Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

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What is the main benefit of affix knowledge in reading?

Improved automatic recognition of sight words
Enhanced understanding of vocabulary structure
Increased fluency in synchronous reading
Capacity to analyze poetic structures

The correct answer is: Enhanced understanding of vocabulary structure

The main benefit of affix knowledge in reading is enhanced understanding of vocabulary structure. Understanding affixes—prefixes and suffixes—allows readers to decode unfamiliar words and grasp their meanings based on the familiar roots they are connected to. For instance, knowing that the prefix "un-" typically indicates negation helps a reader understand that "unhappy" means "not happy." This skill promotes better comprehension and retention of vocabulary. While improved automatic recognition of sight words is an important skill in literacy, it relates more to memorization of specific high-frequency words rather than an understanding of vocabulary structure. Increased fluency in synchronous reading refers to the ability to read quickly and accurately with expression, which is vital for reading smoothness but not directly tied to the understanding of word formation. The capacity to analyze poetic structures pertains more to understanding rhythm, meter, and patterns in poetry, which, while valuable, is not the primary function of affixes in constructing meaning from text. Understanding vocabulary structure through affix knowledge is foundational for advanced reading skills.