Greek and Latin Roots: TEAS Practice Question with Answer & Explanation

Understanding the Root Word "Port"

In the English language, many words are built using Latin roots. Recognizing these roots is a vital skill for the TEAS English and Language Usage section, as it allows you to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.

The words provided—transport, portable, export, and report—all share the Latin root port, which means "to carry."

Breaking Down the Examples

• Transport: The prefix trans- means "across." Therefore, to transport something is to carry it across from one place to another.
• Portable: The suffix -able means "capable of." If an item is portable, it is capable of being easily carried.
• Export: The prefix ex- means "out." To export goods is to carry them out of a country.
• Report: The prefix re- means "back." Historically, a report was information "carried back" to someone.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

• A) To write: This refers to the root graph (as in biography) or scrib/scrip (as in scribble or description).
• C) To view or see: This refers to the root spec or spect (as in spectator or inspect) or vid/vis (as in video or vision).
• D) To turn or bend: This refers to the root vers or vert (as in reverse or convert) or flect/flex (as in reflect).

TEAS Concept: Word Analysis

The TEAS exam tests your ability to use "morphology," which is the study of the forms of words. By memorizing common Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes, you can improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary scores without needing to memorize every single word in the dictionary.

Memory Tip

Think of a porter at a hotel or airport. What is their job? Their job is to carry your luggage. If you remember that a porter carries things, you will always remember that "port" means to carry!