AS3 syntax question

Hi,

Having a syntax problem/question. When I write this in AS3, I get the correct result: 4

          var wordArray1:Array = ["test","apple","orange","olive"];

          var theLevel:Number = 1;

          trace(root["wordArray" + theLevel].length);

but when I write it this way, inside a function, I get an error:

function test():void

{

          var wordArray1:Array = ["test","apple","orange","olive"];

          var theLevel:Number = 1;

          trace(root["wordArray" + theLevel].length);

}

test();

I can't understand what I'm doing wrong? Any ideas?