Vocabulary & Spelling Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 5th Edition (Skill Builders)

288 Pages·2009·3.04 MB·English

by  LearningExpress Editors

VOCABULARY
& SPELLING
SUCCESS
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VOCABULARY
& SPELLING
SUCCESS
IN 20 MINUTES
A DAY
5th Edition
®
N E W Y O R K
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Copyright © 2009 LearningExpress, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Vocabulary & spelling success in 20 minutes a day.—5th ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57685-683-6 (978-1-57685-683-3) 1. Vocabulary—Problems, exercises, etc. 2. English
language—Orthography and spelling—Problems, exercises, etc. I. LearningExpress (Organization)
II. Title: Vocabulary and spelling success in 20 minutes a day.
PE1449.V58 2009
428.1—dc22 2008046465
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Fifth Edition
ISBN 978-1-57685-683-3
For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:
2 Rector Street
26th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Or visit us at:
www.learnatest.com
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Contents
INTRODUCTION vii
CHAPTER 1 Pretest 1
CHAPTER 2 Vocabulary Terms and Language Origins 11
CHAPTER 3 Spelling Rules 15
CHAPTER 4 Prefi xes 31
CHAPTER 5 Suffi xes 45
CHAPTER 6 Learning Roots 59
CHAPTER 7 More Roots 73
CHAPTER 8 Foreign Language Terms
Used in English 87
CHAPTER 9 Business Terms 101
CHAPTER 10 Technology Terms 115
CHAPTER 11 Legal Terms 129
CHAPTER 12 T erms Relating to Language
and Literature 143
CHAPTER 13 Short Words That Mean a Lot 157
CHAPTER 14 Adjectives 171
CHAPTER 15 Acronyms 185
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–CONTENTS–
CHAPTER 16 Commonly Tested Words 197
CHAPTER 17 More Commonly Tested Words 211
CHAPTER 18 Philosophical Terms 225
CHAPTER 19 Posttest 239
APPENDIX A Studying for Success 251
APPENDIX B Additional Resources 265
GLOSSARY 267
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Introduction
T
he words we use to communicate every day are important in every aspect of our lives. From relaxing,
to working, to studying, to taking tests, we use words to share with others how we feel, what we think,
and why we think that way. Without words, it is diffi cult to express our ideas to the rest of the world.
The more words we know—the larger our vocabulary—the more clearly we can communicate with others. Our
vocabularies reveal our knowledge to the world; therefore, a person with a large vocabulary has the advantage of
self-expression.
This book will help you learn the words you need to know to successfully express yourself in school, work,
and your personal life. The words in this book have been carefully chosen to help you learn what you need to
know to pass any test—from standardized tests, to civil service tests, to college entrance exams, and to professional
job interviews—and continue to build your vocabulary, even after you have fi nished using this book.
In each of the following chapters, you will complete practice exercises that have been created specifi cally to
help you understand words inside out. You will learn pronunciation, spelling, context, defi nitions, word parts,
denotation and connotation, synonyms, and antonyms. The word lists are grouped into categories, so you will be
able to associate them with like words and remember them more easily. There is also a crossword puzzle at the
beginning of chapters 4–18 to introduce you to the new words before you begin to work on the practice exercises.
Then, you can take the Posttest at the end of the book and gauge how much you’ve really learned about words
and how you have improved your vocabulary.
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–INTRODUCTION–
How to Use This Book seems important to you. Make notes in the margins
that will help you follow what’s important as you prac-
Build Your Vocabulary tice and learn your new words.
No matter what language a person speaks, he or she
uses three different types of vocabularies: Make Flash Cards
If you are having trouble remembering words, even
■ A speaking vocabulary—words and expres- after the drills and practice exercises in the book, buy
sions we use every day to communicate some index cards and make fl ash cards for yourself.
■ A listening vocabulary—words and expres- Write a vocabulary word on one side of the card, and
sions we have heard but may have never used then write its defi nition, synonyms, antonyms, and
■ A reading vocabulary—words and expressions other essential information on the other side of the
we have encountered in print but have neither card. You can carry the cards with you to review when
heard nor used you have a free moment.
One of the best ways to increase your vocabulary Ask for Help
is to make a conscious effort to move words from your Enlist a friend or relative to help drill you on any word
listening or reading vocabularies to your speaking with which you are having trouble. You’ll be surprised
vocabulary—the words you not only understand, but at how much more you will remember if you share
also use. This book is especially helpful because the exer- what you know with someone else, and if they help you
cises you complete help you use your new vocabulary come up with clues to help jog your memory.
words so you know them cold. Suddenly, you’ll fi nd
yourself speaking and writing with these new words, Keep a List
and you will also fi nd that reading will become much In addition to the words you learn in this book, make
easier as you begin to recognize more and more words. a list of fl ash cards of new, useful words that you
Test makers try to assess how well you have encounter at work, at school, on TV, in your reading,
absorbed your language and how well you can use and or even at home. They will more than double the ben-
identify the words you know to express yourself and efi t you will get from using this book.
understand others. Each lesson in this book will help
you show test makers and prospective employers that
How the Book Is Set Up
you know how to communicate clearly and effectively,
and that you understand what others are communicat-
ing to you. Once you have learned the vocabulary Each chapter of this book that contains a word list
words and completed the exercises in this book, you’ll starts with a crossword puzzle to help you get
have what you need to ace any exam or job interview. acquainted with your new words. Do your best to fi ll it
in; if there are some words you don’t recognize, you
Write It Down can fl ip to the next page, where you will fi nd the full
If this book is yours, write in it as much as you like. defi nition, pronunciation, and part of speech of each
Write your answers in the blanks indicated and write word in the word list. Take a good look at how each
notes to yourself in the margins. It is meant for you to word is pronounced, especially the accented syllables.
consume. Pull out important details from the sur- You should pronounce each word aloud several times.
rounding text to make them more visible and accessi- The sentence following each defi nition illustrates the
ble to you. Underline or highlight information that word’s meaning. You should fi ll in the blank inside
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–INTRODUCTION–
each sentence with the correct word from the list. It is Self-Analysis
a good idea to say the entire sentence aloud. Find out how you feel about your own vocabulary with
Second, you will encounter several words from the following self-assessment. Put a check next to the
the vocabulary list in context. If you do not remember sentences that best describe your own vocabulary hab-
the meaning of the words, you should circle any clues its.
in the text that might help you fi gure out the meaning
1. I feel confi dent that I express myself
of these unfamiliar words.
clearly in speaking.
Then, you will read and fi ll in the blank to com-
plete the sentence by selecting the best choice from the 2. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I
vocabulary list on which you are working. Read each know what I want to say but just can’t
sentence slowly and carefully. There are usually clues think of the right word.
within each sentence that tell you which word from the
3. I notice unfamiliar words in print and
list is the best choice.
wonder about their meanings.
Next, you will encounter exercises that revolve
around synonyms and antonyms. You will read a group 4. Sometimes I come across unfamiliar
of words and decide which one is not a synonym. Then, words in print and feel that I should
you will read a group of words and select the word know them.
from the vocabulary list that is most nearly opposite in
5. I remember words that I had on
meaning from the entire group of words.
vocabulary quizzes and tests at school.
You will also complete matching, true/false, and
choosing-the-right-word exercises that will help you
6. If I write down new words, I can learn
reinforce the meanings of each new word you have
them.
learned. Then, at the end of the book, you will take a
7. If I come across an unfamiliar word in
75-question posttest so that you can see how much
print, I will look it up in the dictionary.
you’ve learned as you’ve worked through this book.
The pretest that follows this Introduction will
8. If I come across an unfamiliar word in
help you see how good you are at identifying unfamil-
print, I will ask someone to tell me the
iar words. Then, Chapters 2 and 3 will teach you about
meaning.
the basics of vocabulary. In Chapter 2, you’ll learn
important vocabulary terms and about language ori- 9. If I hear an unfamiliar word in
gins. In Chapter 3, you’ll learn important spelling rules conversation or on TV, I will ask
to help you become a better speller, even on those someone to tell me its meaning.
tricky or foreign words. Then, you’ll get to the word
10. If I hear or see an unfamiliar word, I am
lists. The 15 vocabulary list chapters consist of helpful
usually too embarrassed to ask for or to
exercises to drill you on new words, so that by the end
look up its meaning.
of each lesson, you’ll know them inside out. Finally,
completing the posttest will show you how far you’ve
Your answers to these questions should give you
come, and how well you know your new words.
a good sense of how you feel about and use your
You can also refer to Appendices A and B to learn
vocabulary.
important studying strategies and fi nd out about other
valuable resources.
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