Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

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What is a morpheme?

The smallest unit of sound in a language
The largest word in English
The smallest unit of meaning in a language
A type of grammatical structure

The correct answer is: The smallest unit of meaning in a language

A morpheme is defined as the smallest unit of meaning in a language. This means it carries semantic content on its own or when attached to other morphemes. For example, in the word "cats," there are two morphemes: "cat," which conveys the meaning of a small domesticated animal, and "-s," which indicates plurality. This illustrates how morphemes can combine to create words that carry specific meanings. Understanding morphemes is essential in linguistics and language education because they form the building blocks of words and influence comprehension, spelling, and grammar. While some morphemes can stand alone as words (like "book" or "run"), others only provide meaning when combined with other morphemes (like the "-ed" in "talked," which indicates past tense). This knowledge is critical for teachers who aim to enhance their students' understanding of word formation and vocabulary acquisition.