Questions & Answers
Browse all 20 questions from the
Exploring Word Origins study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
The English word 'alphabet' is derived from the first two letters of which ancient language?
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A
Latin
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B
Greek
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C
Hebrew
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D
Egyptian
2
The word 'astronaut' comes from the Greek words 'astron' meaning star and 'nautes' meaning what?
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A
Pilot
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B
Sailor
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C
Explorer
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D
Traveler
3
Which language provided the root for the word 'school', originating from 'schole' meaning leisure or spare time?
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A
French
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B
Latin
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C
Greek
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D
German
4
The word 'bicycle' contains the prefix 'bi-', which comes from Latin and means what?
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A
Two
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B
Circle
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C
Wheel
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D
Speed
5
The word 'camera' originally comes from a Latin term that refers to what?
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A
A light box
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B
A vaulted chamber
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C
A glass lens
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D
A memory keeper
6
Many English words for animals, such as 'beef' and 'pork', were adopted into English from which language following the Norman Conquest?
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A
Old Norse
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B
Old French
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C
Latin
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D
Italian
7
The word 'biology' is formed from two Greek words: 'bios', meaning life, and 'logia', meaning what?
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A
Study of
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B
Growth of
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C
Nature of
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D
Science of
8
The English word 'pedestrian' comes from the Latin word 'pedis', which refers to what body part?
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A
Head
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B
Hand
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C
Foot
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D
Leg
9
The word 'telephone' is derived from the Greek 'tele', meaning far off, and 'phone', meaning what?
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A
Sound
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B
Wire
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C
Message
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D
Speak
10
The word 'galaxy' is derived from the Greek word 'galaxias', which literally translates to what?
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A
Star system
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B
Milky circle
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C
Light path
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D
Heavenly body
11
The word 'geometry' originates from Greek roots meaning what?
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A
Shape drawing
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B
Earth measurement
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C
Space study
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D
Angle calculation
12
In the word 'autograph', the prefix 'auto-' comes from Greek and means what?
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A
Hand
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B
Self
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C
Written
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D
Personal
13
The word 'umbrella' comes from the Latin 'umbra', which means what?
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A
Rain
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B
Shadow
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C
Covering
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D
Sun
14
The word 'dentist' shares a Latin root with 'dental', which originates from 'dens', meaning what?
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A
Pain
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B
Doctor
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C
Tooth
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D
Jaw
15
The word 'pyjamas' is borrowed into English from which language?
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A
Hindi
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B
Persian
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C
Arabic
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D
Turkish
16
The word 'manuscript' is derived from Latin words meaning what?
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A
Paper bound
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B
Hand written
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C
Old record
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D
Ink drawing
17
The prefix 'micro-' found in words like 'microphone' and 'microscope' comes from Greek and means what?
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A
Small
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B
Clear
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C
Distant
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D
Precise
18
The word 'dinosaur' is a combination of two Greek words meaning what?
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A
Big lizard
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B
Terrible lizard
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C
Ancient beast
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D
Earth walker
19
The word 'planet' comes from the Greek word 'planetes', which means what?
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A
Wanderer
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B
Bright light
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C
Round object
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D
Great circle
20
The word 'captain' originates from the Latin word 'caput', which means what?
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A
Head
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B
Leader
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C
Ship
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D
Strength
