Latin root words

The new gaming console is so portable that I can easily bring it to my friend's house to play. Based on your knowledge of the Latin root 'port', what does portable mean?

• Easy to carry

• Hard to break

• Fun to use

• Very expensive

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'port' means 'to carry'. Something that is portable is easy to carry from one place to another. The sentence provides a clue by mentioning taking the console to a friend's house.

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Match each Latin root to the number it represents.

• Hundred

• cent

• Three

• quad

• One

• tri

• Four

• uni

Answer explanation

These Latin roots are prefixes that indicate numbers: 'uni-' means one (unicycle), 'tri-' means three (triangle), 'quad-' means four (quadrilateral), and 'cent-' means one hundred (century).

Words like vital and vitamin come from the Latin root 'vita'. What does the root 'vita' mean?

• Life

• Earth

• Book

• Star

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'vita' means 'life'. Something that is vital is necessary for life, and vitamins are substances that are essential for maintaining life.

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Sort these Latin roots based on their general meaning.

Groups:

(a) To hear or speak

,

(b) To see or look

• vid

• dict

• vis

• aud

• voc

• spect

Answer explanation

The roots 'aud' (hear), 'dict' (say), and 'voc' (call/voice) are related to hearing or speaking. The roots 'vid' (see), 'spect' (look), and 'vis' (see) are related to seeing or looking.

A submarine is a vehicle that travels underwater. What would a vehicle designed to travel underground be called, using the Latin root 'terr' which means 'earth' or 'land'?

• Terrane

• Terrarium

• Subterrestrial

• Territory

Answer explanation

The prefix 'sub-' means 'under', and the Latin root 'terr' means 'earth' or 'land'. Therefore, a 'subterrestrial' vehicle would be one that travels underground. A terrarium is a container for land animals, and a territory is an area of land.

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A good citizen shows respect to others and follows the laws. Using your knowledge of the Latin root 'civ', which word means 'polite and courteous behavior'?

• Activity

• Victory

• Civility

• Capacity

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'civ' means 'citizen'. 'Civility' is the quality of being a good citizen, which includes being polite and courteous. The other words do not contain the root 'civ'.

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Match each Latin root to its meaning.

• To pull or drag

• port

• To break

• rupt

• To carry

• tract

Answer explanation

'Port' means 'to carry' (portable), 'tract' means 'to pull' (tractor), and 'rupt' means 'to break' (erupt). Each root is matched to its correct definition.

The halftime show at the championship game was a huge spectacle, with fireworks and hundreds of dancers. The word spectacle contains the Latin root 'spect'. What is a spectacle?

• A very quiet moment

• A visually striking performance or display

• A confusing plot twist

• A funny conversation

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'spect' means 'to look or see'. A spectacle is something impressive or dramatic to look at. The context of fireworks and dancers helps confirm this meaning.

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Sort these words into groups based on the meaning of their root: Words about Sound or Words about Sight.

Groups:

(a) Words about Sound

,

(b) Words about Sight

• vision

• microphone

• inspect

• phonics

• spectator

• audible

Answer explanation

'Audible', 'phonics', and 'microphone' contain roots meaning 'hear' or 'sound' ('aud', 'phon'). 'Vision', 'inspect', and 'spectator' contain roots meaning 'see' or 'look' ('vis', 'spect').

The Latin roots 'aqua' (as in aquarium) and 'mari' (as in marine) both appear in words related to what?

• Fire

• Earth

• Air

• Water

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'aqua' means 'water', as seen in 'aquarium' or 'aquatic'. The Latin root 'mari' means 'sea', as seen in 'marine' or 'maritime'. Both roots are related to water.

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