Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What does morphemic analysis focus on?

1. Listening skills and pronunciation

2. Identifying topics in text

3. The parts of words, such as prefixes and suffixes

4. Picture associations in vocabulary

The correct answer is: The parts of words, such as prefixes and suffixes

Morphemic analysis focuses on the structure of words by examining their individual parts, known as morphemes. These parts include roots, prefixes, and suffixes, which contribute to the overall meaning of the word. Understanding morphemes allows students to decode unfamiliar words and enhances their vocabulary by enabling them to infer meanings based on the components. For example, knowing that “un-” is a prefix meaning “not” and “-ed” is a suffix indicating past tense, a student can analyze the word “unwanted” and understand that it means "not wanted." This analytical skill is crucial for reading comprehension and vocabulary development, making it an essential component of effective literacy instruction.