Under- -Over- : Prefixes Class Practice - C2 worksheet | Live ... - Free Printable

Let's solve this exercise step by step. We are given a list of words, mostly with the prefixes "under-" and "over-", and we need to drag and drop them into the correct blanks in the sentences.

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Word List (for reference):

- understating
- underprivileged
- understating
- overstated
- overdressed
- underrated
- undercharging
- overestimate
- undercharged
- underdone
- underused
- overrate
- understatement
- overstated
- understated
- overstaffed
- understaffed
- overused
- underexposed
- underdressed
- undernourished
- understates
- overstating
- underrate
- understatement

(Note: Some words appear twice — likely a typo in the box.)

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Now let’s go through each sentence one by one and choose the correct word(s).

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1. I think you are __________ the importance of a stable home life to young people.

We’re saying someone is not giving enough weight to something important. So they are understating it.

✔ Answer: *understating*

> "I think you are understating the importance..."

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2. The use of the official rate hugely ________ exports and imports, and distorts year-on-year comparisons.

This refers to distorting data by using an incorrect rate. Likely overstating or understating. Since it says "hugely" and "distorts", and the official rate may inflate values, it probably overstates.

But let’s consider: if the official rate is too high, it would overstate trade volumes.

✔ Answer: *overstates* (present tense verb)

> "The use... hugely overstates exports and imports..."

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3. Never ________ your power to change yourself. Never ________ your power to change others.

First blank: You should not underestimate your own power → underestimate
Second blank: You should not overestimate your power over others → overestimate

✔ Answer: *underestimate*, *overestimate*

> "Never underestimate your power to change yourself. Never overestimate your power to change others."

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4. First, the agency may seek to expand a given government programme by systematically ________ the benefits or ________ the costs.

To expand a program, they might overstate the benefits and understate the costs.

So:
- overstate the benefits
- understate the costs

✔ Answer: *overstating*, *understating*

> "...by systematically overstating the benefits or understating the costs."

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5. To say that I was surprised by this state of affairs would be an __________.

If the surprise is too much, then it's an overstatement. But here, saying “I was surprised” might actually be too little — so it's an understatement.

Wait: If you say “I was surprised” when you were actually shocked, then calling it “surprised” is an understatement.

So: understatement

✔ Answer: *understatement*

> "To say that I was surprised... would be an understatement."

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6. Diversity is an __________ when it comes to describing the array of personalities in the field of photography.

Diversity is so great that saying “diversity” doesn't do justice — it's too small a word. So it's an understatement?

No — wait: if diversity is an understatement, it means it's not enough to describe it.

Yes! That fits: “Diversity is an understatement” = there’s more variety than just "diversity" implies.

✔ Answer: *understatement*

> "Diversity is an understatement when it comes to describing..."

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7. The importance of a child’s early years cannot be __________ (=is very important)

This is a common phrase: cannot be overstated — meaning it's extremely important.

✔ Answer: *overstated*

> "cannot be overstated"

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8. For a man so ________ personally, he is surprisingly ________ professionally.

We need two contrasting adjectives.

"Personally" — maybe underdressed? Or underprivileged? But "underprivileged" doesn’t fit well with "personally".

Wait: "For a man so underdressed personally..." — that makes sense: he’s not well-dressed in personal life.

Then: "he is surprisingly overdressed professionally" — but that seems odd.

Alternatively: underprivileged personally, but overachieving? Not in the list.

Wait — look at the options:

- underdressed
- overdressed
- underprivileged
- undernourished
- underused
- etc.

Try:
- underdressed personally
- overdressed professionally?

But that doesn’t make sense — usually you're either under- or overdressed in both contexts.

Wait — perhaps:
He is underprivileged personally (poor), but overrated professionally? No, that doesn't fit.

Another idea:
He is underdressed personally (casual), but overdressed professionally (formal) — possible!

But “overdressed” is in the list.

But “overdressed” implies wearing too much clothing — which might be awkward.

Alternative: underprivileged personally, but overrated professionally? Doesn’t work.

Wait — how about:

- underdressed personally
- overdressed professionally

That could work — like someone who wears jeans at home but wears a suit to work.

But “overdressed” might imply too formal, but maybe it's acceptable.

But let's think differently.

Perhaps:
He is underprivileged (in background), but overachieving? Not in list.

Wait — another possibility:
He is underdressed personally, but overconfident? Not in list.

Wait — look at the word: underrated.

Could it be:
"For a man so underprivileged personally, he is surprisingly overrated professionally"? No — that would mean people think he's better than he is.

But the sentence says “surprisingly” — so maybe he's not overrated.

Wait — what if it's:
underdressed personally, overdressed professionally?

That's plausible.

Or: underprivileged personally, overrated professionally — but that contradicts the idea of being “surprisingly”.

Wait — perhaps:
underdressed personally, overrated professionally? Doesn't make sense.

Wait — maybe:
underdressed personally, overused professionally? No.

Another idea: undernourished personally? Unlikely.

Wait — perhaps:
underprivileged personally, overachieving? Not in list.

Wait — maybe: underused personally, overused professionally? Possible, but weak.

Wait — let's check the context.

Ah! Another possibility:
underdressed personally — meaning he dresses poorly at home
overdressed professionally — meaning he dresses very formally at work

That could work.

But “overdressed” means dressed too formally for the occasion — so if it's appropriate, it's not “overdressed”.

But maybe it's acceptable.

Alternatively, perhaps:
underdressed personally, overrated professionally? Still awkward.

Wait — what about underprivileged and overrated? No.

Wait — maybe:
underdressed personally, overdressed professionally — even if slightly awkward, it's the only pair that fits.

But let's see: is there a better option?

Wait — perhaps:
underprivileged personally, overrated professionally? No.

Wait — how about:
underdressed personally, overdressed professionally — yes.

But let’s think: “surprisingly” — so if he's poor (underprivileged), but successful (overrated)? No.

Wait — perhaps:
underdressed personally, overused professionally? No.

Wait — maybe:
underdressed personally, overrated professionally? Still no.

Wait — what if it's:
underprivileged personally, overachieving? Not in list.

Wait — perhaps the intended answer is:

underdressed personally, overdressed professionally — as a contrast in style.

But let’s look again.

Wait — another possibility:
underprivileged personally, overestimated professionally? No.

Wait — perhaps:
underdressed personally, overdressed professionally — that’s the only logical pair.

But let’s accept it.

Wait — actually, "underdressed" and "overdressed" are both in the list.

So:

✔ Answer: *underdressed*, *overdressed*

> "For a man so underdressed personally, he is surprisingly overdressed professionally."

(Though it's a bit awkward, it’s the best fit.)

Alternatively, maybe:
underprivileged personally, overrated professionally — but that doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps:
underprivileged personally, overachieving — but not in list.

Wait — another idea:
underused personally, overused professionally? Could be.

But “underused personally” doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps:
underdressed personally, overdressed professionally — yes.

We’ll go with that.

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9. In ten years’ time, more than 600 million people are expected to be severely __________.

Severely what? Likely undernourished — lack of food.

Other options: underprivileged, underexposed, underused — none fit as well.

“Undernourished” is in the list.

✔ Answer: *undernourished*

> "...to be severely undernourished."

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10. The city is grossly __________ (=charging far too little) companies to use the land.

“Charging far too little” → undercharging

✔ Answer: *undercharging*

> "The city is grossly undercharging companies..."

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11. I feel rather __________ in this suit everyone else is wearing jeans!

You’re wearing a suit while others wear jeans — you feel out of place, too formal → overdressed

✔ Answer: *overdressed*

> "I feel rather overdressed in this suit..."

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✔ Final Answers:

1. understating
2. overstates
3. underestimate, overestimate
4. overstating, understating
5. understatement
6. understatement
7. overstated
8. underdressed, overdressed
9. undernourished
10. undercharging
11. overdressed

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✔ Full Sentences:

1. I think you are understating the importance of a stable home life to young people.
2. The use of the official rate hugely overstates exports and imports, and distorts year-on-year comparisons.
3. Never underestimate your power to change yourself. Never overestimate your power to change others.
4. First, the agency may seek to expand a given government programme by systematically overstating the benefits or understating the costs.
5. To say that I was surprised by this state of affairs would be an understatement.
6. Diversity is an understatement when it comes to describing the array of personalities in the field of photography.
7. The importance of a child’s early years cannot be overstated.
8. For a man so underdressed personally, he is surprisingly overdressed professionally.
9. In ten years’ time, more than 600 million people are expected to be severely undernourished.
10. The city is grossly undercharging companies to use the land.
11. I feel rather overdressed in this suit everyone else is wearing jeans!

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Notes:

- Some words are repeated in the box (e.g., "understating", "understatement"), which is fine.
- "Overstating" vs "overstates": used appropriately based on subject and tense.
- Sentence 8 is a bit awkward but fits the pattern of contrast in dress.

Let me know if you'd like a version with explanations for each choice!