Friday, 16 August 2013

466. IELTS – ROOTS


IELTS – ROOTS

Root Power I

Latin and Greek Roots

One of the quickest and most effective ways to improve your vocabulary is by learning to recognize the most common Latin and Greek roots, since any one of them can help you define a number of English words.

Whenever you come upon an unfamiliar word, first check to see if it has a recognizable root.

If you know that the Latin root "ami," for example, means like or love, you can easily figure out that "amiable" means pleasant, friendly and "amorous" means loving.

Even if you cannot define a word exactly, recognizing the root will still give you a general idea of the word's meaning.

Remembering that the Greek root "geo" means earth would certainly help you define "geophysics" as the physics of the earth, but it also might help you figure out that "geocentric" has to do with the center of the earth or with the earth as a center.

Begin by studying the following lists of common Latin and Greek roots and representative words.

Common Latin Roots

Root Meaning Example Definition

ag                                act agent representative
cad, cas                       fall cadence rhythmic flow
cap, cept                      take, hold receptacle container
ced, cess                      go recessive tending to go back
cid, cis                         kill, cut incision cut, gash
clud, clus                     shut seclusion separation from others
cred                             believe credible believable
cur(r), curs                   run concur agree (i.e., run together)
fer                                bear odoriferous yielding an odor
her, hes                        cling adhere cling, stick
ject                              throw projection jutting out, protrusion
leg, lect                        read legible easily readable
pel(l), puls                   drive repulse repel (i.e., drive back)
pon, posit                    put postpone defer
port                              carry portable movable
rupt                              break abrupt sudden, quick
scrib,                            script write inscription engraving, writing
sect                              cut dissect cut apart
sent, sens                     feel sensitive tender
sequ, secut                   follow sequel result
spect                            look prospect outlook, expectation
sta, stat                        stand stable fixed, firm
tang, tact                     touch tactile tangible
termin                          end terminate abolish, end
tract                             pull, draw tractor vehicle that pulls
ven, vent                     come convene assemble (i.e., come together)
vert, vers                     turn invert overturn
vid, vis                        see provident having foresight
vinc, vict                     conquer invincible unconquerable
volv, volut                   roll, turn evolve develop

Applying Roots

Each of the following phrases contains an italicized word. Based on the meaning of the root, select the closest synonym. Circle your response.

1. a captive animal
a. confined                  b. wild                         c. charming                  d. domestic

2. an inverted glass
a. broken                     b. upside-down           c. returned                   d. drunk from

3. an abrupt stop
a. slow                         b. bad                          c. sudden                     d. harmful

4. a disappointing sequel
a. television show        b. beginning                c. movie                       d. follow-up

5. terminate the relationship
a. doubt                       b. intensify                  c. begin                        d. finish

6. an incredible story
a. outlandish                b. unbelievable            c. foolish                     d. upsetting

7. a recessive trait
a. dominant                 b. receding                  c. hurtful                     d. missing

8. illegible writing
a. unreadable               b. graceful                   c. distinct                    d. large

9. a thorough dissection
a. cutting apart            b. conference               c. discussion                d. putting together

10. an unstable relationship
a. new                          b. unsteady                  c. one-sided                 d. unreliable

11. an odoriferous cheese
a. commonplace          b. brightly colored       c. malodorous              d. faded

12. an invincible warrior
a. huge                         b. foreign                     c. defeated                  d. unbeatable

13. the advent of summer
a. departure                 b. middle                     c. arrival                      d. complaint

14. a provident move
a. prosperous               b. injudicious               c. prudent                    d. hurtful

15. the top-secret projectile
a. missile                      b. project                     c. plan                          d. meeting


True/False
In the space provided, write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.

T or F
1. adhere                     cling _____
2. cadaver                    cavort _____
3. evolve                      develop _____
4. incision                    cut _____
5. concurrent               disjointed _____
6. recluse                     vivacious person _____
7. inscription               story _____
8. agent                       deputy _____
9. tactile                      tangible _____
10. repulse                   repel _____

Common Greek Roots

Root Meaning Example Definition

aster,                                      star asterisk star-shaped
astro                                       mark chrom color
chromatic                               pertaining to color chron, time
synchronize                            occur chrono simultaneously
cosmo                                    world  cosmopolitan citizen of the world
dem people                            democracy government by the people
meter measure                        thermometer instrument that measures temperature
onym name,                           word pseudonym a fictitious name
path                                        feeling apathy absence of feeling
phob                                       fear claustrophobia fear of enclosed places
phon                                       sound cacophony harsh, discordant sound
psycho                                   mind psychology science of the mind
soph                                       wisdom sophistry subtle, tricky reasoning

True/False

In the space provided, write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.

T or F
1. epidemic                  plague _____
2. homonym                same-sounding name _____
3. claustrophobia         fear of dogs _____
4. cacophony               dissonance _____
5. apathy                     enthusiasm _____
6. accelerometer          instrument for measuring acceleration _____
7. synchronize             squabble _____
8. cosmopolitan           international _____
9. sophism                   specious argument _____
10. chromatic              crisp _____

Applying Greek Roots
Based on the meaning of its root, define each of the following words. If in doubt, check the suggested answers.
1. asteroid ______________________________________________
2. chromatics ______________________________________________
3. cosmos ______________________________________________
4. anonymous ______________________________________________
5. Anglophobia ______________________________________________
6. cosmography ______________________________________________
7. synchronous ______________________________________________
8. pathetic ______________________________________________
9. pedometer ______________________________________________
10. democracy ______________________________________________
11. phonograph ______________________________________________
12. demographics ______________________________________________
13. psychotic ______________________________________________
14. sophisticated ______________________________________________
15. cognition ______________________________________________

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