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Root Words and Word Origins — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 5th Grade vocabulary worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet5th Grade · English · Vocabulary

Root Words and Word Origins — Answers

Part A: Roots and meanings

A root is the main part of a word that carries its meaning. Many English roots come from Latin or Greek. Use the example words to help: construct, erupt, audience, inspect, predict, describe.

1.Match each root to its meaning.
  • struct
  • rupt
  • aud
  • spect
  • dict
  • scrib / script
  • write
  • hear
  • build
  • break
  • say
  • look

Answer: struct → build; rupt → break; aud → hear; spect → look; dict → say; scrib / script → write

Part B: Use the root

Use the meaning of the root to choose the answer.

2.Rupt means break. When a volcano erupts, the lava
  1. Abreaks out
  2. Bcools down
  3. Cstays still
  4. Dgoes back in

Answer: breaks out

E- means out, and rupt means break: lava breaks out.

3.Aud means hear. Something that is audible
  1. Acan be seen
  2. Bcan be heard
  3. Cis very old
  4. Dis very loud

Answer: can be heard

-ible means able to be, so audible means able to be heard. It does not have to be loud.

4.Spect means look. A spectator is someone who
  1. Aplays a game
  2. Bwatches an event
  3. Cwrites a story
  4. Dbuilds a stage

Answer: watches an event

-or means a person who, so a spectator is a person who looks on.

5.Dict means say. To predict is to
  1. Asay what will happen before it does
  2. Bsay sorry
  3. Cwrite a list
  4. Dread aloud

Answer: say what will happen before it does

Pre- means before, so predict means say before.

6.Struct means build. Which word does not come from this root?
  1. Astructure
  2. Bconstruct
  3. Cinstruct
  4. Dstrong

Answer: strong

Strong does not contain the root struct. Structure, construct and instruct all do.

7.Micro means small. A microscope helps you
  1. Asee very small things
  2. Bhear quiet sounds
  3. Cmeasure heat
  4. Dsee far away

Answer: see very small things

Micro means small and scope means look at, so a microscope helps you look at very small things.

Part C: Build the word

Put the parts together to make the word that fits the meaning.

8.inter (between) + rupt (break): to (answer space) is to break in while someone is talking.

Answer: interrupt

9.in (into) + spect (look): to (answer space) is to look closely at something.

Answer: inspect

10.aud (hear) + ience (a noun ending): an (answer space) is a group of people who listen or watch.

Answer: audience

11.de (down) + scribe (write): to (answer space) is to write or tell what something is like.

Answer: describe

Part D: Words from around the world

English has borrowed many words from other languages. The history of a word is called its origin.

12.Match each borrowed word to the language it came from.
  • kindergarten
  • piano
  • ballet
  • origami
  • safari
  • German
  • Italian
  • Swahili
  • French
  • Japanese

Answer: kindergarten → German; piano → Italian; ballet → French; origami → Japanese; safari → Swahili

13.Kindergarten comes from German words that mean children and garden. Why do you think it was a good name for a class for young children?

Answer: Young children can grow and learn there, the way plants grow in a garden.

  1. Accept any answer that links children growing and learning with plants growing in a garden.

Part E: Word families

Words that share a root belong to the same word family.

14.Write two words that contain the root dict (say).

Answer: dictionary, predict

  1. Other correct answers: dictate, contradict, verdict, diction.
15.Write two words that contain the root struct (build).

Answer: structure, construct

  1. Other correct answers: instruct, construction, destruction, instructions.

Part F: Your turn

16.Your turn: choose one root from this sheet. Write its meaning, then write three words from its word family and use one of them in a sentence that shows its meaning.

Model answer: Root: spect (look). Word family: inspect, spectator, spectacles. Sentence: The spectators cheered as the runners crossed the finish line.

Success criteria:

  • Root and its meaning written correctly
  • Three real words that contain the root
  • One sentence that uses a word from the family correctly
  • The sentence shows the meaning of the word
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