Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

Structural analysis involves what kind of breakdown of words?

1. Phonemes and syllables

2. Base components and affix components

3. Sounds and meanings

4. Words and sentences

The correct answer is: Base components and affix components

Structural analysis focuses on the breakdown of words into their base components and affix components, including prefixes, suffixes, and root words. This technique is crucial for understanding how these different parts contribute to the overall meaning of a word. By recognizing these morphological units, learners can decode unfamiliar words and enhance their vocabulary and comprehension skills. In this context, understanding the base and affix components of words allows students to analyze the structure of language more effectively, facilitating better reading and writing skills. This approach helps learners to not only pronounce new words but also to infer their meanings based on their parts. The other options do not capture the specific components focused on in structural analysis. For example, the breakdown into phonemes and syllables primarily addresses phonetic aspects of language rather than the morphological elements that define structural analysis. Similarly, focusing on sounds and meanings leans more towards phonology and semantics rather than the structural components of words. Lastly, breaking down words and sentences pertains to syntax rather than the morphological structure that structural analysis emphasizes.