Latin root words

The story of a person's life, written by someone else, is called a biography. Based on this example, what is the meaning of the root 'bio'?

• Life

• Book

• Earth

• Write

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'bio' means 'life'. A biography is the story of a person's life ('bio') that is written ('graph'). Other words with this root include biology (the study of life) and biosphere (the part of the Earth where life exists).

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 numerical meaning.

• four

• quad

• hundred

• cent

• three

• tri

• one

• uni

Answer explanation

Each Latin root is matched with its correct number: 'uni' means one (unicycle), 'tri' means three (triangle), 'quad' means four (quadrilateral), and 'cent' means hundred (century).

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 into their language of origin: Greek or Latin.

Groups:

(a) Greek Origin

,

(b) Latin Origin

• astro

• port

• hydro

• civ

• scrib

• bio

Answer explanation

The roots are sorted by their original language. 'Hydro' (water), 'astro' (star), and 'bio' (life) are from Greek. 'Port' (carry), 'scrib' (write), and 'civ' (citizen) are from Latin.

The school's new laptop cart makes the computers very portable, allowing students to use them in any classroom. Based on the context, what does the Latin root 'port' mean?

• To carry

• To see

• To break

• To build

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'port' means 'to carry'. Something that is portable is easy to carry or move. Other words with this root include 'transport' (to carry across) and 'import' (to carry in).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

The Greek root 'tele' is found in words like 'telephone' and 'television'. What does 'tele' mean?

• Sound

• Picture

• Far off or at a distance

• To speak

Answer explanation

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

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 Latin root it contains.

• struct (build)

• audience

• ject (throw)

• visual

• aud (hear)

• reject

• vis (see)

• structure

Answer explanation

Each word is matched to its primary Latin root: 'audience' contains 'aud' (hear), 'visual' contains 'vis' (see), 'structure' contains 'struct' (build), and 'reject' contains 'ject' (throw).

In science class, a teacher might use a hydrometer to test a liquid in a beaker. Based on your knowledge of its Greek roots, what does a hydrometer most likely do?

• Measure the distance of stars

• Measure the properties of water or other liquids

• Record the sound of a heartbeat

• Write with light

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'hydro' means 'water' and 'meter' means 'measure'. Therefore, a hydrometer is an instrument used to measure properties of water or other liquids, such as density.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Sort these words into groups based on their shared Latin root: 'scrib/script' (to write) or 'rupt' (to break).

Groups:

(a) Root means 'to write'

,

(b) Root means 'to break'

• manuscript

• erupt

• bankrupt

• describe

• disrupt

• inscription

Answer explanation

Words are sorted by their root's meaning. 'Manuscript', 'describe', and 'inscription' all relate to writing ('scrib/script'). 'Disrupt', 'erupt', and 'bankrupt' all relate to breaking ('rupt').

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Words like civilian, civic, and civilization all share the Latin root 'civ'. What is the meaning of this root?

• War or conflict

• Law or rule

• Citizen

• City

Answer explanation

The Latin root 'civ' means 'citizen'. A civilian is a citizen not in the military, civic duties relate to being a citizen, and a civilization is a society of citizens.

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.

• light

• chrono

• heat

• photo

• earth

• geo

• time

• therm

Answer explanation

Each Greek root is matched to its meaning: 'geo' means earth (geology), 'therm' means heat (thermometer), 'chrono' means time (chronological), and 'photo' means light (photograph).