Question

Use these dictionary entries to answer the question.

sum (root word): take [Latin]
-er (suffix): a person or thing that does something
What does the word consumer mean in this sentence?
“Because of these concerns, many consumers want to know if the food they eat contains GMOs.”
a person who eats or uses something
an object of monetary value
a label added to products
a person who sells food

Answer 1

In this sentence, the word "consumer" means a person who eats or uses something.

Explanation

The word "consumer" is formed by combining the root word "sum," which means to take in Latin, with the suffix "-er," denoting a person or thing that does something. In this case, "consumer" refers to a person who consumes or uses something. The sentence, "Because of these concerns, many consumers want to know if the food they eat contains GMOs," indicates that individuals who eat or use products are interested in knowing whether the food they consume contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Understanding the etymology of the word provides insight into its meaning. The root "sum" implies taking or using, and the "-er" suffix indicates a person who engages in the action. Therefore, a "consumer" is someone actively involved in the act of using or eating products, aligning with the context of the sentence. The choices provided in the question are then differentiated based on the relationship between the root word and the suffix, leading to the selection of "a person who eats or uses something" as the accurate definition in this context.

In summary, the word "consumer," derived from the Latin root "sum" and the suffix "-er," specifically denotes a person who actively consumes or uses something, and this definition aligns with the sentence's context about individuals interested in the content of their food.

Answer 2

In addition to the given root words and suffixes we can use context to figure this out. “Because of these concerns many consumers want to know if the food they eat contains GMOs”

Let’s use the context clue strategy “Inference” here.

We know that the passage is talking about concerns with eating foods that contain GMOs. It also specifically states the consumers are the ones with the issue. So with with that we can inference that consumers are the people not wanting to eat the GMOs.

Therefore we can inference that consumers is a person that eats or uses something.

We can also use the root word “sum” and suffix “er”

Plainly together this would roughly mean a person or thing who takes or does something . However in the context this could be interpreted as a person who eats food.

Sorry if this isn’t clear. If you need me to clarify something please ask. Also I apologize If I am incorrect