Detailed Explanation: Use Words as Clues to the Meanings of Greek and Latin Roots 🧩📚
When you see a tricky word in your reading or writing, you can use the parts of the word, called roots, to help you understand it. Many English words come from Greek and Latin roots, which are like building blocks that give clues to a word’s meaning.
What Are Greek and Latin Roots? 🏛️🔍
Greek and Latin roots are the basic parts of words that often stay the same in different words. For example, the Latin root “scrib” or “script” means “write.” Words like “describe,” “script,” and “manuscript” all use this root.
How to Use Words as Clues 🔎📖
- Look for Familiar Parts: Break the word into smaller parts. Find the root that reminds you of another word you know. For example, in the word “telegraph,” you might spot “tele” (meaning far) and “graph” (meaning write or draw).
- Think About the Meaning of the Root: Once you spot the root, think about its meaning. Greek root “photo” means “light,” so words like “photograph” or “photosynthesis” relate to light.
- Use Other Clues in the Word: Prefixes and suffixes add extra meaning. For instance, “un-“ means “not,” so “unhappy” means “not happy.” Combining this with the root can help you guess the meaning.
- Make a Guess and Check: Use the clues to guess what the word means, then read the whole sentence to see if it makes sense. This helps you understand the word better and remember the root.
Why Is This Helpful? 💡📚
Knowing Greek and Latin roots helps you with difficult words in reading and writing. It also makes learning new words easier because you understand their parts. For example, if you know “bio” means life, you can guess “biology” is about living things.
Tip for Year 6 Students! 🎓✨
Try making a list of common Greek and Latin roots and examples of words with those roots. Then, when you see a new word, look for the roots you know. This will help you become a word detective, using roots as clues to unlock meanings!
Remember, using words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots can make reading and writing a lot more fun and less confusing! 😊📖
20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Greek and Latin Roots for Year 6 📝✅
Use Words as Clues to the Meanings of Greek and Latin Roots
Here are 20 questions designed for Year 6 students to practise using words as clues to understand the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. Each question asks you to use clues from words to figure out the root meaning. The answers will help you check your understanding.
1. What does the Latin root “aqua” most likely mean in the word “aquarium“?
- a) Fire
- b) Water
- c) Earth
- d) Air
Answer: b) Water
Clue: Aquarium is a place for water creatures.
2. The Greek root “bio” means:
- a) Life
- b) Light
- c) Sound
- d) Star
Answer: a) Life
Clue: Biology is the study of life.
3. The Latin root “scrib” or “script” means:
- a) To write
- b) To hear
- c) To run
- d) To build
Answer: a) To write
Clue: A manuscript is a written document.
4. Which root means “to see” in the words “television” and “vision”?
- a) Vis
- b) Aud
- c) Chron
- d) Graph
Answer: a) Vis
Clue: Television helps us see distant things.
5. The word “century” contains the Latin root “cent” which means:
- a) Ten
- b) Hundred
- c) Thousand
- d) One
Answer: b) Hundred
Clue: A century is 100 years.
6. What does the Greek root “chrono” mean in “chronology”?
- a) Time
- b) Space
- c) Sound
- d) Colour
Answer: a) Time
Clue: Chronology is the study of time order.
7. The Latin root “port” in “transport” means:
- a) To carry
- b) To speak
- c) To write
- d) To see
Answer: a) To carry
Clue: Transport means to carry things from one place to another.
8. What does the Greek root “phon” mean in the word “telephone”?
- a) Light
- b) Sound
- c) Movement
- d) Water
Answer: b) Sound
Clue: Telephone is for sending sounds (voices) over distance.
9. The root “aud” means:
- a) To see
- b) To hear
- c) To write
- d) To feel
Answer: b) To hear
Clue: An audience listens and hears.
10. The Latin root “frater” in the word “fraternity” means:
- a) Sister
- b) Brother
- c) Friend
- d) Family
Answer: b) Brother
Clue: Fraternity means a brotherhood group.
11. The Greek root “geo” refers to:
- a) Sun
- b) Earth
- c) Water
- d) Sky
Answer: b) Earth
Clue: Geography is the study of the Earth.
12. The root “therm” in thermostat means:
- a) Cold
- b) Heat
- c) Light
- d) Wind
Answer: b) Heat
Clue: Thermostat controls temperature (heat).
13. The Latin root “bene” as in “benefit” means:
- a) Bad
- b) Good
- c) Large
- d) Small
Answer: b) Good
Clue: Benefit means something good.
14. What does “mit” or “miss” mean in “transmit”?
- a) To send
- b) To take
- c) To throw
- d) To catch
Answer: a) To send
Clue: Transmit means to send signals or messages.
15. The Greek root “astro” means:
- a) Star
- b) Moon
- c) Sun
- d) Sky
Answer: a) Star
Clue: Astronomy is the study of stars.
16. The Latin root “aud” is found in the word “auditorium.” What does it mean?
- a) To write
- b) To read
- c) To hear
- d) To speak
Answer: c) To hear
Clue: An auditorium is a place for listening.
17. The root “scrib” is in the word “describe.” What does it mean?
- a) To see
- b) To speak
- c) To write
- d) To draw
Answer: c) To write
Clue: To describe something is to write about it.
18. The Greek root “micro” as in “microscope” means:
- a) Large
- b) Small
- c) Long
- d) Short
Answer: b) Small
Clue: A microscope helps you see very small things.
19. The Latin root “ject” in the word “eject” means:
- a) To throw
- b) To catch
- c) To hold
- d) To pull
Answer: a) To throw
Clue: To eject something is to throw it out.
20. The root “graph” in “autograph” means:
- a) To draw or write
- b) To hear
- c) To move
- d) To speak
Answer: a) To draw or write
Clue: An autograph is a person’s own written signature.
Use these questions and answers to practise using words as clues to find out the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. This will help you understand more about words and improve your English vocabulary! 📚✨
