Final answer:
The correct pair of prefixes with similar meanings is D) Mono- and Multi-. Mono- means 'one' or 'single,' while multi- means 'many.' Understanding prefixes is crucial for vocabulary development in many fields.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question “Which of the following pairs of prefixes have the same or similar meaning?” is D) Mono- and Multi-. Both mono- and multi- refer to numbers or amounts, but they signify opposite concepts. Mono- means “one” or “single,” while multi- means “many” or “several.” Other pairs listed, such as Micro- and Macro- or Hem- and Hyper-, denote different or contrasting meanings. Micro- indicates something small, while macro- stands for something large or extensive. Hem- generally refers to blood, while hyper- denotes an excess or something being above normal.
In terms of understanding the formation of words with prefixes, it is helpful to analyze the prefix and the stem separately. Taking into account assimilation, which adjusts the phonetics of a prefix when attached to a base word, we can see how double letters might occur in some words as noted in 8.12: Double Letters with Un-, Re-, Dis-, and Mis-. This concept helps explain the presence of double c’s in certain English words.
While hypo- and poly- both appear in scientific and medical terminology, they too represent different meanings. Hypo- suggests something below normal or deficient, whereas poly- means many or much, similar to multi-. It is critical to understand the precise meaning of each prefix to grasp the definition and use of the words they create. Prefixes are foundational components that enhance vocabulary and comprehension across various fields such as biology, chemistry, and language arts.