Building a Powerful Vocabulary Introduction Test Your Vocabulary
Introduction Step 1: Time Step 2: Place Step 3: Method
Words are the building blocks of thought. They are the means by which we understand the ideas of others and express our own opinions. It is only logical that people who know how to use words concisely and accurately find it easier to achieve their aims. In fact, formal education has less relationship to vocabulary achievement than you might expect; people can improve their word power on their own. This section will show you how to expand and improve your vocabulary in just in just ten minutes a day! Each of the following lessons is designed to take ten minutes to complete. Do one lesson a day. Work from beginning to end because the lessons build on each other. Follow Follow these three easy steps:
Step 1: Time Begin by setting aside a block of ten minutes a day. day. Don't split your time into two five-minute segments—set aside one ten-minute period every day. day. Consider using ten minutes in the early morning before you begin your regular activities. Or you might want to use ten minutes on the bus, subway, subway, or train or ten minutes during a work break. Maybe right after dinner is a convenient time for you. Whatever time you select, make it your time—carve your time—carve it in granite! To make your work even easier, try to set aside the same time every day. You'll You'll be surprised at how quickly your vocabulary builds.
Step 2: Place Now, Now, find a place where you can work undisturbed. If you know that you have difficulty tuning out the distractions of public transportation or the office lunchroom, try to study at home. Perhaps you have the ability to completely ignore extraneous chatter or music and so can concentrate in the middle of the family room or in a crowded cafeteria. Wherever you decide to study, study, try to settle in the same place every day. day. In this way, you'll set to work more quickly, quickly, concentrate better, and succeed sooner.
Step 3: Method Ten minutes a day is all it takes to build a powerful vocabulary. To To help you get into the rhythm o f working in ten-minute segments, set your alarm or kitchen timer for ten minutes. When you hear the buzzer, you'll know that you've spent ten minutes on your vocabulary. vocabulary. Soon you'll be able to pace yourself without the timer. timer.
Test Your Vocabulary How Good Is Your Vocabulary? Test for an Average Vocabulary Test for a Good Vocabulary Test for an Excellent Vocabulary
How Good Is Your Vocabulary? To see how your vocabulary measures up to that of other people, take the following tests. As you go through each test, put a check mark next to any word you don't kno w. After you complete each test, go back and see which of your choices proved correct. Then take a minute to study the words you missed. The first test consists of twenty-five phrases, each containing an italicized word. Circle the correct response. This test has no time limit. 1. a lenient supervisor lenient supervisor
a. short
b. not strict
c. inflexible
d. shrewd
2. an audacious endeavor
a. foolish
b. serious 3. a latent talent latent talent
c. expensive
d. bold
a. apparent
b. valuable
c. pr present but not apparent
d. useless
4. a gaudy dress gaudy dress
a. expensive
b. deep green
c. flattering
d. showy
5. a disheveled person disheveled person
a. useless
b. untidy
c. miserable
d. vicious
6. feign illness
a. suffer
b. pretend
c. die from
d. enjoy
c. neglected
d. annoying
7. an agile child
a. intelligent
b. nimble
8. a somber night somber night
a. dismal
b. expensive 9. a prosaic event prosaic event
c. lively
d. disastrous
a. extraordinary
b. irregular
c. commonplace
d. pretty
10. a vivacious person
a. annoying
b. dismal
c. vicious
d. spirited
11. a baffling situation baffling situation
a. puzzling
b. obvious
c. easy
d. old
12. a hiatus in the schedule
a. continuation
b. uniformity
c. gap
d. beginning
13. a lackluster report lackluster report
a. enthusiastic
b. praiseworthy
c. dull
d. wordy
14. a prevalent a prevalent condition condition
a. adult
b. widespread
c. previous
d. fatal
15. a loquacious person
a. talkative
b. cutthroat
c. laconic
d. enthusiastic
16. an anonymous victim
a. willing
b. known
c. not known or named
d. foreign
17. a vicarious thrill
a. incomplete
b. triumphant
c. spoiled
d. indirect
18. a languid feeling languid feeling
a. nervous
b. energetic
c. fatigued
d. robust
19. vernacular language vernacular language
a. ordinary
b. elevated 20. a religious icon
c. formal
d. informal
a. gesture
b. picture
c. ritual
d. structure
21. inclement weather inclement weather
a. fair
b. unexpected
c. foul
d. disturbing
22. a cavalier attitude cavalier attitude
a. pleasant
b. dramatic
c. considerate
d. arrogant
23. a caustic remark caustic remark
a. wise
b. biting
c. prudent
d. complimentary
24. a timely caveat
a. bargain
b. purchase
c. warning
d. movement
25. an ominous situation
a. pleasant
b. rigid
c. obvious
Answers to How Good Is Your Vocabulary? :
d. threatening
The following three tests evaluate whether you have an average, good, or excellent vocabulary. The tests have no time limit.
Test for an Average Vocabulary If you have an average vocabulary, you should be able to match the two columns below correctly. correctly. Write your answer in the space provided. Nearly three quarters of the adults tested knew all these words.
1. imminent
a. cleanse
_____
2. fluster
b. flashy
_____
3. rigid
c. confuse
_____
4. purge
d. restore
_____
5. rehabilitate
e. hinder
_____
6. latent
f. pretend
_____
7. gaudy
g. stiff
_____
8. feign
h. coax
_____
9. cajole
i. hidden
_____
10. impede
j. at hand
_____
Answers to Test for an Average Vocabulary :
Test for a Good Vocabulary Only half the adults tested got all of the following words correct. See how well you can you can do! Write S if the word in the second column is similar in meaning to the word in the first column or O if it is opposite.
S or O 1. myriad
few
_____
2. panacea
cure-all
_____
3. opulent
spare
_____
4. eschew
shun
_____
5. nefarious
wicked
_____
6. incarcerate
imprison
_____
7. ameliorate
make worse
_____
8. candor
hypocrisy
_____
9. taciturn
talkative
_____
10. verbose
wordy
_____
Answers to Test for a Good Vocabulary :
Test for an Excellent Vocabulary Fewer than one quarter of the adults tested got all of the following words correct. In the space provided, write T if the definition is true or F if it is false.
T or F 1. Obsequiousness is a sign of pride.
_____
2. Parsimonious 2. Parsimonious people are extravagant.
_____
3. Recycling is an exigency of the moment.
_____
4. The hawk is a predatory a predatory bird.
_____
5. An aquiline nose is straight.
_____
covert plan is out in the open. 6. A covert p
_____
7. It is hard to explain things to an obtuse person.
_____
8. Someone with catholic views is narrow-minded.
_____
9. A large debt obviates financial worries.
_____
10. Erudite 10. Erudite people are well-read.
_____
Answers to Test for an Excellent Vocabulary :
