Greek and Latin roots for word meaning · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.
En anglais

Greek and Latin roots for word meaning

English · Vocabulary · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. In this US city, Ava takes a subway train through a tunnel below the street. Sub- means under. What does subway name here?

    • a train route under the street
    • a road that crosses above a wide river
    • a walking path around a large park

  2. The root 'aqua' means water. What does 'aquatic' most likely mean?

    • Able to fly across a very long distance
    • Made from a large piece of hard stone
    • Living or growing in water

  3. A repair guide says a microchip is inside the computer. Micro- means small. Which description fits that clue and setting?

    • A tall mast fitted to a sailing ship
    • A large wheel fitted to a heavy cart
    • A small part inside a computer

  4. The root 'dict' means 'to say' or 'to tell'. Which word contains this root?

    • dictionary
    • reactivation
    • microbiology

  5. Break down the word 'unbelievable'. Which parts make it up?

    • un- (not) + believe + -able (able to be)
    • un- (again) + belief + -ful (full of)
    • The whole word is one single root with no parts

  6. The lesson teaches that 'port' means carry and '-able' means able to be. Finish the meaning: 'portable' means able to be ___.

    • seen clearly from a great distance
    • heard clearly across a crowded room
    • carried from place to place

  7. Read the sentence: 'During group work, the students interact by sharing ideas and helping each other.' The piece 'inter-' means between. What does 'interact' most likely mean?

    • To work alone without speaking
    • To work with other people
    • To watch silently from a distance

  8. Sub- means below. On a Celsius thermometer, subzero weather is colder than zero degrees Celsius.

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. Trans- means across, and Atlantic names an ocean. A ship makes a transatlantic trip. Which route fits both clues?

    • Along one coast without crossing the ocean
    • Around a harbour beside the Atlantic Ocean
    • Across the Atlantic from one shore to another

  10. A book tells the events of Rosa's life. Bio means life and graph means write. What does biography name here?

    • A list of unfamiliar words and their meanings
    • The written story of a person's life
    • A map showing routes through faraway places
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Greek and Latin roots for word meaning W1-mt_x_Lg4RASVU-s1

  1. a train route under the street · Sub- gives under. The sentence identifies a train in a tunnel, so an underground train route fits here.
  2. Living or growing in water · Aqua means water, so aquatic describes something that lives or grows in water, like a fish or a pond weed.
  3. A small part inside a computer · Micro- gives small. The computer setting points to a small computer part.
  4. dictionary · Dictionary contains dict, meaning say or speak. Reactivation and microbiology do not contain that root.
  5. un- (not) + believe + -able (able to be) · Unbelievable splits into un- (not), believe (root), and -able (able to be), meaning not able to be believed.
  6. carried from place to place · Port means carry and -able means able to be, so portable means able to be carried from place to place.
  7. To work with other people · Inter- means between and act means to do, so interact means to do things with and between each other.
  8. True · Sub- means below. Subzero means below zero, which is colder than zero degrees Celsius on this thermometer.
  9. Across the Atlantic from one shore to another · Trans- supplies across and Atlantic identifies the ocean. The route crosses the Atlantic.
  10. The written story of a person's life · Bio means life and graph means write, so a biography is the written story of a person's life.
Worksheet · LightMySky