Greek root words

Events in a history textbook are usually presented in chronological order. Based on the word's Greek root, what does this mean?

• Arranged in a random sequence
• Arranged in order of time
• Arranged by importance
• Arranged according to size

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'chrono' means 'time'. Therefore, putting events in chronological order means arranging them based on when they happened in time.

Match each Greek root to its correct meaning.

• write, draw
• phon
• far off, distant
• scope
• sound, voice
• tele
• see, look at
• graph

Answer explanation

Each root is matched with its established meaning: 'tele' (distant), 'phon' (sound), 'scope' (see), and 'graph' (write). These roots form words like telephone, microscope, and autograph.

Sort these words into categories based on their primary Greek root: 'geo' (Earth) or 'hydro' (water).

Groups:

(a) Root: geo (Earth)

,

(b) Root: hydro (water)

• hydroelectric
• dehydrate
• geometry
• geography
• hydrant
• geology

Answer explanation

Words are sorted based on their Greek root. 'Geology', 'geography', and 'geometry' all contain 'geo' (Earth). 'Dehydrate', 'hydroelectric', and 'hydrant' all contain 'hydro' (water).

My friend is a bibliophile who owns hundreds of books. Based on the word's Greek roots, what does bibliophile most likely mean?

• Someone who writes books
• Someone who sells books
• Someone who loves and collects books
• Someone who is afraid of books

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'biblio' relates to books, and the root 'phile' means love. Therefore, a bibliophile is a person who loves and collects books.

A psychologist is a professional who helps people with their mental and emotional well-being. Based on the Greek root 'psych', what is the primary focus of a psychologist's work?

• The study of the human body
• The study of the mind or soul
• The study of social groups
• The study of physical diseases

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'psych' means 'mind' or 'soul'. Therefore, psychology is the study of the mind, and a psychologist focuses on mental and emotional health.

The Greek root 'geo' is found in words like geography and geology. What does this root mean?

• Earth
• Life
• Star
• Time

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'geo' means 'Earth'. Geography is the study of the Earth's physical features, and geology is the study of the Earth's physical structure and substance.

To keep the hot soup warm for lunch, my mom packed it in a _____. Which word, using a Greek root, best completes the sentence?

• cooler
• thermos
• container
• bottle

Answer explanation

The Greek root 'therm' means 'heat'. A thermos is a container designed to keep things hot (or cold), making it the best choice.

Sort these words into two groups: words containing a root for 'small' (micro) and words containing a root for 'large' (macro).

Groups:

(a) Root: micro (small)

,

(b) Root: macro (large)

• microbe
• microchip
• macronutrient
• microscope
• macroeconomics

Answer explanation

Words are sorted by their Greek root. 'Microscope', 'microchip', and 'microbe' use 'micro' (small). 'Macroeconomics' and 'macronutrient' use 'macro' (large).

A speaker who uses pathos in a speech is trying to appeal to the audience's emotions. Which of the following words, sharing the same root, means 'to feel with' or share someone else's feelings?

• Apathy
• Sympathy
• Telepathy
• Pathology

Answer explanation

The root 'pathos' relates to feeling. The prefix 'sym-' means 'with' or 'together'. Therefore, 'sympathy' means to feel with someone. 'Apathy' means a lack of feeling ('a-' means 'without'), and 'telepathy' involves the mind ('tele-' means 'distant').

Match each word to the sentence it best completes.

• My teacher asked me to write one _____ about my summer vacation.
• autograph
• I took a beautiful _____ of the sunset over the lake.
• paragraph
• The book was a _____ detailing the entire life of the famous scientist.
• biography
• The fan asked the movie star for his _____ on a poster.
• photograph

Answer explanation

Each word fits its sentence based on its meaning from Greek roots: 'autograph' (self-write), 'photograph' (light-write), 'biography' (life-write), and 'paragraph' (beside-write).