Question

8. What does the first word in the two-word scientific name of a species represent?

Answer 1

generic name
1. Species names are binominal (i.e., consist of two words). The first word is the generic name. The second word has been called "specific name" or "specific epithet" -- but it is not the species name.

Answer 2

Genus

for example
scientific name for tiger : Panthera Tigris

Panthera is the Genus name
Tigris is the Species name

hope this helps