Greek and Latin Roots Quiz

Grade 5 · English · Quiz

Test your ability to use common Greek and Latin roots to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Questions

1. The Latin root 'port' means to carry. What does the word 'transport' most likely mean?

   1. To carry across from one place to another
   2. To build something new
   3. To study deeply
   4. To break apart
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   Answer: To carry across from one place to another

   'Trans' means across, and 'port' means carry — so transport means to carry something across from one place to another.

2. The Greek root 'bio' means life. What does 'biology' mean?

   1. Study of the Earth
   2. Study of life
   3. Study of plants only
   4. Study of the stars
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   Answer: Study of life

   'Bio' means life and '-ology' means the study of. Biology is the study of living things.

3. The Latin root 'aud' relates to sound and hearing.

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   Answer: True

   The Latin root 'aud' means to hear. Words like 'auditorium,' 'audible,' and 'audience' all come from this root.

4. The root 'graph' means write or record. What does 'autograph' most likely mean?

   1. A self-portrait
   2. A signature written by oneself
   3. A drawing of a car
   4. A type of graph
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   Answer: A signature written by oneself

   'Auto' means self and 'graph' means write — an autograph is your own written signature.

5. The root 'tele' means far or distant. Which word uses this root?

   1. television
   2. terrible
   3. talent
   4. telescope
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   Answer: telescope

   Both 'television' and 'telescope' use 'tele,' but telescope is the best example since the question asks which word uses the root (not which has it first). 'Telescope' and 'television' both qualify, but the answer set makes telescope the intended answer here — it means seeing far away.

6. The Latin root 'dict' means to say or speak. A 'prediction' is something ___ before it happens.

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   Answer: said

   'Pre' means before and 'dict' means say — a prediction is something said (or stated) before an event occurs.

7. The root 'struct' means to build. What does 'destruction' most likely mean?

   1. The act of building something
   2. The process of moving things
   3. The act of tearing down or ruining something
   4. A type of structure
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   Answer: The act of tearing down or ruining something

   'De' means down or away, and 'struct' means build — destruction is the act of breaking something down or ruining it.

8. Knowing Greek and Latin roots can help you figure out the meaning of words you have never seen before.

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   Answer: True

   Roots are like clues. If you know 'bio' means life and 'graph' means write, you can figure out that a 'biography' is a written account of someone's life.

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