Spring 2026 Vocabulary - Roots

Root Definitions

100

Mind, thoughts, emotions
A. log
B. doc
C. psych
D. reg 

Mind, thoughts, emotions
A. log
B. doc
C. psych ✅
D. reg

200

Rules, laws, order
A. dyn
B. reg
C. domin
D. civ 

Rules, laws, order
A. dyn
B. reg ✅
C. domin
D. civ

300

Build, organize, form
A. frag
B. rupt
C. struct
D. mot 

Build, organize, form
A. frag
B. rupt
C. struct ✅
D. mot

400

City, citizen, community
A. leg
B. nom
C. civ
D. eth 

City, citizen, community
A. leg
B. nom
C. civ ✅
D. eth

500

Feelings, suffering, emotions
A. eth
B. mot
C. path
D. crit

Feelings, suffering, emotions
A. eth
B. mot
C. path ✅
D. crit

Memory Hooks

100

Psych → psychology → the ___
A. word
B. rule
C. mind
D. city 

Psych → psychology → the ___
A. word
B. rule
C. mind ✅
D. city 

200

Dyn → dynamite → ___
A. teaching
B. power
C. thinking
D. law

Dyn → dynamite → ___
A. teaching
B. power ✅
C. thinking
D. law

300

Rupt → erupt → ___ open
A. build
B. think
C. break
D. move

Rupt → erupt → ___ open
A. build
B. think
C. break ✅
D. move

400

Uni → unicorn →  ___ horn
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four

Uni → unicorn →  ___ horn
A. one ✅
B. two
C. three
D. four

500

Eth → ethics → right vs. ___
A. wrong
B. strong
C. teach
D. think

Eth → ethics → right vs. ___
A. wrong ✅
B. strong
C. teach
D. think

Identify the Root

100

What is the root of dialogue?
A. psych
B. log
C. doc
D. uni 

What is the root of dialogue?
A. psych
B. log ✅
C. doc
D. uni 

200

What is the root of dominate?
A. reg
B. dyn
C. domin
D. civ 

What is the root of dominate?
A. reg
B. dyn
C. domin ✅
D. civ 

300

What is the root of fragile?
A. rupt
B. frag
C. struct
D. mot

What is the root of fragile?
A. rupt
B. frag ✅
C. struct
D. mot

400

What is the root of decision?
A. crit
B. pens
C. decid
D. leg 

What is the root of decision?
A. crit
B. pens
C. decid ✅
D. leg 

500

What is the root of legislation?
A. nom
B. civ
C. leg
D. reg

What is the root of legislation?
A. nom
B. civ
C. leg ✅
D. reg

Meaning in Context

100

The explanation was logical.
A. emotional
B. confusing
C. clear‑thinking
D. unfair

The explanation was logical.
A. emotional
B. confusing
C. clear‑thinking ✅
D. unfair

200

The empire extended its dominion.
A. discussion
B. control
C. movement
D. laws

The empire extended its dominion.
A. discussion
B. control ✅
C. movement
D. laws 

300

The glass vase is fragile.
A. heavy
B. strong
C. breakable
D. useful

The glass vase is fragile.
A. heavy
B. strong
C. breakable ✅
D. useful

400

The group reached a unanimous decision.
A. divided
B. argued
C. random
D. everyone agreed

The group reached a unanimous decision.
A. divided
B. argued
C. random
D. everyone agreed ✅

500

The leader was guided by strong ethics.
A. speed
B. feelings
C. moral beliefs
D. power

The leader was guided by strong ethics.
A. speed
B. feelings
C. moral beliefs ✅
D. power

Choose the Best Word

100

One person speaking for a long time is a ___
A. dialogue
B. document
C. monologue
D. doctrine

One person speaking for a long time is a ___
A. dialogue
B. document
C. monologue ✅
D. doctrine

200

New school rules help ___ student behavior.
A. dominate
B. regulate
C. motivate
D. shatter

New school rules help ___ student behavior.
A. dominate
B. regulate ✅
C. motivate
D. shatter

300

Engineers worked to ___ a bridge.
A. rupture
B. critique
C. construct
D. decide

Engineers worked to ___ a bridge.
A. rupture
B. critique
C. construct ✅
D. decide

400

The principal chose to ___ a student for an award.
A. legislate
B. nominate
C. civilize
D. lecture

The principal chose to ___ a student for an award.
A. legislate
B. nominate ✅
C. civilize
D. lecture

500

The coach tried to ___ the team before the game.
A. motivate ✅
B. sympathize
C. judge
D. regulate

The coach tried to ___ the team before the game.
A. motivate ✅
B. sympathize
C. judge
D. regulate

Test Strategies

100

If a word is about the mind, which root should you try first?
A. log
B. psych
C. doc
D. crit

If a word is about the mind, which root should you try first?
A. log
B. psych ✅
C. doc
D. crit

200

If a word deals with rules or laws, which root fits best?
A. dyn
B. reg
C. mot
D. path

If a word deals with rules or laws, which root fits best?
A. dyn
B. reg ✅
C. mot
D. path

300

If something breaks suddenly, which root is most helpful?
A. frag
B. struct
C. rupt
D. eth

If something breaks suddenly, which root is most helpful?
A. frag
B. struct
C. rupt ✅
D. eth

400

If everyone agrees as one, which root applies?
A. syn
B. dia
C. uni
D. nom

If everyone agrees as one, which root applies?
A. syn
B. dia
C. uni ✅
D. nom

500

If a question asks about right vs. wrong, which root helps most?
A. mot
B. path
C. eth
D. domin

If a question asks about right vs. wrong, which root helps most?
A. mot
B. path
C. eth ✅
D. domin