Latin Roots Vocab
What does the Latin root "chronos" mean?
(chronological, synchronous, chronicles)
time, order of events
Going forward, we must uphold laws against discrimination — in hiring, in housing, in education and in the criminal justice system. That’s what our Constitution and highest ideals require. But laws alone won’t be enough — hearts must change. If our democracy is to work in this increasingly diverse, multicultural nation, each one of us must try to heed the advice of one of the great characters in American fiction, Atticus Finch from Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird." As he said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
How does Obama use problem/solution to convey his purpose in this paragraph?
a. He explores options for how Americans can consider the perspective of those that are different from them
b. He establishes the reasons and hopes for how America can become better with the next president
c. He details the process he took to become a kind and considerate president
d. He highlights the data that shows the need for considering someone else's perspective
a. He explores options for how Americans can consider the perspective of those that are different from them
Select a sentence that supports Obama's claim that American citizens idealize bravery and freedom.
a. In 10 days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to the next.
b. We remain the wealthiest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth.
c. It’s why soldiers gave their lives in World War II and in Iraq and Afghanistan — and why the men and women fighting for civil rights were prepared to give theirs as well.
d. In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, wealth and liberty.
c. It’s why soldiers gave their lives in World War II and in Iraq and Afghanistan — and why the men and women fighting for civil rights were prepared to give theirs as well.
That’s why I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than I was when we started. This generation coming up — unselfish, helpful, creative, patriotic — I’ve seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair, just, inclusive America. You know that constant change has been America’s hallmark, something not to fear but to embrace, and you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward. You’ll soon outnumber any of us, and I believe as a result that the future is in good hands.
How do the phrases “unselfish, helpful”, “fair, just, inclusive America.”, and “willing to carry this hard work” achieve the author’s purpose of moving the country into the next presidency?
a. It compares the young generation to older leaders who made mistakes.
b. It shows that the American people are ready to work together towards a welcoming country.
c. It shows that Obama feels sad to leave and thinks the next generation has a very hard job ahead of them.
d. It talks about what could happen in the future and ignores all the good things Obama and Americans have already done.
b. It shows that the American people are ready to work together towards a welcoming country.
Show up, dive in, persevere. Sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose. And more often than not, your faith in America — and in Americans — will be confirmed.
What does "persevere" mean in this context?
continue on, keep going no matter what, carry on, persist, stick it out
What does the Latin root "gon" mean?
(polygon, octagon, diagonal)
time, order of events
Over the last eight years, our country reversed a great economic crash and recession, rebooted our car industry and created more jobs for a longer period of time than ever before. We shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot and we took out the man who planned 9/11. We secured the right to health insurance for 20 million of our fellow citizens. If I had told you we would do all that, you might have said our sights were set a little too high.
How does Obama use text structure in this paragraph to convey the successes of his presidency?
a. He uses trial and error to show what did and didn't work with the recession and car industry
b. He uses compare and contrast to show the differences between his first term in office and his second
c. He uses descriptions to highlight the specific successes he had during his term as president
d. He uses a sequence of events to show how each experience bettered our country over the past eight years
d. He uses a sequence of events to show how each experience bettered our country over the past eight years
For 240 years, our nation’s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. It’s what led patriots to refuse to live under a king. It made pioneers trek west and drove slaves to escape to freedom. It’s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and borders, pushed women to reach for the right to vote, and empowered workers to organize.
How does Obama use reasoning to develop his argument in this paragraph?
a. He uses individual success stories to reveal a general principle about people
b. He presents expert opinions to uncover a universal truth about the American spirit
c. He starts with a general claim about American citizenship and narrows it down to specific acts of bravery and freedom
d. He illustrates the connection between immigrants and women
c. He starts with a general claim about American citizenship and narrows it down to specific acts of bravery and freedom
I first came to Chicago when I was in my early 20s, still searching for a purpose to my life. It was on these streets where I witnessed the power of faith, and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss. This is where I learned that change happens only when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it.
How does the Obama's use of words such as “streets”, “working people”, and “ordinary people” achieve her purpose in this paragraph?
a. to make the excerpt more interesting and engaging for the reader
b. to portray ordinary people as helpless and in need of constant support from more well-to-do people
c. to create a sense of responsibility to motivate the average citizen to invest in America's future
d. to boast about his own achievements and encourage future generations to follow in his footsteps
c. to create a sense of responsibility to motivate the average citizen to invest in America's future
In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, wealth and liberty. We should preserve it with “jealous anxiety”
What does "underpinning" mean in this context?
What does the Latin root "chroma" mean?
(monochromatic, chrome, chromosome)
color, hue, pigment
For 240 years, our nation’s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. It’s what led patriots to refuse to live under a king. It made pioneers trek west and drove slaves to escape to freedom. It’s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and borders, pushed women to reach for the right to vote, and empowered workers to organize. It’s why soldiers gave their lives in World War II and in Iraq and Afghanistan — and why the men and women fighting for civil rights were prepared to give theirs as well.
How does Obama use text structures in this paragraph?
a. He uses trial and error to show what worked throughout our history
b. He uses compare and contrast to show the bravery of past Americans versus the cowardice of current ones
c. He uses a sequence of events to show how different generations of Americans showed bravery
d. He uses descriptions to highlight the specific experiences that were most meaningful to him throughout history
c. He uses a sequence of events to show how different generations of Americans showed bravery
How does Obama develop his argument that ordinary people must take the initiative to better our country?
a. He uses research findings to prove his point about how much time the average citizen spends voting in their local elections
b. He uses rhetorical questions to show how much he does not know about the ordinary citizen
c. He uses interviews as his evidence that George Washington valued self-governance above all else
d. He uses personal anecdotes about his time in Chicago witnessing the citizens engaging with their community
d. He uses personal anecdotes about his time in Chicago witnessing the citizens engaging with their community
Which sentence supports Obama's purpose to show his gratefulness for the successes of his presidency?
a. Every day, I learned from you. You made me a better president, and you made me a better man.
b. But they knew that democracy does require a sense of unity — the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together.
c. Fewer people are out of work and more people are insured than ever before.
d. Going forward, we must uphold laws against discrimination — in hiring, in housing, in education and in the criminal justice system.
a. Every day, I learned from you. You made me a better president, and you made me a better man.
I first came to Chicago when I was in my early 20s, still searching for a purpose to my life. It was on these streets where I witnessed the power of faith, and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss.
What does "witnessed" mean in this context?
to see, encounter, observe, view, watch
What does the Latin root "counter" mean?
(counterclaim, counterstrike, countertop)
against, opposite, opposing
Ultimately, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and talk to lawmakers. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, get out there and run for office yourself.
How does Obama use problem/solution in the paragraph?
a. He establishes the ways Americans should step up to fix their community and country
b. He explores different options for running for office locally
c. He highlights the data that shows the need for community members to run for office
d. He details the process he took to run for office
a. He establishes the ways Americans should step up to fix their community and country
Select a sentence that supports the argument that Americans should consider the perspective of others?
a. We have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do
b. That, after all, is why we serve — to make people’s lives better, not worse.
c. You answered people’s hopes, and because of you, by almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started.
d. Over the last eight years, our country reversed a great economic crash and recession, rebooted our car industry and created more jobs for a longer period of time than ever before.
a. We have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do
Which sentence supports Obama's purpose to consider the perspective of other citizens?
a. Our Founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same.
b. Today, poverty is falling again, and people can earn and save more.
c. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
d. Whether we’ve seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the American people, are what kept me going.
c. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
After eight years as your president, I still believe that. And it’s not just my belief. It’s the beating heart of our American idea — our bold experiment in self-government.
What does "beating heart" figuratively mean in this context?
the idea that keeps our country going
the idea that keeps our country alive
the main idea on which our country is founded
What does the Latin root "spec" mean?
(perspective, speculate, spectacles)
to look at, to see, observe
For 240 years, our nation’s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. It’s what led patriots to refuse to live under a king. It made pioneers trek west and drove slaves to escape to freedom. It’s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and borders, pushed women to reach for the right to vote, and empowered workers to organize. It’s why soldiers gave their lives in World War II and in Iraq and Afghanistan — and why the men and women fighting for civil rights were prepared to give theirs as well.
How does Obama use cause & effect in this paragraph?
a. He establishes reasons for acts of American bravery
b. He explores different options for helping Americans
c. He highlights the data that shows the need for more acts of American bravery
d. He details the process he took to become a successful president
a. He establishes reasons for acts of American bravery
How does Obama use reasoning to develop his argument throughout the text?
a. He analyzes individual successes of each president throughout the past 50 years
b. He presents expert opinions to uncover a universal truth about what it takes to be a successful president
c. He illustrates the connection between being ordinary and being a good American
d. He uses a specific quote of how to consider other perspectives and generalizes it towards how all Americans should act
d. He uses a specific quote of how to consider other perspectives and generalizes it towards how all Americans should act
Which two statements best describe how Obama uses connotative diction to achieve his purpose?
a. to challenge Americans to consider the perspective of other citizens that may be different from themselves
b. to emphasize his message that he has had 2 successful terms as president thanks to the American people
c. to challenge the traditional process of the people freely electing a new president each four years
d. to entertain the audience with personal anecdotes of his knowledge of how to become a successful president
e. to convince his audience to vote for policy proposals to aid challenges faced by American citizens
a. to challenge Americans to consider the perspective of other citizens that may be different from themselves
b. to emphasize his message that he has had 2 successful terms as president thanks to the American people
You believe in a fair, just, inclusive America. You know that constant change has been America’s hallmark, something not to fear but to embrace, and you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward.
What does "hallmark" mean in this context?
feature, characteristic, trait, key design, emblem, symbol, mark, indicator, property, quality, trademark