New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

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What are cognates?

Words that are spelled identically in two languages
Words that share the same roots in different languages
Words that have opposite meanings in two languages
Words that are often mispronounced

The correct answer is: Words that share the same roots in different languages

Cognates are words that share the same roots in different languages, often leading to similar meanings. This connection typically arises from a common ancestral language, which results in words evolving in parallel across languages while retaining related meanings. For instance, the English word "mother," the German word "Mutter," and the Spanish word "madre" all share roots that can be traced back to a common origin, illustrating how cognates function. When considering the other choices, it's important to recognize that while some words might be spelled identically in different languages, this characteristic alone does not define cognates, as it doesn't necessarily imply a shared etymological background or meaning. Similarly, words that have opposite meanings are classified as antonyms, not cognates, and mispronounced words do not relate to the concept of cognates at all. Therefore, the definition of cognates distinctly emphasizes shared roots and meanings, making it clear why the correct answer is focused on their etymological connection.