The dancers in the chorus line kicked their legs up and down in
perfect unison, as if they were one body.
The word part uni- means
A. one.
B. not.
C. before.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
9 uni• The company combined crayons, paints, and paper into a unit
and sold it as a children’s art kit.
• The dancers in the chorus line kicked their legs up and down in
perfect unison, as if they were one body.
The word part uni- means
A. one.
B. not.
C. before.
If the company sold the crayons, paints, and paper as a kit, the
items must have been combined into one package. The dancers
would look like they were one body if they were all kicking their
legs up and down at one time.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
10 vis, vid
• Our teacher prefers that our oral reports include visual aids such
as PowerPoint presentations, which will appeal to students’ eyes
as well as ears.
• I always make a videotape of our annual family reunion. It’s fun
to see how everyone looked five, ten, or twenty years ago.
The word part vis or vid means
A. again.
B. before.
C. see.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
10 vis, vid
• Our teacher prefers that our oral reports include visual aids such
as PowerPoint presentations, which will appeal to students’ eyes
as well as ears.
• I always make a videotape of our annual family reunion. It’s fun
to see how everyone looked five, ten, or twenty years ago.
The word part vis or vid means
A. again.
B. before.
C. see.
Something that would appeal to students’ eyes would have to be an
aid students could see. A videotape is something that can be seen.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
1. After the hurricane, the city was ( . . . built) ___ further
inland, in a safer location.
2. Bees and butterflies can see certain colors that are not
( . . . ible) ___ to the human eye.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
1. After the hurricane, the city was ____________
further
rebuilt
inland, in a safer location.
In order for the city to be placed in a different and safer location,
it would have to be built again.
2. Bees and butterflies can see certain colors that are not
____________
to the human eye.
visible
Bees and butterflies can see colors that cannot be seen by the
human eye.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
3. I find it (rest . . .) ___ to vacation at home, where I can
relax and catch up on reading and movies.
4. Jurors must not ( . . . judge) ___ a case. They must listen
to all the evidence before coming to a conclusion.
5. It is difficult for neighborhood food stores to compete with
( . . . markets) __, which offer more choices and lower
prices.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
3. I find it ____________
to vacation at home, where I can
restful
relax and catch up on reading and movies.
A relaxing vacation at home can fill one with rest.
4. Jurors must not ______________
a case. They must listen
prejudge
to all the evidence before coming to a conclusion.
Jurors must not judge a case before they have heard all the evidence.
5. It is difficult for neighborhood food stores to compete with
_______________,
supermarkets which offer more choices and lower
prices.
Supermarkets are greater than neighborhood stores. They are bigger
and they have more choices and lower prices.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
6. The legendary ( . . . corn) ___, a horse-like animal with
one horn, is often shown as having a lion’s tail and a
goat’s beard.
7. My grandfather used to ( . . . tract) ___ my loose baby
teeth by tying each to a string and then yanking the
string.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
6. The legendary ____________,
a horse-like animal with
unicorn
one horn, is often shown as having a lion’s tail and a
goat’s beard.
Unicorn means “one horn.”
7. My grandfather used to _____________
my loose baby
extract
teeth by tying each to a string and then yanking the
string.
Yanking on the string tied to a loose tooth would pull the tooth out.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
8. In her ( . . . biography) ___, Blackberry Winter, the famous
sociologist Margaret Mead writes about her childhood, her
three marriages, and her career.
9. My bedroom is really a(n) ( . . . purpose) ___ room. I read,
watch TV, eat snacks, talk on the phone, do push-ups,
daydream, and sleep there.
10. Anyone who bumps into a stonefish is really ( . . . lucky)
___, for it has thirteen poisonous spines sticking out of its
body.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. auto-
B. ex-
C. -ful
D. multi-
E. pre-
F. re-
G. super-
H. un-
I. uni-
J. vis
8. In her_________________,
Blackberry Winter, the famous
autobiography
sociologist Margaret Mead writes about her childhood, her
three marriages, and her career.
Margaret Mead writes about herself in the book.
9. My bedroom is really a ________________
multipurpose room. I read,
watch TV, eat snacks, talk on the phone, do push-ups,
daydream, and sleep there.
The bedroom has many purposes.
10. Anyone who bumps into a stonefish is really ___________,
unlucky
for it has thirteen poisonous spines sticking out of its body.
Bumping into such a fish would not be lucky.