Greek & Latin Roots, Affixes & Word Families — Drills · Grade 7 English

Chapter: Language, Vocabulary & Sentence Craft

What these drills covers

By the end of Greek & Latin Roots, Affixes & Word Families you should be able to:

4 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.

Vocabulary used: affix, word family, evidence, qualification, revision.

Problem 1

Without opening a model: Explain affix in the assigned reading, distinguishing it from a related idea.
Answer and explanation

A prefix or suffix added to a base or root to affect meaning or function. A root carries a central element of meaning, while a prefix or suffix can modify meaning or grammatical function. Word parts provide clues, not a guarantee. Some words have changed meaning or no longer divide neatly into familiar modern parts.

Use the model to discuss reasoning after an independent attempt. A different accurate supported response can be correct; written work needs human marking.

Problem 2

Without opening a model: Explain how word-part analysis helps and where the learner’s rule is too broad.
Answer and explanation

Revise and revision belong to a word family; revision is a noun naming the process or result. Preview suggests looking before, while review can mean examining again in this context. Those relationships help, but the letters re at the start of every word do not automatically form that prefix. Check the actual word and meaning rather than applying the pattern mechanically.

Use the model to discuss reasoning after an independent attempt. A different accurate supported response can be correct; written work needs human marking.

Problem 3

Without opening a model: Evaluate this claim: “Every matching letter sequence is the same root or prefix.” Explain a correction in context.
Answer and explanation

This claim is misleading. A prefix such as re- can suggest repetition, as in reread. A suffix can change a word’s grammatical role: revise is a verb while revision is a noun. Recognizing a pattern helps, but not every word beginning with the letters re has that prefix. Revise and revision belong to a word family; revision is a noun naming the process or result. Preview suggests looking before, while review can mean examining again in this context. Those relationships help, but the letters re at the start of every word do not automatically form that prefix. Check the actual word and meaning rather than applying the pattern mechanically.

Use the model to discuss reasoning after an independent attempt. A different accurate supported response can be correct; written work needs human marking.

Problem 4

Without opening a model: Does knowing a root replace reading the sentence?
Answer and explanation

No. A root can provide a clue, but context and current use determine the appropriate meaning. Word history and present meaning are not always identical.

Use the model to discuss reasoning after an independent attempt. A different accurate supported response can be correct; written work needs human marking.

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