Greek root words

The Greek root chrono, as in the word 'chronological', relates to what concept?

• Time
• Space
• Life
• Sound

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'chrono' means 'time'. Words like 'chronological' (in time order) and 'chronic' (lasting a long time) use this root.

Match each common Greek root to its correct meaning.

• water
• geo
• heat
• hydro
• life
• bio
• earth
• therm

Answer explanation

Each root is matched with its fundamental meaning: 'bio' means life, 'geo' means earth, 'hydro' means water, and 'therm' means heat.

My older sister is studying psychology in college. Based on the Greek root psyche, what is the main focus of her studies?

• The mind
• The body
• The stars
• The earth

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'psyche' refers to the mind or soul. Therefore, psychology is the study of the mind. The other options relate to different roots ('soma', 'astro', 'geo').

Sort these words into two groups based on their primary Greek root: Words with 'tele' (far) and Words with 'phon' (sound).

Groups:

(a) Words with 'tele' (far)

,

(b) Words with 'phon' (sound)

• symphony
• microphone
• television
• telephone
• phonics
• teleport

Answer explanation

Words are sorted based on their shared root. 'Telephone', 'television', and 'teleport' all relate to distance ('tele'). 'Symphony', 'microphone', and 'phonics' all relate to sound ('phon').

The Greek root tele means 'far' or 'distant'. Based on this knowledge, what is a telegraph designed to do?

• Write or send messages over a long distance.
• Measure the temperature of a distant object.
• Speak to someone who is far away.
• Create a detailed drawing of something small.

Answer explanation

The word 'telegraph' combines the Greek root 'tele' (far) with the Greek root 'graph' (to write). Therefore, a telegraph is a device used to write or send messages over a long distance.

The Greek root pathos, found in words like 'empathy' and 'sympathy', relates to what?

• Feeling or suffering
• Logic or reason
• Health or medicine
• Journeys or paths

Answer explanation

The root 'pathos' means 'feeling' or 'suffering'. Empathy is feeling what another person feels, and sympathy is feeling pity for another's suffering.

Match each word to the meaning suggested by its Greek roots.

• Writing done by oneself
• autograph
• The study of life
• geography
• Writing with light
• photograph
• Writing about the Earth
• biology

Answer explanation

Each word's meaning is derived from its roots: bio (life) + logy (study); geo (earth) + graphy (writing); auto (self) + graph (writing); photo (light) + graph (writing).

Many English words related to 'water' are built from either the Latin root aqua or the Greek root hydro. Which of the following words is formed using the Greek root?

• aqueduct
• aquatic
• hydroponics
• aquamarine

Answer explanation

The word 'hydroponics' is built from the Greek root 'hydro', meaning 'water'. The other words use the Latin root 'aqua', which also means 'water'.

Sort these fields of study based on their Greek suffix: '-logy' (the study of) or '-graphy' (the writing of).

Groups:

(a) Ends in -logy (the study of)

,

(b) Ends in -graphy (the writing of)

• calligraphy
• geology
• cartography
• zoology
• biology
• biography

Answer explanation

Words are sorted by their suffix. 'Biology', 'geology', and 'zoology' are all 'studies of' something. 'Calligraphy', 'biography', and 'cartography' are all forms of 'writing'.

Even though I had never seen the word pyrotechnics before, I knew it involved fire because I recognized the Greek root...

• pyro
• tech
• nics
• pyro-tech

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'pyro' means 'fire'. This knowledge allows you to infer that 'pyrotechnics' (like fireworks) has to do with fire.