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 deeply into a big，unfamiliar （不熟悉的） 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（偵探）looking for information to unlock the unknown.The first thing to do when meeting a new and difficult word is to judge （判斷）the situation and see if it helps us to understand what it means.
As you know，prefixes（前綴）and suffixes（后綴） 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 time to learn a few of these，put them in your memory，and you will become a master word detective.
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 like to eat out，first you pay and the other pays the next time.That is to say，you are alternating paying.
●If you have no alternative，you have no other choice.
Learn as many root words as possible in the language you are studying.Then use your "rooting for words" skills.Like any new skill，practice and hard work are always paid back.
根據(jù)短文回答問(wèn)題。
（1）If we meet a new word while reading a text，what should we do first？
To judge the situation and see if it helps us to understand what it means.
To judge the situation and see if it helps us to understand what it means.
（2）What does the underlined word "them" in Paragraph 3 refer to （指代）？
Prefixes and suffixes.
Prefixes and suffixes.
（3）How can we become a master word detective？
By taking time to learn a few of prefixes and suffixes and put them in our memory.
By taking time to learn a few of prefixes and suffixes and put them in our memory.
（4）Why does the writer mention "alter" "alternate" in the passage？
To give us an example of a common root word.
To give us an example of a common root word.
（5）What's the writer's advice for a language learner？
To learn as many root words as possible then use the "rooting for words" skills.
To learn as many root words as possible then use the "rooting for words" skills.
