Question

Word Detective

Highlight the root.
Define the root.
Guess the meaning of the whole word based on the root and suffix.
1. Photosynthesis

2. Aqueduct

3. Manuscript

4. Biography

5. Telephone

Answer 1

1. Photosynthesis
- Root: photo- (Greek for "light")
- Suffix/component: -synthesis (Greek syn- "together" + thesis "placing"; here "synthesis" = putting together)
- Meaning guess: using light to put together (synthesize) chemical compounds — e.g., plants making food from light

2. Aqueduct
- Root: aqua- (Latin for "water")
- Suffix: -duct (Latin ducere "to lead" — "a channel that leads")
- Meaning guess: a structure/channel that leads or carries water

3. Manuscript
- Root: manu- (Latin for "hand")
- Suffix: -script (Latin scribere "to write")
- Meaning guess: written by hand — a handwritten document

4. Biography
- Root: bio- (Greek for "life")
- Suffix: -graphy (Greek graphein "to write"; "-graphy" = writing or account)
- Meaning guess: a written account of someone's life

5. Telephone
- Root: tele- (Greek for "far, at a distance")
- Suffix: -phone (Greek phonē "sound, voice")
- Meaning guess: device for transmitting sound/voice over a distance (or the act of distant sound transmission)