Greek root words

The Greek root 'tele', found in words like 'telephone' and 'television', means what?

• Sound

• Far off or at a distance

• To see

• Light

Answer explanation

The root 'tele' means 'far off' or 'at a distance'. A telephone carries sound far away, and television sends pictures far away.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Match each Greek root to its correct meaning.

• To look or see

• graph

• Time

• chron

• To write or draw

• scop

• Sound

• phon

Answer explanation

Each root is matched to its definition: 'chron' means time, 'phon' means sound, 'graph' means to write, and 'scop' means to look.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

A popular musician announced she is publishing her biography this fall. Based on your knowledge of Greek roots, what will this book most likely be about?

• The history of her country

• The musician's life story

• A collection of maps of her tours

• A fictional adventure story

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'bio' means 'life' and the root 'graph' means 'to write'. Therefore, a biography is a written account of a person's life, in this case, the musician's.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Sort these tools based on the primary action described by their Greek root: 'Seeing' or 'Measuring'.

Groups:

(a) Seeing

,

(b) Measuring

• barometer

• microscope

• thermometer

• telescope

Answer explanation

Words with the root 'scop' (to see) like telescope and microscope belong in the 'Seeing' category. Words with the root 'meter' (to measure) like thermometer and barometer belong in the 'Measuring' category.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

A scientist who studies geology is most interested in which of the following?

• The stars and planets

• The history of the Earth and its rocks

• The behavior of animals

• The functions of the human body

Answer explanation

The root 'geo' means 'Earth' and '-logy' means 'the study of'. Therefore, geology is the study of the Earth.

The Greek root 'therm', as in 'thermos' and 'geothermal', relates to what?

• Water

• Pressure

• Heat

• Movement

Answer explanation

The root 'therm' means 'heat'. A thermos keeps things hot or cold, and geothermal energy comes from the Earth's heat.

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 the combined meaning of its Greek parts.

• Water

• psychology

• Life + Study of

• biology

• Mind + Study of

• autograph

• Self + Write

• hydrant

Answer explanation

Each word is broken down into its roots: 'autograph' (auto=self, graph=write), 'biology' (bio=life, logy=study of), 'hydrant' (hydro=water), and 'psychology' (psych=mind, logy=study of).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

When your video game character doesn't move in synchronization, it means the movements are not happening at the same...

• speed

• direction

• time

• place

Answer explanation

The root 'chron' means 'time'. 'Syn-' means 'together'. Synchronization means things happening together at the same time.

Sort these words into the category their main Greek root describes: 'Earth', 'Life', or 'Star'.

Groups:

(a) Earth

,

(b) Life

,

(c) Star

• biology

• antibiotic

• astronomy

• asterisk

• geography

• geode

Answer explanation

Words with 'geo' relate to Earth. Words with 'bio' relate to life. Words with 'astro' or 'aster' relate to stars.

Your friend got a new hydroflask to keep her drink cold. The root 'hydro' tells you the flask is designed to hold...

• hot air

• solid food

• water or other liquids

• school supplies

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'hydro' means 'water'. Therefore, a hydroflask is a container designed for water or other liquids.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B