Which strategy would best support decoding of multisyllabic words by focusing on word structure?

Which strategy would best support decoding of multisyllabic words by focusing on word structure?

• A. Sounding out syllables one by one
• B. Counting syllables and stress
• C. Memorizing long word lists
• D. Looking for affixes and roots

Answer: (D)

Analyzing word structure helps decode multisyllabic words by recognizing prefixes, roots, and suffixes. When you identify the base root and the added affixes, you can pronounce the word more accurately and often infer its meaning. For example, in a word like unpredictable, you can see the prefix un- (not), the root predict (to say what will happen), and the suffix -able (able to be), which guides both pronunciation and meaning understanding. This approach lets you break a long word into meaningful parts, making it easier to decode unfamiliar words quickly and flexibly. Other strategies that focus mainly on saying syllables aloud or counting rhythm don’t reveal how the word is built, and memorizing long word lists doesn’t teach you how to break down new terms.

Analyzing word structure helps decode multisyllabic words by recognizing prefixes, roots, and suffixes. When you identify the base root and the added affixes, you can pronounce the word more accurately and often infer its meaning. For example, in a word like unpredictable, you can see the prefix un- (not), the root predict (to say what will happen), and the suffix -able (able to be), which guides both pronunciation and meaning understanding. This approach lets you break a long word into meaningful parts, making it easier to decode unfamiliar words quickly and flexibly. Other strategies that focus mainly on saying syllables aloud or counting rhythm don’t reveal how the word is built, and memorizing long word lists doesn’t teach you how to break down new terms.