Lesson 9: SCOP
The Root
SCOP comes from Greek and means "to look," "to examine," or "to view."
When you see this root, think about instruments used to look at things (like telescopes or microscopes).
Word List
| Word | Parts | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| telescope | TELE- (far) + SCOPE (look) | an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer |
| microscope | MICRO- (small) + SCOPE (look) | an optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples or animal cells |
| periscope | PERI- (around) + SCOPE (look) | a tube attached to a set of mirrors or prisms, by which an observer (typically in a submerged submarine) can see things that are otherwise out of sight |
| stethoscope | STETHOS- (chest) + SCOPE (examine) | a medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing |
| kaleidoscope | KALOS- (beautiful) + EIDOS (shape) + SCOPE (look) | a toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated |
| horoscope | HORO- (hour/time) + SCOPE (look) | a forecast of a person's future, typically including a delineation of character and circumstances, based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of that person's birth |
| scope | TELE- (far) + SCOPE (look) | the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant; also short for telescope or microscope |
| microscopic | MICRO- (small) + SCOPE (look) | so small as to be visible only with a microscope |
| telescopic | TELE- (far) + SCOP (look) + -IC (relating to) | having the ability to see things at a distance; relating to a telescope |
| endoscopy | ENDO- (inside/within) + SCOPY (viewing) | a procedure in which an instrument is introduced into the body to give a view of its internal parts |
| gyroscope | SCOPE (look/examine) | a device consisting of a wheel or disc mounted so that it can spin rapidly about an axis which is itself free to alter in direction |
| hydroscope | SCOPE (look/examine) | an optical device for viewing objects far below the surface of water |
Practice 1: Multiple Choice
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
- The bacteria were so small that they were __________.
a) microscopic
b) telescopic
c) periscopic
d) kaleidoscopic
- The captain raised the __________ to see the enemy ship from beneath the waves.
a) stethoscope
b) microscope
c) telescope
d) periscope
- The doctor used a __________ to listen to my heartbeat.
a) horoscope
b) telescope
c) stethoscope
d) gyroscope
- We looked through the __________ to see the craters on the moon.
a) periscope
b) kaleidoscope
c) telescope
d) microscope
- The spinning __________ kept the toy top upright.
a) horoscope
b) gyroscope
c) telescope
d) hydroscope
- She reads her __________ every day to see if she will have good luck.
a) kaleidoscope
b) scope
c) microscope
d) horoscope
- The project has a very large __________; it covers the whole country.
a) stethoscope
b) scope
c) periscope
d) microscope
- The colorful patterns in the __________ changed every time I twisted the tube.
a) kaleidoscope
b) telescope
c) periscope
d) stethoscope
- __________ surgery allows doctors to see inside the body without a large incision.
a) Microscopic
b) Horoscopic
c) Telescopic
d) Endoscopy
- The scientist placed the slide under the __________ to view the blood cells.
a) gyroscope
b) telescope
c) microscope
d) periscope
- A __________ helps you see things under the water.
a) telescope
b) horoscope
c) stethoscope
d) hydroscope
- The eagle has __________ vision, allowing it to spot prey from miles away.
a) microscopic
b) telescopic
c) kaleidoscopic
d) periscopic
Practice 2: Fill in the Blank
Use each word from the word bank exactly once.
Word Bank: telescope, microscope, periscope, stethoscope, kaleidoscope, horoscope, scope, microscopic, telescopic, endoscopy, gyroscope, hydroscope
The nurse put the __________ to my chest and told me to take a deep breath.
A submarine uses a __________ to view the surface while staying submerged.
The dust mites were __________, impossible to see with the naked eye.
Galileo used a __________ to discover the moons of Jupiter.
The toy was a __________ of shifting colors and shapes.
The __________ of the investigation expanded to include three more cities.
He checked his __________ to see what the stars predicted for a Leo today.
In biology class, we learned how to focus the __________ to see the onion cells.
The doctor recommended an __________ to check for problems in his stomach.
The ship used a __________ to navigate and stay stable in rough seas.
The camera lens had a __________ zoom that could capture images from across the stadium.
The marine biologist used a __________ to observe the coral reef from the boat.
Practice 3: Reading Passage
The Lab
Dr. Aris sat at his desk, peering into the microscope. He was looking for microscopic traces of a new virus. It was delicate work. If he moved the slide even a millimeter, the specimen would go out of the scope of his view.
Across the room, his partner was adjusting a telescope near the window, aiming it at the night sky. "It's funny," Dr. Aris said. "You look at the huge, and I look at the tiny. But we're both doing the same thing—trying to see what is hidden."
Reading PassageQuestions
- What was Dr. Aris using the "microscope" for?
a) To look at stars
b) To look at tiny traces of a virus
c) To navigate a submarine
d) To fix a watch
- "Microscopic" means:
a) Huge
b) Colorful
c) Too small to be seen without help
d) Far away
- In this context, "scope" means:
a) A horoscope
b) The extent of the view or area
c) A stethoscope
d) A periscope
- What was his partner using the "telescope" for?
a) To look at the sky
b) To look at the virus
c) To listen to a heart
d) To see under water
- What did Dr. Aris say they had in common?
a) They were both using stethoscopes
b) They were both trying to see what is hidden
c) They were both doctors
d) They were both looking at the moon
Answer Key
Practice 1: Multiple Choice
- a
- d
- c
- c
- b
- d
- b
- a
- d
- c
- d
- b
Practice 2: Fill in the Blank
- stethoscope
- periscope
- microscopic
- telescope
- kaleidoscope
- scope
- horoscope
- microscope
- endoscopy
- gyroscope
- telescopic
- hydroscope
Reading Passage Questions
- b
- c
- b
- a
- b