Question 29

A reader identifies words like 'stable' with an ending pattern of consonant plus '-le' and is able to break the word into the component parts 'sta' and 'ble.'

Morphology, in the context of literacy development, involves understanding the structure of words and how they can be broken down into smaller units or morphemes. By identifying the parts of the word 'stable,' the reader demonstrates knowledge of morphological patterns, which is essential for decoding and understanding new words.

A) A reader recognizes that '-ed' can be added to the end of the verb 'need' and knows it does not change the word's meaning or part of speech.

This option incorrectly emphasizes the suffix '-ed' and its effect on meaning. While recognizing suffixes is a component of morphology, the example provided does not demonstrate the breakdown of a word into its morphemes nor does it illustrate how those morphemes contribute to decoding or understanding new words.

B) A reader recognizes the word 'mail' and uses the common pattern of letters to correctly decode the unfamiliar word 'nail.'

This choice focuses on phonetics rather than morphology. While recognizing patterns in letters is important for decoding, it does not involve the understanding of word structure or morphemes, which is the essence of morphology.

D) A reader identifies the ending sound of the word 'wish' and uses this knowledge to correctly read and pronounce the word 'ship.'

This option also pertains to phonemic awareness rather than morphological understanding. Identifying ending sounds does not encompass the breakdown of words into morphemes, which is central to the concept of morphology in literacy development.

Conclusion

Option C is the only choice that exemplifies morphology by demonstrating how a reader can break down a word into its constituent parts, facilitating deeper understanding and decoding skills. The other options, while related to literacy, do not address the structural analysis of words that is characteristic of morphological awareness. Thus, C stands out as the best example of morphology in the context of literacy development.