Finding the Meaning of Unknown Words

When Wei Yei got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she became melodramatic, and sobbed and demanded to see a doctor.

What does melodramatic mean?

• quiet

• overly emotional

• angry

• not angry enough

If we use the red napkins, my mom will be happy but my dad will be discontent.

What does discontent mean?

• from another continent

• not happy

• from a different country

• not from the same country

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."

What does the word combustible mean?

• eaten by goats

• from the Pacific coast

• healthy and green

• easily burned

What does the prefix "auto" mean?

• self

• before

• car

• alone

Choose all of the correct answers.

It is important to learn Greek and Latin roots because...

• they help you find the meanings of words

• the help you better understand what you are reading

• they help you divide in math

• they help you break down the word to understand what it means

Knowing that the Latin root astr- means stars/space can help us determine the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence: The astronomer received her bachelor's of science degree in physics from Kansas State University.

• Someone who studies stars and outer space

• Someone who stars in a movie

• Someone who looks like a star

• Someone who travels to stars

Knowing that the Greek root "bio" means life can help you determine the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence: There is a greater biomass in the rainforest than in the arctic.

• A scientist who studies life

• Reptiles and mammals

• The amount of living things in a habitat

• A story written about someone's life

Knowing that the Greek root "chron" means time can help you determine the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence: My grandpa has been suffering from chronic back pain for the last twenty years, and the doctors can't figure out why.

• Putting events in a timeline

• Something lasting a long time

• Something lasting a short time

• A device that tells time

Knowing that the Greek root "poly" means multiple/many can help us determine the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence: The polyglot could speak French, Japanese, Arabic, and English.

• Someone with many different college degrees

• Someone with many nationalities

• Someone born in many different countries

• Someone who knows many languages

Knowing that the Latin root "port" means to carry can help you determine the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence: The porter struggled to balance the 4 suitcases on top of each other as he walked them to the guest's room.

• A person whose job it is to carry luggage

• A machine that carries luggage

• Something that is easy to carry

• A ship that carries people from one destination to another