Why does English have so many words with Latin and Greek roots?

Question

The Church valued knowledge, and Latin is the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Anglo-Saxons brought Latin and Greek to England.
English doesn't have that many words with Latin and Greek roots.
Latin and Greek are direct predecessors of English.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains why English has so many words with Latin and Greek roots is:

The Church valued knowledge, and Latin is the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.

Historically, during the Middle Ages, Latin was the language of scholarship, the Church, and formal government in much of Europe. As English evolved, particularly after the Norman Conquest in 1066, it absorbed a significant number of Latin words, primarily through the influence of the Church and the education system. Greek roots also entered the language largely through scholarly works in philosophy, science, and the arts during the Renaissance, when interest in classical learning revived.

The other statements are less accurate:

• The Anglo-Saxons primarily spoke Old English, which has Germanic roots, and they did not significantly bring Latin and Greek to England.
• While English does have many words with Latin and Greek roots, it has a substantial Germanic foundation as well.
• Latin and Greek are not direct predecessors of English; rather, English is a Germanic language that has incorporated many words from these classical languages.

Answer 2

choose the best option

Answer 3

The best option is:

The Church valued knowledge, and Latin is the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.

This explanation accurately reflects the significant influence of Latin on the English language, especially during the Middle Ages when Latin was the language of education and the Church.