Greek root words

The Greek root 'bio', as in biology or biography, relates to what concept?

• Life
• Earth
• Water
• Star

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'bio' means 'life'. Words like 'biology' (the study of life) and 'biography' (the story of a person's life) are built from this root.

Match each Greek root to its primary meaning.

• Star
• geo
• Earth
• thermo
• Heat
• hydro
• Water
• astro

Answer explanation

Each root is matched to its correct Greek meaning: 'astro' means star, 'geo' means earth, 'hydro' means water, and 'thermo' means heat.

Sort these words based on their Greek root's meaning. Categories are: 'Light' (photo) and 'Far/Distant' (tele).

Groups:

(a) Light

,

(b) Far/Distant

• telepathy
• photograph
• photosynthesis
• photogenic
• telescope
• teleprompter

Answer explanation

Words are sorted based on their root. 'Photograph', 'photosynthesis', and 'photogenic' all come from 'photo' (light). 'Telescope', 'telepathy', and 'teleprompter' come from 'tele' (far/distant).

A scientist who studies hydrology is an expert in which field?

• The study of stars and space
• The study of the earth's structure
• The study of water and its movement
• The study of life and living organisms

Answer explanation

The word hydrology combines the Greek root 'hydro' (water) and 'logy' (the study of). Therefore, hydrology is the scientific study of water.

Match each word to the meaning contributed by its primary Greek root.

• The study of a subject
• telescope
• Something related to writing
• autograph
• An instrument for seeing
• thermometer
• An instrument for measuring
• biology

Answer explanation

Each word is matched to a definition derived from its Greek root: 'autograph' contains 'graph' (writing), 'biology' contains 'logy' (study of), 'telescope' contains 'scope' (to see), and 'thermometer' contains 'meter' (to measure).

The Greek root 'hydro' means water. Which word below uses this Greek root, not the Latin root 'aqua' which also means water?

• aquatic
• aquifer
• hydroplane
• aquamarine

Answer explanation

'Hydroplane' uses the Greek root 'hydro'. The other options, 'aquatic', 'aquifer', and 'aquamarine', all use the Latin root 'aqua'.

Sort these words into two groups based on their Greek root: 'Mind/Spirit' (psych) or 'Heat' (therm).

Groups:

(a) Related to the Mind

,

(b) Related to Heat

• psychopath
• thermostat
• psychology
• thermometer
• psychic
• geothermal

Answer explanation

Words are grouped by their core meaning. 'Psychology', 'psychic', and 'psychopath' all relate to the mind ('psych'). 'Thermostat', 'geothermal', and 'thermometer' relate to heat ('therm').

In words like geology and psychology, what does the Greek root '-ology' mean?

• the study of something
• the name of something
• a tool for something
• a person who does something

Answer explanation

The Greek root '-ology' is used at the end of words to mean 'the study of' a particular subject. For example, 'geology' is the study of the Earth.

The character in the movie could metamorphose into a wolf. What does 'metamorphose' mean, based on the root 'morph'?

• To change shape or form
• To run very quickly
• To speak a different language
• To become invisible

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'morph' means 'shape' or 'form'. Therefore, to metamorphose is to undergo a significant change in form or structure.

Match each scientific field to the description of what it studies, based on its Greek root.

• The study of the Earth's physical structure
• Astronomy
• The study of life and living things
• Biology
• The study of stars, planets, and space
• Geology

Answer explanation

Each field's name describes its focus: 'Biology' (bio=life, logy=study), 'Geology' (geo=earth, logy=study), and 'Astronomy' (astro=star, nomy=arrangement).