Latin root words

The delivery person found the large box was not very _____, so he needed a dolly to move it. Which word, containing a Latin root that means 'to carry', best completes the sentence?

• portable

• important

• reported

• supported

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'port' means 'to carry'. The suffix '-able' means 'able to be'. Therefore, 'portable' means 'able to be carried', which fits the context of moving a heavy box. The other words use the same root but do not fit the sentence's meaning.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Match each Latin root to its correct meaning.

• to write

• scrib

• to look

• vis

• to see

• spect

• to hear

• aud

Answer explanation

Each Latin root is matched with its correct English meaning: 'aud' relates to hearing, 'vis' to seeing, 'scrib' to writing, and 'spect' to looking.

Which of the following actions would a benevolent person most likely take?

• Share their lunch with a friend who forgot theirs.

• Ignore someone who needs help with a project.

• Complain about having too much homework.

• Start an argument over a small disagreement.

Answer explanation

The word 'benevolent' contains the Latin root 'bene', which means 'good'. A benevolent person is kind and generous, so sharing a lunch is an action they would likely take. The other options describe negative or unkind actions.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

Sort these words into the correct category based on the meaning of their Greek root.

Groups:

(a) Words related to Earth

,

(b) Words related to Water

• hydroplane

• geology

• geometry

• geography

• hydrate

• dehydrate

Answer explanation

To sort these words correctly, one must know that the Greek root 'geo' relates to the Earth and the Greek root 'hydro' relates to water. Words containing 'geo' belong in the first category, and words containing 'hydro' belong in the second.

An autograph is a person's own signature, often written for a fan. Based on this information, what does the Greek root 'auto' most likely mean?

• Self

• Star

• Distant

• Life

Answer explanation

An autograph is a person's own ('self') signature. Since 'graph' means 'to write', the root 'auto' must mean 'self'. The other roots are 'astro' (star), 'tele' (distant), and 'bio' (life).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Match each word to its correct definition by analyzing its Latin root.

• A tank for water-based life

• Centipede

• A vehicle with one wheel

• Aquarium

• A person not in the armed services or police force

• Unicycle

• An insect with a hundred feet

• Civilian

Answer explanation

Each word can be matched to its definition by knowing its root: 'cent' means hundred, 'civ' means citizen, 'aqua' means water, and 'uni' means one.

A movie theater uses a machine to throw an image forward onto a screen. Which word, containing a root that means 'to throw', describes this action?

• Projects

• Rejects

• Subjects

• Objects

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'ject' means 'to throw'. The prefix 'pro-' means 'forward'. Therefore, to 'project' an image is to throw it forward. The other options use the same root but have prefixes that do not fit the context.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Sort these common roots by their origin: Greek or Latin.

Groups:

(a) Greek Roots

,

(b) Latin Roots

• astro

• bio

• scrib

• hydro

• civ

• port

Answer explanation

The roots are sorted by their language of origin. 'Bio' (life), 'astro' (star), and 'hydro' (water) are from Greek. 'Port' (carry), 'scrib' (write), and 'civ' (citizen) are from Latin.

A biography is a book written about a person's life. Based on this information, what does the Greek root 'bio' mean?

• Life

• Earth

• Star

• Water

Answer explanation

Since a 'biography' is the story of a person's life, the root 'bio' must mean 'life'. The other roots are 'geo' (Earth), 'astro' (star), and 'hydro' (water).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

The 'For Rent' sign was placed in the window of the vacant apartment. What does the word vacant mean in this sentence?

• It is brand new.

• It is being painted.

• No one is living in it.

• It is very expensive.

Answer explanation

The word 'vacant' contains the Latin root 'vac', which means 'empty'. Therefore, a vacant apartment is an empty one where no one is living.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C