Greek and Latin Roots Quiz

Grade 7 · English · Quiz

Test your knowledge of common Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes in English.

Questions

1. The Latin root 'scrib/script' means:

   1. Read
   2. Write
   3. Speak
   4. Think
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   Answer: Write

   Scrib/script means write — inscribe, manuscript, prescription, describe all share this root.

2. The word 'audible' contains the Latin root 'aud,' which means ___.

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   Answer: hear

   'Aud' means hear — audience (those who hear), auditorium (place where you hear), audible (able to be heard).

3. Based on the root 'geo' (earth), what does 'geothermal' mean?

   1. Heat from the earth
   2. Water from the earth
   3. Study of the earth
   4. Mapping the earth
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   Answer: Heat from the earth

   'Geo' = earth, 'thermal' = heat — geothermal energy comes from heat inside the earth.

4. The prefix 'pre-' means 'after.'

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   Answer: False

   'Pre-' means before — preview (see before), prehistoric (before recorded history), predict (say before).

5. The suffix '-ology' means:

   1. Fear of
   2. Full of
   3. The study of
   4. Against
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   Answer: The study of

   '-ology' appears in biology (study of life), geology (study of earth), psychology (study of mind), and many others.

6. Knowing that 'micro' means small, a microscope is a tool for seeing very ___ things.

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   Answer: small

   'Micro' means small — microscope lets you see tiny things, microorganism is a very small living thing.

7. The word 'manuscript' contains which Latin root meaning 'write'?

   1. Man
   2. Manu
   3. Script
   4. Anu
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   Answer: Script

   'Script' is the Latin root for write — manuscript literally means 'written by hand' (manu = hand, script = written).

8. About 60% of English words have Greek or Latin origins.

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   Answer: True

   English's heavy borrowing from Latin and Greek means the majority of English vocabulary has classical origins.

9. The prefix 'un-' in 'unhappy' means:

   1. Very
   2. Before
   3. Not
   4. After
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   Answer: Not

   'Un-' negates the base word — unhappy (not happy), unclear (not clear), unusual (not usual).

10. The word 'hippopotamus' comes from Greek roots meaning:

    1. Large water beast
    2. River horse
    3. Giant mammal
    4. Swimming giant
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    Answer: River horse

    Greek 'hippos' = horse, 'potamos' = river. The ancient Greeks named it for what they saw — a giant horse-like creature in the river.

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