While you're working in a sales office, the office manager says that the sales staff should try to use an empathetic tone when speaking with customers. In the word empathetic, the root means a.to give. b.to feel. c. to come d.to force.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=empathy&searchmode=none

Let us know what you decide.

To feel

To determine the meaning of the root in the word "empathetic," we can break down the word into its roots: "em-" and "-pathetic."

The root "em-" comes from the Greek word "en" or "em," which means "in" or "into." It can indicate a sense of moving or being within something.

The root "-pathetic" comes from the Greek word "pathos," which means "feeling" or "suffering." It is related to emotions and relates to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

Based on this breakdown, the root "-pathetic" in the word "empathetic" means "to feel." Therefore, the correct answer is b. to feel.

In this context, the office manager is stating that the sales staff should strive to use an empathetic tone when speaking with customers. This means they should try to understand and share the feelings of the customers, showing understanding and compassion towards their needs and concerns.