The Roots -bio- and -vitThe English language is filled with words that have something
to do with life. The roots -bio- and -vit- both come from words
meaning "life." The root -bio- comes from the Greek word bios,
and the root -vit- comes from the Latin word vita. The words biology and vitamin are derived from these roots. Biology is the study
of living things, and vitamins are organic compounds necessary for
maintaining normal life functions. In this lesson, you will learn
other words that are related to life.
WORD LIST
antibiotic
biopsy
biosphere
devitalize
microbe
symbiosis
viable
vitality
vivacious
vivid
DEFINITIONS
After you have studied the definitions and example for each
word, write the vocabulary word in the blank to the right.
1. antibiotic (an'te-bl-6t'Ik) noun A substance produced by
certain fungi, bacteria, or other organisms. This substance
stops the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause illness.
adjective Of, using, or acting as an antibiotic. (From the Greek
anti-, meaning "against," and bios, meaning "life")
EXAMPLE Penicillin is an effective antibiotic that is used against
such infections as pneumonia.
1.
2. biopsy (bi'op'se) noun a. The removal of tissue from a living
person for examination or study, b. The study of such tissue.
(From the Greek words bios and opsis, meaning "a sight")
EXAMPLE Hoping to identify the patient's disease, the doctor
performed a biopsy.
2.
3. biosphere (bi'g-sfir') noun The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living things exist. (From the Greek words bios
and sphaira, meaning "sphere")
EXAMPLE Plants, animals, and human beings inhabit the
biosphere.
3.
4. devitalize (de-vlt'1-lz') verb To lower or destroy the physical
energy or vigor of someone or something. (From the Latin de-,
meaning "from," and vita, meaning "life")
EXAMPLE A bad case of the flu devitalized Betsy for two weeks.
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4.
MEMORY CUE Someone
who is devitalized is lacking vitality or energy-
The Roots -bio- and -vit-
5. microbe (mi'krob') noun A tiny lite torm that can be seen
only through a microscope; a germ. (From the Greek words
mikros, meaning "small," and bios)
EXAMPLE Through years of study, scientists have discovered
that microbes are the cause of many diseases.
5.
6. symbiosis (sim'be-6'sis) noun A close, beneficial relationship
between two or more organisms. These organisms often, but
not always, benefit each other. (From the Greek syn-, meaning
"together," and bios)
RELATED WORD symbiotic adjective
EXAMPLE An alga and a fungus live together in beneficial
symbiosis to create a plant called lichen.
6.
7. viable (vl's-bsl) adjective a. Capable of continuing to live,
grow, or develop under favorable conditions, b. Capable of
working successfully or effectively: a viable plan. (From the
Latin word vita, meaning "life")
RELATED WORDS viability noun; viably adverb
•EXAMPLE When seeds from an ancient tomb were planted, they
were found to be viable.
7.
8. vitality (vi-tal'i-te) noun a. Physical or mental energy;
vigor, b. The quality that distinguishes the living from the
nonliving. (From the Latin word vitalis, meaning "alive")
RELATED WORD vital adjective
EXAMPLE Uncle Bob, who exercises two hours a day, is bursting
with vitality.
8.
9. vivacious (vi-va'shas) adjective Full of spirit; lively. (From the
Latin word vivere, meaning "to live")
RELATED WORDS vivaciously adverb; vivacity noun
EXAMPLE For Melanie and her vivacious party guests, there was
always something to celebrate.
9.
10. vivid (vlv'id) adjective a. Bright, distinct, and intense, b. Creating lifelike images within the mind. (From the Latin word
vivere, meaning "to live")
RELATED WORDS vividly adverb; vividness noun
EXAMPLE Stan marveled at the vivid colors of the parrots in the
zoo.
10.
48
The Roots -bio- and
-Vlt-
Copyright © 1988 Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights resei
Date
Exercise 1 Matching Words and Definitions
Match the definition in Column B with the word in Column A. Write
the letter of the correct definition on the answer line.
Exercise 2
2
3
Column B
(~'f~)itjini'i I I /Ai
V^L/lH''
I. symbiosis
2. vivid
3. devitalize
4. biopsy
5. vivacious
6. microbe
7. antibiotic
8. viable
9. biosphere
10. vitality
1,
lively and spirited
to lower the physical energy of
the removal of living tissue for study
bright and intense
tiny invisible life form
physical or mental energy
the part of the earth and atmosphere in which living
things exist
h. substance used to destroy or stop growth of microorganisms
1. able to live or develop under favorable conditions
j- the relationship of organisms living closely together
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g-
4
5
6.
7
8.
9,
10
Using Words Correctly
Each of the following questions contains an italicized vocabulary
word. Decide the answer to the question, and write Yes or No on the
answer line.
,.•'
1. Does an antibiotic promote the growth of bacteria?
1.
2. Could a biopsy aid a doctor in the diagnosis of disease?
2.
3. Does the sun form part of the biosphere?
3.
4. Would a runner be devitalized after a twenty-six mile run?
4.
5. Is a microbe a large organism that destroys bacteria?
5.
6. Is there more than one organism involved in symbiosis?
6.
7. Can a plan that will not work be described as viable?
7.
8. Does two hours of aerobic exercise require great vitality?
8.
9. Would a vivacious spectator sit quietly in the stands during an
exciting baseball game?
9.
10. Is gray considered a vivid color?
10.
Exercise 3 Choosing the Best Word
Decide which vocabulary word or related form best completes (he sentence, arid write the letter of your choice on the answer line.
1. When Harold was very ill, the doctor gave him a(n) I
the infection.
a. antibiotic
b. symbiosis
c. microbe
d. biopsy
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to
fight
The
1.
Roots -blO- and
-VJt-
2. Janet's energetic lifestyle reflected her great
a. biosphere
b. vividness
c. symbiosis
I
2.
-
3. The area of the earth called the __? allows the growth of living
things.
a. symbiosis
b. biosphere
c. antibiotic
d. microbe
3.
''.
4. The runner was
a. made viable
4.
d. vitality
? by thirst during the last mile of the race.
b. made vivid
c. made vivacious
d. devitalized
5. The scientists discovered a harmful I
a. antibiotic
b. symbiosis
c. microbe
5.
d. biosphere
6. The term
? can be used to describe a close, beneficial relationship between two or more organisms.
a. biopsy
b. symbiosis
c. biosphere
d. microbe
6.
7. Doctors said that the patient's skin graft was ? .
a. vivacious
b. vivid
c. symbiotic
d. viable
7.
8. The doctor ordered a(n)
a. biopsy
b. microbe
2 to help her in diagnosing the illness.
c. antibiotic
d. viable
8.
9. The I
young artist talked animatedly with every gallery owner
at the party.
a. viable
b. devitalized
c. vivacious
d. antibiotic
9.
JO. The novelist presented a(n) ? picture of life in a frontier society.
a. viable
b. antibiotic
c. symbiotic
d. vivid
10.
Exercise 4
Using Different Forms of Words
•
:
'
'
Decide which form of the italicized vocabulary word best completes
the sentence. The form given may be correct. Write your answer on the
answer line.
1. The physician studied a report on the patient's
2. The tour guide waved
(vivacious)
?
(biopsy)
1.
from the front seat of the bus.
3. Reaching the top of the mountain, the
cheer, (devitalize)
4. The Olympic champion
gold medal, (vivid)
?
?
?
2.
group set up a weak
?
.
6. The Portuguese man-of-war has a ? relationship with small
that live among its tentacles, (symbiosis)
4.
fish
6.
7.
8. The use of pesticides resulted in a decrease in the
eagles' eggs, (viable)
8.
9. Most viewers are awed by the
ingsr (vivid)
10. "All of the patient's
Freedman. (vitality)
2
5O
-Vlt-
The Roots -biO- and
of the
'— of Vincent Van Gogh's paint-
signs are good," the nurse told Dr.
- -
5.
7. Looking through the microscope, the scientist inspected the many
?
. (microbe)
?
=
3.
described the moment when she won a
5. The doctor decided to treat Ann's strep throat with an
(antibiotic)
-
=
=
9.
10.
.
Copyright © 1988 Houghlon Mifflin Company. All rights reserved
Date
Name
Each numbered sentence in the following passage contains an italicized vocabulary word. At the end of the passage, you will complete an
exercise.
In Quest of Good Bacteria: A Television Interview
ANNOUNCER: Tonight's interview will be conducted by
our roving reporter, Jerry
McDonald. (1) Regular
Channel 95 viewers will remember Jerry for his vivid
feature story about the
changing seasons in our
public parks. Tonight Jerry
McDonald's probing interview takes him In Quest
of — Good Bacteria.
JERRY: Thank you, John.
(pause) To most of us, the
word bacteria suggests the
image of a dedicated scientist peering into a microscope in search of deadly
germs. We are fortunate to
have such a scientist with us
this evening. Dr. June
Miller, what are bacteria?
DR. MILLER: (2) First of all,
Jerry, you should understand that bacteria are microbes and therefore cannot
be seen with the naked eye.
JERRY: How can something
invisible be so dangerous?
DR. MILLER: (3) By releasing poisonous substances
into the bloodstream, harm-
ful bacteria can quickly
destroy healthy people's
vitality, leaving them in
a weakened condition.
JERRY: That's frightening!
Where are these monsters
lurking?
DR. MILLER: (4) Bacteria
live in the bodies of organisms throughout the earth's
biosphere. Plants, animals,
and fish all can have bacteria. (5) All these germs need
are the right living conditions in which to be viable.
JERRY: What types of diseases do bacteria cause?
DR. MILLER: One wellknown type of bacteria is
streptococcus. (6) Streptococcus is the cause of the
devitalizing disease known
as strep throat.
JERRY: (7) How can our
viewers tell the difference
between a strep throat and a
routine sore throat? Would a
doctor need to perform a
biopsy on the infected throat?
DR. MILLER: That's not
necessary, Jerry. A doctor
merely needs to take a throat
culture. The doctor swabs
the infected throat area and
then sends the culture to the
laboratory for testing. (8) If
the culture is positive, strep
throat is then easily treated
with an antibiotic.
JERRY: Are all bacteria
harmful?
DR. MILLER: No, indeed.
Surprisingly enough, Jerry,
the beneficial bacteria far
outnumber the harmful varieties. (9) For example, bacteria that live in symbiotic
relationships with clover or
bean crops enrich the soil by
producing nitrogen.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you,
Dr. Miller, and thank you,
Jerry.
DR. MILLER: But there's so
much more to say about
good bacteria!
ANNOUNCER: And we say
goodnight until next week
when Jerry takes you In
Quest of —
JERRY: (1O) Calico Cats —
Storybook Creatures or
Vivacious House Pets?
Reading Comprehension Exercise
Each of the following statements corresponds to a numbered sentence
in the passage. Each statement contains a blank and is followed by four
answer choices. Decide which choice fits best in the blank. The word or
phrase that you choose must express roughly the same meaning as the
italicized word in the passage. Write the letter of your choice on the
answer line.
1. Mr. McDonald's feature story on the changing seasons is described
as
?_c..
a. bright and clear
c. short and sweet
b. long and tedious
d. loud and wild
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The Roots -bio- and -vit-
51
2. Bacteria are
I
a. tiny life forms
b. blood cells
c. muscles
d. tissues
2.
3. Harmful bacteria can quickly drain someone's 1—.
a. personality
b. aptitude
c. energy
d. savings
3.
4. Bacteria can be found throughout that part of the earth where
exist.
a. only desert animals
c. living organisms
b. only sea creatures
d. only mammals
4.
5. In favorable conditions, bacteria are
? .
a. radioactive
c. likely to die
b. capable of living
d. likely to become extinct
6. Streptococcus bacteria cause the 1 illness called strep throat.
a. annoying
c. life-enriching
b. physically draining
d. deadly
7. Jerry wonders whether a(n)
is needed for strep throat diagnosis.
a. x-ray
c. study of living tissue
b. blood test
d. physical examination
8. Strep throat can be treated with
a. substances that attack microorganisms
b. ointments
c. vitamins
d. cough medicines
9. Bacteria sometimes live in ?_ relationships with certain crops.
a. unusual
b. independent
c. unnecessary
d. mutually beneficial
10. Jerry's next "Quest" will deal with ? calico cats.
a. quiet
b. small-sized
c. high-spirited
d. very rare
52
The Roots -bio- and -vit-
8.
9.
10.
Copyright © 1988 Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved