2.1 Lesson 1 Roots and Affixes EOC PREP
Name: _____________Period: ____ Date:________ ENGLISH I BEASLEY
Many English words have Greek and Latin origins. A root is the base part of a word that carries the basic meaning. Knowing roots helps readers understand complex words. See the list before for words and their roots.
Word
Chronology
Hierarchy
Democracy
Aqueduct
Acropolis
Credit
Philosopher
Root(s) chron hier cracy duct polis cred philo, soph
Root Meaning time high, holy, priestly system way city believe, trust love of knowledge, wisdom
Novelty nov new
An affix is a word part that is added to a root to make a new word with a new meaning. A
prefix comes before a root. A suffix comes after a root. re- un-
Prefix again not
Meaning Sufix Meaning
-arch, - archy chief, highest, most important pre- amphi- micro- before both small
-crat, - cracy govern, rule, strength, power
-logy
-ion
-ment science, study changes a verb into a noun
Changes a verb into a noun
Read the passage entitled “Anthropology” and answer the questions that follow.
The study of civilization is fascinating. Anthropologists tell us the chronology of human development is similar all over the world. People became agrarian as they learned to domesticate animals and grow food. The process of planting seeds and tending the harvesting crops requires people to stay in one place for long periods of time. This led to the development of more permanent settlements.
The topography of the land largely determined where people settled. In ancient
Egypt, for example, people settled along the banks of the Nile River. Over time a hierarchical society developed. The demography of that society indicated that the majority of the people were farmers. Above them was a class of engineers that built and supervised the irrigation systems. Above this was a caste of priests, and highest was the royal family. Our knowledge of this ancient world come to us largely from the art hieroglyphs that the Egyptians left behind.
1. What does the term chronology mean?
A.
writing of place
B.
study of humans
C.
rule by the many
D.
measuring of time
2. What does the word hierarchy mean?
A.
good writing
B.
an unusual place
C.
a beautiful landscape
D.
a level of highness or importance

Read the passage Ancient Greece and answer the questions that follow.
Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, independent city-states developed along the coast, separated from each other by rugged inland mountains. Each polis developed its own form of government. Athens was the place where democracy took hold. Here, anyone who was a citizen could take part in the political decision-making process.
Athens also gave birth to a Golden Age of culture. The arts and sciences flourished. Masterpieces of architecture such as the Acropolis were constructed. People watched great spectacles—such as the new forms of theater (comedy and tragedy) and the Olympics—in large amphitheatre. Greek philosophers studied the natural world.
They were cautious about the microcosm and the matter that make up the world. They gave a name to the basic building blocks of matter, which they called atoms.
As Greek civilization declined, Roman civilization rose. The Romans built roads and aqueducts throughout their vast Empire. People today still marvel at the coliseum, the huge stadium that still stands in modern Rome.
When the Roman Empire broke up, Europe descended into what is known as the
Dark Ages or Middle Ages for several centuries. Education was confined to monks living in monasteries, who painstakingly copied manuscripts. These centers of learning gave rise to the first universities.
Later, Renaissance, Italian money lenders introduced a new system of credit, which allowed commerce to flourish. Trade routes to the Middle East and Far East were reestablished. This exchange of goods and ideas led to a new growth in development in
Europe.
3. What does the word microcosm mean?
A.
large structure
B.
love of science
C.
human time
D.
small world
4. A philosopher is someone who
A.
loves knowledge
B.
writes books
C.
believes in people
D.
speaks many languages
5. What is the suffix in the word education?
A.
edu-
B.
–tion
C.
–ion
D.
-educ
6. What is the meaning of the root in the word credit?
A.
love
B.
believe
C.
place
D.
money