六、核心素养 学习能力 阅读理解。
主题群:生活与学习 子主题:学习方法 语篇类型:说明文 难度:★★★
A tree has roots(根). People have roots too. If you get to the root of a problem, you will solve it. It's the same thing with words. Dig deep into a big, unfamiliar word and you will understand where it came from.
As readers, especially those reading in a second language, we need to deal with the text as if we were detectives(侦探). The first thing to do when meeting a new and difficult word is to judge (判断) the situation, to look at everything that is known and see if it helps us to understand what it means.
As you know, prefixes or suffixes can be added to the beginning or end of words to change the meaning. Know them and you will have the word-building power. But root words are the key. Take the time to learn a few of these and then put them in your memory.
Let's look at one common root word used in English. "Alter" from the Latin word means "other". When you meet this root word, you know that the bigger word has something to do with "other". Examine the word "alternate". Can you find the Latin root in it?
- If you and your friend eat out, first you pay and the other pays the next time. You alternate in paying.
- If you go to the movies on alternate Saturd

, you go on one Saturday, but not on the next Saturday.
- If you have no alternative, you have no other choice.
Learn as many root words as you can in the language you are studying. Then use your "rooting for words" skills. Like any new skill, practice and hard work make a big difference.
1. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. The situation.
B. A second language.
C. Everything that is known.
D. A new and difficult word.
2. (创新考法·行文方式)How does the author explain his ideas about root words?
A. By telling an interesting story.
B. By listing some numbers.
C. By giving the readers an example.
D. By asking and answering a question.
3. What is the best title for the passage?
A. The Power of Root Words
B. The Art of Detective Reading
C. The Exploration of the Latin Roots
D. Deep Research into the Word "Alter"