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KS3 English · Year 7Chapter 9 · Word origins, roots and spelling
Year 7 · Chapter 9

Word origins, roots and spelling

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Name the meaning of a Greek or Latin root, and use it to work out a word's meaning
  • Spell a compound word correctly, by building it from its parts
  • Spell the members of a word family, and predict the spelling change
  • Choose the correct homophone or commonly confused word, and say why
  • Explain how a word's history explains its spelling or its meaning

You should already know

  • Suffixes and prefixes, and silent letters (Year 6, Chapters 1 to 3)
  • Roots and prefixes from the statutory word list (Year 6, Chapter 4)

Where this leads

  • Narrative and descriptive writing (Chapter 10 of this book)
  • Writing to argue, persuade and analyse (Chapter 11 of this book)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 3 English, Year 7. Content: Understand how words are built from Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes, and how the root shapes the spelling (KS3 spelling, SP1), Spell word families consistently, including changes in spelling within a family (KS3 spelling, SP1), Distinguish homophones and commonly confused words, and use them correctly (KS3 spelling, SP1), Explain the origins of English words, including Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin and Greek influences (KS3 vocabulary, G6).

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich prefix means not, as in unhappy? Write the prefix.
2
FWhich suffix turns a verb into a noun, as in act to action? Write the suffix.
3
FWrite the word that means a word that sounds the same as another, but has a different meaning and spelling. Write one word.
4
FWrite the word that means the root of a word, which the other parts are attached to. Write one word.
5
FWhich letters at the start of photograph show a Greek origin? Write the two letters.
9.1

Greek roots: tele, micro, phon, bio, graph, geo and therm

Year 7
Understand how Greek roots shape the meaning and spelling of words (KS3 spelling, SP1)
Video lesson: Greek roots: tele, micro, phon, bio, graph, geo and thermComing soon
Story. A science club is making a list of words for its display. Many of the words are built from Greek roots, and the club wants to know why each one is spelled as it is.

Many English science words are built from Greek roots. The root carries the main meaning, and the rest of the word adds more. Because the root is spelled the same way in every word, you can use it to spell new words. For example, tele means far, and it appears in telephone and television.

Greek rootMeaningExample words
telefartelephone, telescope, television
microsmallmicroscope, microphone
phonsoundtelephone, phonics, microphone, symphony
biolifebiology, biography
graphwrite, or drawautograph, biography, graphic
geoearthgeography, geometry
thermheatthermometer, thermal

Key ideas

  • A root keeps the same spelling in every word that uses it.
  • Greek ph is often a sound f, and it is written ph: phone, phonics, photograph.
  • Words with two Greek roots can be spelled by joining the roots: tele + phon + e = telephone.
Worked example 9.1.1
What does tele mean, and what is the word telephone made of?

Method. Split the word into its roots, then join the meanings.

  1. Split the word. Telephone is tele + phon + e.
    tele + phon + e
  2. Find the meaning of tele. Tele means far.
    far
  3. Find the meaning of phon. Phon means sound, so a telephone carries sound far.
    sound
  4. Write the answer.
    far, and sound: tele + phon + e

Check. The two roots give the meaning. ✓

Worked example 9.1.2
How is biography built, and what does it mean?

Method. Split the word, then join the meanings.

  1. Split. Biography is bio + graph + y.
    bio + graph + y
  2. Meaning of bio. Bio means life.
    life
  3. Meaning of graph. Graph means write, so a biography is writing about a life.
    writing about a life
  4. Write the answer.
    bio (life) + graph (write) + y: writing about a life

Check. The roots give the meaning. ✓

Worked example 9.1.3
Which spelling is correct for the word meaning a small, powerful lens for looking at cells? Choose one: microscope, microskope or mikroscope.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

  1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
  2. Test the choice. Micro (small) and scope (look) combine to give microscope.
    microscope fits
  3. Reject the other choices. The root scope keeps its spelling, and micro is spelled with c, not k.
    microskope and mikroscope do not fit
  4. Write the answer.
    microscope

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: the root keeps its spelling in every word. Do not change a root to match how a word sounds, such as tele as tel.

Exam tip

Exam tip. When spelling a long word, split it into its roots, spell each root as you know it, and join them.

Exercise 9A  Practice: Greek roots

1
FWhich root in telephone means far? Write the root.
2
FWhich root in microphone means small? Write the root.
3
FWhich root in biology means life? Write the root.
4
FWhich root in geography means earth? Write the root.
5
FWhich root in thermometer means heat? Write the root.
6
FWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a sound-based teaching method for reading? Choose one: phonics, fonics, phonix or phonnics.
7
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the device that makes sound louder? Choose one: microphone, micropone, microfone or mikrophone.
8
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a machine that sends sound and speech over a distance? Choose one: telephone, telefone, tellephone or telefon.
9
FWrite the root that means write in autograph. Write one word.
10
RWhat does biography mean? Explain using the roots.
11
FWrite the root that means earth in geometry. Write one word.
12
FWhich word contains the root micro? Choose one: microscope, telescope or biology.
13
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for an instrument that measures heat? Choose one: thermometer, termometer, thermomiter or thermometre.
14
RWhy is photograph spelled with ph, and what does the root mean?
15
FWhich root means far? Choose one: tele, micro or geo.
16
FAnswer both parts about the roots in telescope.
(a)Write the root that means far. Write one word.
(b)Write the root that means look. Write one word.
17
FWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a study of living things? Choose one: biology, biolagy, biologie or byology.
18
PSBuild a new word from tele and scope, and explain its meaning.
19
FWhich word has the Greek root bio? Choose one: biology, telescope or microphone.
20
FWrite the root that means heat in thermal. Write one word.
21
RExplain why telephone and phonics share a spelling pattern.
9.2

Latin roots: aud, spect, port, scrib, dict, ject, struct, cred, aqua and ped

Year 7
Understand how Latin roots shape the meaning and spelling of words (KS3 spelling, SP1)
Video lesson: Latin roots: aud, spect, port, scrib, dict, ject, struct, cred, aqua and pedComing soon
Story. A drama group is preparing a show. The director uses Latin roots to name the parts of the theatre, and the actors learn to spell them.

Many English words come from Latin roots. The root keeps its spelling, even when the word changes. The Latin root aud means hear, and it appears in audience, audible and audition. Latin roots are also used with prefixes, such as de- (away or down) in describe.

Latin rootMeaningExample words
audhearaudience, audible, audition
spectlookspectator, inspect, spectacle
portcarrytransport, portable, export
scribwritedescribe, inscription, scribe
dictsaydictate, predict, contradict
jectthrowreject, inject, eject
structbuildconstruct, structure, destruction
credbelievecredible, incredible
aquawateraquarium, aquatic
pedfootpedal, pedestrian

Key ideas

  • A Latin root keeps its spelling in every word that uses it.
  • A prefix can change the meaning but not the root: con + struct = construct.
  • Some roots change their form: scrib becomes script in some words, such as scripture (not in this chapter).
Worked example 9.2.1
What does aud mean, and what does it show in audience?

Method. Find the root, then its meaning.

  1. Find the root. Aud is the root in audience.
    aud
  2. Find the meaning. Aud means hear.
    hear
  3. Join the meaning. An audience is the people who hear and watch.
    people who hear
  4. Write the answer.
    hear: the people who hear a show

Check. The root explains the meaning. ✓

Worked example 9.2.2
Build construct from its parts. Which prefix and which root are used?

Method. Split the word into a prefix and a root.

  1. Split. Construct is con + struct.
    con + struct
  2. Meaning of struct. Struct means build.
    build
  3. Join. Construct means to build together.
    build together
  4. Write the answer.
    con- (together) and struct (build)

Check. The prefix and root give the meaning. ✓

Worked example 9.2.3
Which spelling is correct for a word meaning able to be believed? Choose one: credible, credable or credibel.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

  1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
  2. Test the choice. Cred (believe) and ible (able to be) combine to give credible.
    credible fits
  3. Reject the other choices. The root cred keeps its spelling, and ible is the suffix that means able to be.
    credable and credibel do not fit
  4. Write the answer.
    credible

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a Latin root keeps its spelling. "Audience" has aud, not "awd" or "orwd", even though the sound may seem to change.

Exam tip

Exam tip. Name the root, its meaning, and the prefix or suffix that changes the meaning, then spell the root correctly.

Exercise 9B  Practice: Latin roots

1
FWhich root in audience means hear? Write the root.
2
FWhich root in spectator means look? Write the root.
3
FWhich root in transport means carry? Write the root.
4
FWhich root in dictate means say? Write the root.
5
FWhich root in reject means throw? Write the root.
6
FWhich root in construct means build? Write the root.
7
FWhich root in aquarium means water? Write the root.
8
FWhich root in pedestrian means foot? Write the root.
9
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a person who walks on foot? Choose one: pedestrian, pedestrien, pedestian or pedestrain.
10
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a place where fish are kept for people to see? Choose one: aquarium, acquarium, aquarim or aquerium.
11
FWrite the root that means hear in audible. Write one word.
12
RWhat does inspect mean, using the root? Explain in one sentence.
13
FWhich word contains the root port? Choose one: transport, predict or aquarium.
14
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a book that lists words with their meanings? Choose one: dictionary, dictionery, dictionnary or dictionairy.
15
FWrite the root that means believe in incredible. Write one word.
16
RExplain why predict and dictate are spelled with the same root.
17
PSWhich of these words means to throw back? Choose one: reject, construct or audible.
18
PSWhich is the correct spelling of the word for a machine that throws images onto a screen? Choose one: projector, projecter or prejector.
19
FWrite the root that means build in structure. Write one word.
20
FWhich word has the root scrib meaning write? Choose one: describe, audience or credible.
21
PSBuild a word from the root ped, meaning foot, and explain its meaning.
22
FWrite the root that means carry in portable. Write one word.
23
RDescribe how a Latin root can keep its spelling even when the word has a prefix. Use one example.
9.3

Word families and spelling changes

Year 7
Spell word families consistently, including changes in spelling within a family (KS3 spelling, SP1)
Video lesson: Word families and spelling changesComing soon
Story. A writer is checking the spelling of a family of words for a glossary. She finds that many words share a root, but the spelling changes in some of them.

A word family is a group of words that share a root. When you know one member, you can often spell the others. Watch for changes: the root may keep its letters, but the end may change, as in decide and decision, where the e is dropped.

Base word or rootFamily members
signsignal, signature, significant, signify
medicmedicine, medical, medication
musicmusician, musical
decidedecision, decisive
magicmagician, magical
possesspossession, possessive

Key ideas

  • Keep the root spelling: sign, signal, signature.
  • A silent e is often dropped before -ion: decide becomes decision.
  • Check the word family, not only the sound, when you spell a word.
Worked example 9.3.1
Spell the word that means a sign that gives a message, from the family of sign.

Method. Find the root, then the family member with that meaning.

  1. Find the root. Sign is the root.
    sign
  2. Find the member. A signal gives a message.
    gives a message
  3. Spell it. The member is signal, which keeps the g.
    signal
  4. Write the answer.
    signal

Check. signal belongs to the sign family. ✓

Worked example 9.3.2
Spell the word for the job of a person who makes music, from the family of music.

Method. Find the root, then add the suffix for a person.

  1. Find the root. Music is the root.
    music
  2. Add the suffix. Musician adds -ian for a person.
    -ian
  3. Spell it. The word is musician.
    musician
  4. Write the answer.
    musician

Check. musician is the person form. ✓

Worked example 9.3.3
Which spelling is correct for the noun from decide? Choose one: decision, decicion or decisian.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

  1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
  2. Test the choice. The e is dropped before the ion suffix, and the root decid becomes decis.
    decision fits
  3. Reject the other choices. Decicion keeps the e, and decisian is not an English suffix pattern.
    decicion and decisian do not fit
  4. Write the answer.
    decision

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a silent e is often dropped before a suffix that begins with a vowel: decide, decision. Check the family before you add the ending.

Exam tip

Exam tip. For a word family, write the base word, then the form you need, and check the spelling change.

Exercise 9C  Practice: word families

1
FWrite the family member of sign that means a message shown by a sound or light. Write one word.
2
FWrite the family member of sign that means important. Write one word.
3
FWrite the family member of medic that means relating to medicine. Write one word.
4
FWrite the family member of music that means a person who plays music. Write one word.
5
PSWrite the noun formed from decide. Write one word.
6
FWrite the person form from magic. Write one word.
7
PSWrite the noun formed from possess. Write one word.
8
PSWhich spelling is correct for the family member of medicine, meaning the same root? Choose one: medication, medicaton or medcation.
9
RExplain why decision is spelled without an e at the end of decide, in one sentence.
10
FWrite the word in the sign family that means the sign on a document that identifies a person. Write one word.
11
RWhy might a family of words be easier to spell than a list of single words? Explain in one sentence.
12
FWhich word is in the magic family? Choose one: magician, medicine or musical.
13
FWrite the adjective from music, meaning relating to music. Write one word.
14
RIn the sign family, which word has the root sign but means very important? Explain why its spelling keeps the g.
15
FWhich spelling is correct for the family member of magic that describes a power? Choose one: magical, magicle or magicial.
9.4

Homophones and commonly confused words

Year 7
Distinguish homophones and commonly confused words, and use them correctly (KS3 spelling, SP1)
Video lesson: Homophones and commonly confused wordsComing soon
Story. A school newsletter is full of errors. The editor finds several words that sound alike but mean different things, and she needs to check each one.

Homophones sound the same but differ in meaning and spelling: bare and bear. Some words are easily confused because they are close in sound or spelling: affect (a verb, to influence) and effect (usually a noun, a result). Check the meaning first.

WordMeaningExample
principalthe head of a school, or the main thingThe principal spoke at assembly.
principlea basic rule or beliefThe principle of fairness guides the school.
stationarynot movingThe bus stayed stationary at the stop.
stationerypaper, envelopes and writing materialsWe bought stationery for the term.
councila group that governs a town or areaThe council met on Tuesday.
counseladvice, or to adviseShe gave good counsel to her friend.
affectto influence (a verb)The weather can affect the trip.
effecta result (a noun), or to bring about (a verb)The effect of the rain was a flood.
practicean action done often, or the place of work (a noun)Daily practice improves skill.
practiseto do something repeatedly (a verb)We practise the piece every day.
complementsomething that completes or goes well withThe sauce is a good complement to the fish.
complimentpraise (noun), or to praise (verb)She gave me a kind compliment.

Key ideas

  • Homophones sound the same but differ in meaning and spelling.
  • Affect is usually a verb; effect is usually a noun.
  • Principal means the head or the main thing; principle means a rule or belief.
Worked example 9.4.1
Which is correct: The principal spoke at assembly or The principle spoke at assembly?

Method. Check the meaning: a person who leads a school, or a rule?

  1. Check the meaning. The person who leads a school is the principal.
    the person
  2. Check the other word. A principle is a rule, so it cannot speak.
    a rule
  3. Choose. Principal is correct.
    principal
  4. Write the answer.
    principal

Check. The meaning of principal is a person. ✓

Worked example 9.4.2
Which word fits: The weather can ___ the trip.? Choose one: affect or effect.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

  1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
  2. Test the choice. Affect is a verb meaning to influence, which fits the sentence.
    affect fits
  3. Reject the other choices. Effect is usually a noun, a result, so it does not fit the verb place.
    effect do not fit
  4. Write the answer.
    affect

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Worked example 9.4.3
Which is correct: stationary or stationery for paper and envelopes?

Method. Think about the meaning: not moving, or writing materials.

  1. Meaning of stationary. Stationary means not moving.
    not moving
  2. Meaning of stationery. Stationery means paper and envelopes.
    paper and envelopes
  3. Choose. Paper and envelopes need stationery, spelled with -ery.
    stationery
  4. Write the answer.
    stationery

Check. The meaning matches -ery. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: spell-check will not catch a wrong homophone. Read the sentence for meaning, then choose the word.

Exam tip

Exam tip. For a homophone, say the meaning of each choice, then choose the one that fits the sentence.

Exercise 9D  Practice: homophones and confused words

1
FWhich word fits: The ___ spoke at assembly.? Choose one: principal, principle or principel.
2
FWhich word fits: The school follows one ___ of fairness.? Choose one: principle, principal or principel.
3
FWhich word fits: The bus stayed ___ at the stop.? Choose one: stationary, stationery or stationairy.
4
FWhich word fits: We bought new ___ for the term.? Choose one: stationery, stationary or stationairy.
5
FWhich word fits: The ___ met on Tuesday to discuss the park.? Choose one: council, counsel or concil.
6
FWhich word fits: She gave good ___ to her friend.? Choose one: counsel, council or concil.
7
PSWhich word fits: The rain may ___ the trip.? Choose one: affect or effect.
8
PSWhich word fits: The rain had a bad ___ on the trip.? Choose one: effect or affect.
9
PSWhich word fits: Daily ___ improves your skill.? Choose one: practice or practise.
10
PSWhich word fits: We ___ the piece every day.? Choose one: practise or practice.
11
PSWhich word fits: The sauce is a good ___ to the fish.? Choose one: complement or compliment.
12
PSWhich word fits: She gave me a kind ___.? Choose one: compliment or complement.
13
RExplain the difference between a principal and a principle, in one sentence.
14
RWhy is affect usually a verb and effect usually a noun? Give one example of each.
15
FWhich word is a homophone of bare? Choose one: bear, barn or bored.
16
PSChoose one pair of homophones and write one sentence for each word in the pair.
17
RWhy might a spell-checker miss the error The principle spoke at assembly? Explain in one sentence.
18
PSWhich word fits: The ___ of a bad diet can be serious.? Choose one: effect or affect.
19
PSWhich word fits: The bench was ___ in the sun.? Choose one: stationary or stationery.
9.5

Where words come from: etymology

Year 7
Explain the origins of English words, including Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin and Greek influences (KS3 vocabulary, G6)
Video lesson: Where words come from: etymologyComing soon
Story. A dictionary editor is writing an entry for window. She must explain where the word came from, and why it is spelled as it is.

Etymology is the history of a word. English has borrowed words from many languages: Old English is the base; Old Norse came with the Vikings; Old French came with the Normans; and Latin and Greek provide many scientific and academic words. A word's history often explains its spelling and its meaning.

Passage: where words come from (original)

Many everyday words have surprising histories. The word window came into English from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, and it is related to vindauga, meaning wind eye. Meat has a split history: the animals kept their English names, such as cow and sheep, but the meat was named in French, as in beef and pork, after the Norman rulers had spoken French at court. A good dictionary gives the origin of a word, so that a reader can see why it is spelled as it is.

WordOriginWhere the word came from
windowOld Norsevindauga, meaning wind eye
skyOld Norsesky, meaning cloud
beefOld Frenchboef, the name of the meat, brought by the Normans
porkOld Frenchporc, the name of the meat, brought by the Normans
crimeLatincrimen, meaning charge or offence
democracyGreekdemos (people) and kratos (power)
telephoneGreektele (far) and phone (sound)
hippopotamusGreekhippos (horse) and potamos (river), meaning river horse
breadOld Englishbrēad, the everyday word that was kept

Key ideas

  • Etymology is the history of a word, found in a good dictionary.
  • Old English is the base of many everyday words, such as bread and house.
  • Old French, after the Norman Conquest, gave many words for food and government.
Worked example 9.5.1
Where does the word window come from?

Method. Find the origin in the passage.

  1. Find the origin. The passage says window came from Old Norse.
    Old Norse
  2. Find the meaning of the source. Vindauga means wind eye.
    wind eye
  3. Explain. So the word combines the ideas of wind and an opening.
    wind and an opening
  4. Write the answer.
    Old Norse

Check. The passage gives Old Norse. ✓

Worked example 9.5.2
Why is the name of the meat beef different from the name of the animal cow?

Method. Find the two origins in the passage.

  1. Find the animal word. Cow is an English word.
    English
  2. Find the meat word. Beef was named in French, after the Normans.
    named in French
  3. Explain the difference. The French names of the meat and the English names of the animals show the history.
    the history
  4. Write the answer.
    the meat was named in French, and the animal in English

Check. The origins are French and English. ✓

Worked example 9.5.3
Which language is the origin of democracy? Choose one: Greek, Latin or Old Norse.

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

  1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
  2. Test the choice. Democracy comes from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (power).
    Greek fits
  3. Reject the other choices. It does not come from Latin or Old Norse, and its roots are Greek.
    Latin and Old Norse do not fit
  4. Write the answer.
    Greek

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a word can have more than one origin. Give the origin that the source names, and do not guess from the modern spelling.

Exam tip

Exam tip. For an origin question, name the language, then give one piece of evidence: a root, a meaning or a historical event.

Exercise 9E  Practice: word origins

1
FWhich language did the word crime come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
2
FWhich language did the word democracy come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
3
FWhich language did the word sky come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
4
FWhich language did the word pork come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
5
FWhich language did the word telephone come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
6
PSWhich language did the word bread come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
7
FWhat does the passage say the word window is related to? Copy the word.
8
RWhat does vindauga mean, and why does this explain the word window?
9
FWhich group of people brought French to England, according to the passage? Write one word.
10
RExplain why the names of meat in English are different from the names of the animals.
11
PSWhich language did the word hippopotamus come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
12
PSWhich language did the word chef come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
13
RWhy does the history of a word help a reader spell it? Give one reason.
14
FWhich word has an Old Norse origin? Choose one: sky, telescope or democracy.
15
PSChoose one word from the list in the table, and explain its origin in one sentence.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Greek rootstele (far), micro (small), phon (sound), bio (life), graph (write), geo (earth), therm (heat): the root keeps its spelling.
Latin rootsaud (hear), spect (look), port (carry), scrib (write), dict (say), ject (throw), struct (build), cred (believe), aqua (water), ped (foot).
Word familiesShare a root; watch for spelling changes, such as decide to decision.
Homophones and confused wordsCheck the meaning, not the sound: principal or principle; stationary or stationery; affect or effect.
EtymologyThe history of a word, from Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek; a dictionary gives it.

Can you…?

  • I can name the meaning of common Greek and Latin roots, and use them to spell and understand words
  • I can spell a word family, and predict a spelling change
  • I can choose the correct homophone or confused word, by its meaning
  • I can explain the origin of an English word, and how it shapes its spelling
  • I can use a dictionary entry to find a word's origin

Key terms

root
the main part of a word, which carries the core meaning
etymology
the history of a word, and where it came from
word family
a group of words that share a root
homophone
a word that sounds the same as another but has a different meaning and spelling
Old Norse
the language of the Vikings, which gave English many words
Old French
the French brought to England after the Norman Conquest, which gave English many words
prefix
a letter or group of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning
suffix
a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word

Exercise 9Z  Check-up

1
Which root in microscope means small? Write the root.
2
Which is the correct spelling of the word for a machine that sends sound far away? Choose one: telephone, telefone, tellephone or telefon.
3
Which root in audience means hear? Write the root.
4
Write the family member of sign meaning important. Write one word.
5
Write the noun formed from decide. Write one word.
6
Which word fits: The bus stayed ___ at the stop.? Choose one: stationary or stationery.
7
Which word fits: Daily ___ improves your skill.? Choose one: practice or practise.
8
Which language did the word sky come from? Choose one: Old English, Old Norse, Old French, Latin or Greek.
9
Explain what the passage says about the word beef, in one sentence.
10
Explain how a root helps you spell a word in a family of words, in one sentence.

Total 12 marks. Allow about 12 minutes.

Exercise 9X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich root in telescope means far? Write the root.[1 mark]
2
FChoose the correct spelling of the word for a device that makes small things look bigger: microscope, microskope or mikroscope. Write the correct spelling.[1 mark]
3
FWrite the word from the family of sign that means a sign that gives a message. Write one word.[1 mark]
4
FWrite the noun formed from decide. Write one word.[1 mark]
5
FChoose the correct word: "The ___ spoke at assembly." principal or principle. Write the word.[1 mark]
6
FChoose the correct word: "The weather can ___ the trip." affect or effect. Write the word.[1 mark]
7
RExplain the origin of the word democracy, in one sentence, using its roots.[2 marks]
8
FThe word window comes from Old Norse. Write the Old Norse word it is related to, as given in the passage.[1 mark]
9
FChoose the correct spelling of the word for a person who makes music: musician or musicion. Write the correct spelling.[1 mark]
10
RExplain why the word telephone is spelled with ph, in one or two sentences.[2 marks]
← Chapter 8: Tense, mood, cohesion and registerChapter 10: Narrative and descriptive writing →

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