Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

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What does structural analysis primarily involve?

Decoding multi-syllabic words using phonics
Recognizing syllables in single words
Decoding multi-syllabic words with affixes
Identifying the root words only

The correct answer is: Decoding multi-syllabic words with affixes

Structural analysis primarily involves decoding multi-syllabic words with affixes. This process includes examining the structure of words by breaking them down into their constituent parts: the root (or base) words, prefixes, and suffixes. Understanding how these components function allows students to decipher the meanings of unfamiliar multi-syllabic words. This skill enhances their vocabulary and comprehension as they learn to recognize how affixes modify root words to form new meanings. For example, in the word "unhappiness," students can identify the root word "happy" and the prefix "un-" (meaning "not") and the suffix "-ness" (indicating a state or condition). This understanding aids them not only in decoding the word but also in grasping its meaning in context. Recognizing syllables in single words, decoding multi-syllabic words using phonics, and identifying root words alone, while relevant to word analysis, do not fully capture the comprehensive process of structural analysis which incorporates understanding the roles of affixes in multi-syllabic words.