(原创精品)Word Building(第二十三期)

The prefix de- can be added to verbs to form new verbs. Verbs formed in this way describe an action which has the opposite effect of or reverses the process described by the original verb.
for example
de- + value →devalue : reduce the value of something
de- + regulate →deregulate : remove the regulations from something The prefix de- can also be added to some nouns to form verbs which indicate that the thing referred to by the noun is removed.
for example
de- + ice →de-ice : remove the ice
de- + frost →defrost : remove the frost
de-emphasize devalue decentralize destabilize deregulate demobilize decode depersonnlize
①I think the words such as courage and bravery are overused and they have
been _____ as a result.
②The reports said that the gangs of robbers were largely made up of_____
soldiers.
③Japan’s financial markets had been substantially _____ in the previous
three years, making them more sensitive to changes in the price of money.
④They _____ their operations last year and opened several regional office in
the country.
⑤It is widely accepted that the conflict has had the effect of _____ the whole
area.
⑥Most of the parents said that they thought wearing school uniforms _____
their children.
⑦However, these figures _____ the importance of agriculture, since 45% of
the population lives in rural areas.
⑧The poem does convey a message, but it has to be _____ in order to
understand its meaning.
The suffix –ee can be added to some verbs to refer to the person to whom the action is being done.
for example
employ + -ee →employee : a person who is employed
train + -ee →trainee : a person who is being trained to do a particular job The suffix –ee can also be added to some verbs to form nouns to refer to someone who has performed a particular action.
for example
escape + -ee →escapee : someone who has escaped from captivity devote + -ee →devotee : someone who is very enthusiastic about a
subject or an activity.
interviewee addressee employee escapee
trainee divorcee devotee retiree
①In this country, almost two-thirds of current _____ rely on the social
security system for more than half of their income.
②In our interviews we try to make our _____ feel as relaxed as possible.
③I still remember my first job as a(n) _____ reporter with that newspaper.
④The number of _____ in the company has increased tenfold over the past
decade.
⑤They had searched the whole area for three days and at last captured the
two _____.
⑥You don’t need to stick any stamps to the envelope as the postage will be
paid by the _____.
⑦He is a(n) _____ of science fiction. He has a large collection of such books.
⑧Edward VIII, the British King, had to give up the British throne because he
wanted to marry an American _____.。