Which term refers to groups of words that share a common root or meaning?

Which term refers to groups of words that share a common root or meaning?

• A. Root Words
• B. Word Families
• C. Collocations
• D. Phrases

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is recognizing how related words connect through a shared root or core idea, forming a family of terms. Word families group together words built from the same root, including different forms created by prefixes and suffixes, while keeping the same essential meaning. For example, from the root act you get act, action, actor, active, activate—all related and easier to learn together because they revolve around the same core concept of doing or performing. This makes it the best choice because it specifically names that connected set of words. Collocations are about the natural, habitual pairings of words (like make a decision or do homework) rather than a common root. Phrases are broader chunks of language that function as units but aren’t defined by sharing a root or meaning. Root words refer to the base form itself, not the wider family of related words derived from it.

The idea being tested is recognizing how related words connect through a shared root or core idea, forming a family of terms. Word families group together words built from the same root, including different forms created by prefixes and suffixes, while keeping the same essential meaning. For example, from the root act you get act, action, actor, active, activate—all related and easier to learn together because they revolve around the same core concept of doing or performing. This makes it the best choice because it specifically names that connected set of words.

Collocations are about the natural, habitual pairings of words (like make a decision or do homework) rather than a common root. Phrases are broader chunks of language that function as units but aren’t defined by sharing a root or meaning. Root words refer to the base form itself, not the wider family of related words derived from it.