Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Latin root port means "to carry," so to import goods means to carry them into a country.
Port means to carry, and the prefix im- means in or into, so import means to carry goods into a country. Both word parts together describe the direction of the carrying.
2. A portable device is one that is easy to carry from place to place.
Portable uses the root port (carry) and the suffix -able (able to be), so it describes a device that is able to be carried easily from place to place. The suffix turns the root into an adjective.
3. The Latin root rupt means "to break," so a volcanic eruption is a sudden breaking forth of lava.
Rupt means to break, and a volcanic eruption is a sudden bursting or breaking forth of lava from the earth. The root captures the violent breaking action of a volcano.
4. When you interrupt someone who is speaking, you break into their conversation.
When you interrupt someone, you break into their conversation. The root rupt (break) plus the prefix inter- (between) gives the meaning of breaking in between someone's words.
5. The Latin root vis means "to see," so something visible can be seen with your eyes.
Vis means to see, so visible describes something that can be seen with your eyes. The suffix -ible turns the root into an adjective that tells whether seeing is possible.
6. A person with excellent vision can see things clearly from far away.
Vision uses the root vis (see) plus the suffix -ion to name the ability of sight itself. A person with strong vision can see clearly across long distances.
7. The Latin root aud means "to hear," so an audience is a group of people who listen to a performance.
Aud means to hear, and an audience is a group of listeners gathered to hear a speech, concert, or play. The root keeps the focus on the act of hearing.
8. If a sound is audible, it is loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room.
Audible uses aud (hear) plus -ible (able to be), so an audible sound is one that is loud enough to be heard. If everyone in the room can hear it, it qualifies as audible.
9. To export means to carry goods out of a country to sell them somewhere else.
Export uses the root port (carry) with the prefix ex- (out), giving the meaning of carrying goods out of a country to sell elsewhere. It is the natural opposite of import.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
transport
→ carry across from one place to another
break apart or throw into disorder
disrupt
→ break apart or throw into disorder
a large room built for audiences to hear performances
evidence
→ something seen or observed that proves a fact
carry across from one place to another
auditorium
→ a large room built for audiences to hear performances
something seen or observed that proves a fact
Each match lines up the root or prefix with the meaning of the whole word. Transport uses port (carry) and trans- (across), so it means to carry across one place to another. Disrupt uses rupt (break) with dis- to mean break apart or throw into disorder. Evidence comes from vid/vis (see), so it is something seen or observed that proves a fact. Auditorium uses aud (hear) and -orium (place for), naming a large room built for audiences to hear performances.