The Language of Science

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The main reason students find it difficult to understand science is because of all the words that are hard to write, spell and read. Actually, scientific vocabulary is a hodge-podge of little words that are linked together to have different meanings. If you learn the meanings of the little words, you'll find scientific vocabulary much easier to understand.

With a partner, use your prior knowledge or a dictionary to try to find the meanings of the prefixes and suffixes below.

Word Meaning Word Meaning a or an hemo Aero hyper Anti hypo amphi intra Aqua itis Arthro lateral Auto logy Bi lys Bio Mega cephal Meso chloro Milli chromo meter Cide mono Cyto morph Derm micro Di macro ecto (exo) multi Endo pod Epi phobia gastro philia genesis proto Herba photo hetero poly Homo synthesis Hydro sub Kilo troph Hecto therm Deka tri Centi zoo, zoa Deci

Now, without using a dictionary, try to guess the meaning of each of the following terms using your lists from above.

1. Hydrology 11. Photosynthesis

2. Cytology 12. Insecticide

3. Protozoa 13. Anaerobic

4. Epidermis 14. Bilateral

5. Spermatogenesis 15. Endothermic

6. Cytoskeleton 16. Subspecies

7. Abiotic 17. Arthropod

8. Dermatitis 18. Micrometer

9. Hypodermic 19. Hypothermia

10. Hemophilia 20. Hydrophobia The Language of Science (Key)

The main reason students find it difficult to understand science is because of all the words that are hard to write, spell and read. Actually, scientific vocabulary is a hodge podge of little words that are linked together to have different meanings. If you learn the meanings of the little words, you'll find scientific vocabulary much easier to understand.

Word Meaning Word Meaning a or an not or non hemo blood Aero needing oxygen or air hyper above Anti against hypo below amphi both, doubly intra within, inside Aqua water itis disease, inflammation Arthro joint lateral side Auto self logy study of Bi two, twice, double lys break down Bio life, living Mega million cephal head Meso middle chloro green Milli thousandth chromo color meter measurement Cide killer, kill, killing mono one, single Cyto cell morph form Derm skin micro small Di two, double macro large ecto (exo) outer, external multi many Endo internal pod foot Epi above phobia dislike, fear gastro stomach philia like genesis origin, beginning proto first Herba plants photo light hetero different poly many Homo alike, similar synthesis to make Hydro water sub lesser, below Kilo Thousand troph eat, consume Hecto hundred therm heat Deka Ten tri three Centi hundredth zoo, zoa animal Deci tenth

Use the list above to guess the meaning of each of the following terms