Decoding Using Greek & Latin Root Words
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Basics on the topic Decoding Using Greek & Latin Root Words
Many of our English words have Greek or Latin roots. Knowing what these Greek or Latin roots mean cab help us with understanding new or unfamiliar words and their meanings.
Transcript Decoding Using Greek & Latin Root Words
"Pip, stop! Let's figure out where these portals go first!" Let's help Pip and Koko understand the word parts above the portals by learning about words with Greek and Latin roots. Greek and Latin root words are the building blocks of many English words we use every day. There are many Greek and Latin root words that we use in English, but today we will focus on four of them: 'auto', 'bio', 'aqua' and 'bi'. First, let's look at the root 'auto'. The root 'auto' means self or same. Automatic, autobiography and autograph are words that contain 'auto'. Automatic is something that happens by itself. Autobiography is a book about your life, or yourself. Autograph is a signature that someone writes themselves. Now let's look at the root 'bio'. The root 'bio' means life. Words like biology, biography and biosphere contain the root 'bio'. Biology is the study of life and living organisms. Biography is a book someone writes about another person's life. Biosphere is the area around Earth where life exists. Let's move onto the root, 'aqua'. The root 'aqua' means water. Words like aquarium and aquatic contain the root 'aqua'. An aquarium is a tank of water where marine animals live. Aquatic means something that lives or grows in water. Finally, we have the root 'bi'. The root 'bi' means two. You can find the root 'bi' in words such as bicycle or bilingual. A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. Bilingual refers to a person who can speak two different languages. Can you think of any other words that include the root 'auto', 'bio', 'aqua' or 'bi'? If you can, share them in the comments below! "Ok, I feel confident about these portals now Pip! Which one should we go through?" "Let's go through the aqua portal!" While Koko and Pip travel through the aqua portal and see where they end up, let's review. Greek and Latin root words can help us understand many words we use in the English language today. Today we learned about the roots 'auto', 'bio', 'aqua' and 'bi'. Auto' means 'self or same'. Bio' means 'life'. Aqua' means 'water', and 'bi' means 'two'! "Well. I don't know what we were expecting to happen here, we are much bigger than fish!"
Decoding Using Greek & Latin Root Words exercise
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Match the root to the word ending.
HintsThe four Greek and Latin roots we have learnt about are auto, bio, bi and aqua.
The root bio means "life." Which word starts with bio- and means "a study of life and living organisms?"
The root aqua means "water." Which word starts with aqua- and means "a tank of water where marine animals live?"
SolutionThe words with Greek and Latin roots are:
- biology - the study of living things
- automatic - something that happens by itself
- bilingual - the ability to speak two languages
- aquarium - where fish can live
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What does each Greek or Latin root mean?
HintsThe root auto can be found in words like automatic. Automatic means something that happens by itself.
The root bi can be found in words like bilingual. Bilingual means a person who can speak two different languages.
Solution- The root auto means self or same. It can be found in such words as autograph or autobiography.
- The root bio means life. You can find it in words like biology or biography.
- The root bi means two. You have probably seen it in words like bicycle or bilingual.
- The root aqua means water. It can be found in such words as aquarium or aquatic.
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Guess the meaning of the word 'biplane'.
HintsThe root aqua means "water."
The root bi means "two."
SolutionThe word biplane has the root bi which means "two."
Biplane means "a type of aircraft that has two main wings."
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Complete the text.
HintsThe root bio means "life."
The root aqua means "water." If animals live in the water, they are called aquatic animals.
The root auto means "self or same." If something is working by itself, it is called automated.
The root bi means "two."
SolutionProfessor Atom is a scientist. She loves to study biology, especially aquatic animals. She has built an automated system to observe animals underwater. She has discovered a new type of bicolour fish. It changes its colour from blue to red based on the water temperature.
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Match the words to their root.
HintsThe word biodegradable means "something that can break down over time with the help of tiny living things, like bacteria." It has the same root as the word biology.
The word aquanaut means "a person that works underwater." It has the same root as the word aquarium.
SolutionWords with the root bio include biology and biodegradable.
Words with the root aqua are aquarium and aquanaut.
Words with the root bi include bicycle and binoculars.
Words with the root auto are automatic and autopilot.
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What do these words mean?
HintsThe root bio means "life."
The root bi means "two."
The root aqua means "water."
The root auto means "same or self."
SolutionThe word biweekly has a root bi that means "two." It means "happening every two weeks."
The word biotechnology has a root bio that means "life." It means "a type of technology that uses living things like plants or tiny bacteria."
The word aqualung has a root aqua that means "water." It means "the equipment used during diving or swimming to help the scuba diver breathe."
The word autonomy has a root auto that means "self or same." It means "being able to make your own decisions and do things by yourself."
