Academic English for International Exams

Course Book

  • Intro
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G

Common Latin Roots

RootMeaning RootMeaning RootMeaning
astrospace geoearth sectcut
audiohear graph/gramwrite sequfollow
cedego habitlive specwatch
chronotime jac/jectthrow stellastar
corpbody mis/mitsend structbuild
cosmospace morphchange terraearth
credbelieve phonsound thermheat
demopeople photlight vacempty
dictsay portcarry vertturn
duc/ductpull/lead ruptbreak vencome
fercarry sciknow vissee
fluctchange scrib/scripwrite vocsay/speak

For each word, first write out the root and consider its meaning. Then, deduce the meaning of the word as a whole. Don't hesitate to check it up in a dictionary.

Word
Root
Meaning
Word Meaning
1.
pyrotechnics
fire
fireworks
2.
thermometer
heat
device for measuring heat
3.
gene
race
unit of heredity
4.
android
man
man-shaped robot
5.
zoological
animal
about animals
6.
thermodynamics
heat
using heat
7.
politician
citizen
officeholder
8.
pyrography
fire
burning designs on wood, etc.
9.
engender
race
to produce
10.
heliocentric
sun
relating to the sun as center
11.
polity
citizen
political organization
12.
zoometry
animal
measuring animals
13.
gynarchy
women
government by women
14.
ichthyoid
fish
fish-like
15.
ornithopod
bird
bird-like dinosaur

Match the word to its definition, considering the Latin roots.

abdication
diversification
repulsion
benediction
edict
misconduct
viaduct
congress
conjecture
objectionable
overpass guess variety decree/order renounce a throne assembly/caucus questionable aversion wrongdoing blessing

Decide if the definition is true or false and choose T or F accordingly. Figure out what each word means.

1.
unification – union
2.
degradation – encouragement
3.
induce – influence
4.
jettison – bring on board
5.
addiction – habit; fixation
6.
gentrification – growing old
7.
scribe – writer
8.
malediction – bad luck
9.
dejected – depressed
10.
propellant – meddler
11.
contradict – dissent; deny
12.
gradient – flat surface
13.
inscribe – write on
14.
traduce – praise
15.
abduct – kidnap

Define each word, using its root to help you. Write your definition in the box.

1.
compendium
digest, synopsis
2.
biannual
happening twice a year
3.
continence
self-control
4.
append
add
5.
omniscient
perceiving all things
6.
supersede
go beyond; replace
7.
pendulous
hanging
8.
invidious
causing resentment
9.
secede
withdraw, resign
10.
omnivorous
eating all kinds of foods

Use the correct form of a word from the list to complete the sentences below.

This list contains a group of miscellaneous verbs whose noun, adjective, or adverb forms do not follow any particular pattern. Use your dictionary if you do not understand the meaning of any of the words. Use the correct form of a word from the list to complete the sentences below.

Verb Noun Adjective Adverb
abuse abuse abusive abusively
acquire acquisition
compare comparison comparative comparatively
damage damage
exceed excess excessive excessively
intend intention intentional intentionally
prohibit prohibition prohibitive prohibitively
question question questionable questionably
recommend recommendation recommendable
refuse refusal
reply reply
require requirement
treat treatment
use use, usage useful usefully
1. With the President's , the bill was passed by Congress.
2. I do not object to the use of alcohol in moderation but, rather, to the use of it.
3. There is a(n) between aspirin and alcohol in this passage.
4. Lincoln's to help the abolitionists incurred their wrath.
5. Send me a list of your s for entrance to college.
6. Drug is the subject of this passage.
7. It was not his s to take too much aspirin.
8. He had a(n) to ask the professor about the examination.
9. If we have guests for dinner on Saturday, we will our budget for this week.
10. Since the package was insured, the was paid for.
11. was a period in American history when laws prevented legal consumption of alcohol.
12. He was so preoccupied with the of property that he neglected his other interests.
13. There is nothing wrong with the of drugs if you take the proper dosage.
14. His to my letter was short and amusing.
15. Her motives in accepting his proposal are .

Match each word in Column A with its definition in Column B. There are more definitions than there are words to match.

succumb
sundry
ensuing
underground
therapeutic
inoculate
bounce
adverse
despite
claustrophobia
beneath the earth relating to treatment of disease various go up and down following bend the upper part of the body abnormal fear of enclosed space die participate inject unfavorable in spite of

Circle the answer choice that has the same meaning as the underlined word.

1.
Nutritionists believe that vitamins circumvent disease.
2.
After his heart attack, Joe went on a therapeutic diet.
3.
Efforts to ameliorate housing conditions for the poor were halted because government funds were cut off.
4.
I think your decision to buy the house was judicious.
5.
I have an appointment this afternoon with my chiropodist.
6.
Usually submissive, little Andy suddenly turned rebellious.
7.
Sometimes hyperactive children are given drugs.
8.
Taking college entrance tests with levity is impossible.
9.
He was notorious among the women for his fickleness.
10.
Manufacturers are dubious about predictions of an economic recovery.
11.
Ostensibly, she enjoys her vacations in Nova Scotia, but she really would prefer someplace warmer.
12.
Because children are inoculated against measles, there are currently very few cases of the disease in the United States.
13.
Pat cannot take elevators because she has claustrophobia.

14.
The doctor told him to keep his arm immobile for a few days.
15.
The hurricane caused incalculable damage in New England.