Greek root words

If your friend sends you a text from another country, they are using the Greek root 'tele'. What does 'tele' mean?

• Near or close

• Far off or at a distance

• To speak or say

• To write or draw

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'tele' means 'far off' or 'at a distance', as seen in words like telephone (far sound) and television (far sight). The other options are incorrect meanings.

For a history project, you must list events in chronological order. Based on the Greek root 'chron', what does this mean?

• Arranged by importance

• Arranged in alphabetical order

• Arranged in the order that they happened in time

• Arranged by geographical location

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'chron' means 'time'. Therefore, 'chronological' order means arranging events by the time they occurred. The other options describe different ways of organizing information.

Match each Greek root to its correct meaning.

• life

• hydro

• earth

• bio

• water

• geo

Answer explanation

Each root is matched with its definition: 'bio' means life (biology), 'geo' means earth (geography), and 'hydro' means water (hydrate).

Sort these words based on the meaning of their Greek root. Categories: Words about 'Heat' or Words about the 'Mind'.

Groups:

(a) Words about 'Heat'

,

(b) Words about the 'Mind'

• psychology

• thermal

• thermostat

• psychic

Answer explanation

Words with the root 'therm' (heat) are grouped together, and words with the root 'psych' (mind, soul) are grouped together.

Energy that is generated using the Earth's internal heat is called geothermal energy. Based on its Greek roots, what does the word 'geothermal' literally mean?

• Heat from water

• Heat from the sun

• Heat from the Earth

• Heat from living things

Answer explanation

The word is formed from two Greek roots: 'geo' (Earth) and 'therm' (heat). Therefore, 'geothermal' literally means heat from the Earth.

To see the tiny cells on the onion skin slide, my science teacher used a _____. Which word, based on its Greek roots, correctly completes the sentence?

• telescope

• microscope

• periscope

• stethoscope

Answer explanation

A 'microscope' combines 'micro' (small) and 'scope' (to look at), so it's a tool for looking at small things. A 'telescope' ('tele' - far) is for looking at distant things.

Match each field of study to what it is the study of, based on the Greek root '-logy'.

• The study of life

• Biology

• The study of the mind

• Psychology

• The study of the Earth

• Geology

Answer explanation

The suffix '-logy' means 'the study of'. Each word combines a root with '-logy': 'bio' (life), 'geo' (Earth), and 'psych' (mind).

When a famous author signs your book, you receive an autograph. Which Greek root in this word means 'to write'?

• auto

• graph

• onym

• path

Answer explanation

The root 'graph' means 'to write' or 'to draw'. The root 'auto' means 'self'. 'Onym' means 'name' and 'path' means 'feeling'. Therefore, an autograph is something 'written' by one's 'self'.

Sort the following words into the correct category based on their Greek root.

Groups:

(a) Words with the root 'tele' (far)

,

(b) Words with the root 'micro' (small)

• television

• microscope

• microbe

• telephone

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'tele' means 'far', and is found in 'telephone' and 'television'. The Greek root 'micro' means 'small', and is found in 'microscope' and 'microbe'.

The Greek root 'phon' is found in words like 'symphony' and 'microphone'. What does 'phon' mean?

• Light

• Sound

• Life

• Write

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'phon' means 'sound'. A microphone makes sound louder, and a symphony is a complex piece of music (sound).