Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. The root mono means "one" and the root logue means "speech." What does monologue most likely mean?
A) A conversation between two people
B) A speech given by one person
C) A song performed by a choir
D) A written letter to many readers
Mono means "one" and logue means "speech," so a monologue is a speech delivered by one person — unlike a dialogue, which involves two speakers.
2. A bicycle has the prefix bi- (two) and the root cycle (wheel/circle). What does a bilingual person have two of?
A) Two bicycles
B) Two homes in different countries
C) Two languages they can speak
D) Two sets of written instructions
Bi- means "two" and lingu refers to "language," so a bilingual person speaks two languages — just as a bicycle has two wheels.
3. The prefix tri- means "three." Which word means a shape with three angles and three sides?
A) Tricycle
B) Tripod
C) Triangle
D) Triple
Tri- means "three" and angle means "corner," so a triangle is literally a shape with three angles and three sides.
4. The root poly means "many" and the root gon means "angle." A polygon is a shape with many angles. What does polygraph most likely involve?
A) Drawing many pictures at once
B) Recording many body signals to detect lies
C) Writing in many different languages
D) Counting many numbers quickly
Poly means "many" and graph means "to write or record," so a polygraph records many body signals at once — heart rate, breathing, and sweat — to help detect lies.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A monopoly means one group has total control, because mono means one and poly relates to selling.
Mono means "one," so a monopoly exists when one single company or group controls an entire market with no competition.
2. Binoculars help you see far away and have two lenses, one for each eye, because bi- means two.
Bi- means "two," and binoculars have two lenses — one for each eye — so you can see distant objects with depth perception.
3. A triathlon is a race with three different sports: swimming, biking, and running.
Tri- means "three" and athlon means "contest," so a triathlon is a race combining three sports: swimming, biking, and running.
4. A tripod is a three-legged stand used to hold a camera steady, because tri- means three and pod means foot.
Tri- means "three" and pod means "foot," so a tripod has three feet (legs) that keep a camera stable and level.
5. If a monotone voice has only one tone, then polyphonic music has many notes playing at the same time.
Poly means "many" and phon means "sound," so polyphonic music layers many different notes or melodies at the same time — the opposite of a single monotone.