Vocabulary & Spelling Success, 4Th Edition
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VOCABULARY & SPELLING SUCCESS VOCABULARY & SPELLING SUCCESS IN 20 MINUTES A DAY 4th Edition ® NEW YORK Copyright © 2006 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.—4th ed. p. cm.—(LearningExpress skill builders) ISBN 1-57685-545-7 1. Vocabulary—Problems, exercises, etc. 2. English language—Orthography and spelling—Problems, exercises, etc. I. Title: Vocabulary and spelling success. II. LearningExpress (Organization) II. Title. III. Series: Skill builders series (New York, N.Y.) PE1449.V58 2006 428.1—dc22 2006040829 Printed in the United States of America 987654321 Fourth Edition ISBN 1-57685-545-7 For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at: 55 Broadway 8th Floor New York, NY 10006 Or visit us at: www.learnatest.com Contents INTRODUCTION vii CHAPTER 1 Pretest 1 CHAPTER 2 Vocabulary Terms and Language Origins 11 CHAPTER 3 Spelling Rules 15 CHAPTER 4 Vocabulary List 1—Prefixes 31 CHAPTER 5 Vocabulary List 2—Suffixes 45 CHAPTER 6 Vocabulary List 3—Learning Roots 59 CHAPTER 7 Vocabulary List 4—More Roots 73 CHAPTER 8 Vocabulary List 5—Foreign Language Terms Used in English 87 CHAPTER 9 Vocabulary List 6—Business Terms 101 CHAPTER 10 Vocabulary List 7—Technology Terms 115 CHAPTER 11 Vocabulary List 8—Legal Terms 129 CHAPTER 12 Vocabulary List 9—Terms Relating to Language and Literature 143 CHAPTER 13 Vocabulary List 10—Short Words That Mean a Lot 157 CHAPTER 14 Vocabulary List 11—Adjectives 171 CHAPTER 15 Vocabulary List 12—Acronyms 185 v –CONTENTS– CHAPTER 16 Vocabulary List 13—Commonly Tested Words 197 CHAPTER 17 Vocabulary List 14—More Commonly Tested Words 211 CHAPTER 18 Vocabulary List 15—Philosophical Terms 225 CHAPTER 19 Posttest 239 APPENDIX A Studying for Success 249 APPENDIX B Additional Resources 259 vi Introduction he words we use to communicate every day are important in every aspect of our lives. From relax- ing, to working, to studying, to taking tests, we use words to share with others how we feel, what we Tthink, and why we think that way. Without words, it is difficult 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 oth- ers. Our vocabularies reveal our knowledge to the world; therefore, a person with a large vocabulary has the advan- tage 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 finished using this book. In each of the following chapters, you will complete practice exercises that have been created specifically to help you understand words inside out. You will learn pronunciation, spelling, context, definitions, 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 14–18 to introduce you to the new words before you begin to work on the practice exer- cises. 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. vii –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. People haves three vocabularies in each language that they speak: 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 flash cards for yourself. ■ A listening vocabulary—words and expressions Write a vocabulary word on one side of the card, and we have heard but may have never used then write its definition, synonyms, antonyms, or other ■ A reading vocabulary—words and expressions essential information on the other side of the card. we have encountered in print but have neither You can carry the cards with you to review when you heard nor used 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 what you know with someone else, and if they help you exercises you complete help you use your new vocabu- come up with clues to help jog your memory. lary words so you know them cold. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself speaking and writing with these new words, Keep a List and you will also find 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 flash 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 efit you will get from using this book. understand others. Each lesson in this book will help you show test makers and prospective employers that you know how to communicate clearly and effectively, How the Book Is Set Up and that you understand what others are communi- cating 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 fill it in; if there are some words you don’t recognize, you can Write It Down flip to the next page, where you will find the full defi- If this book is yours, write in it as much as you like. nition, pronunciation and part of speech of each word Write your answers in the blanks indicated and write in the word list. Take a good look at how each word is notes to yourself in the margins. It is meant for you to pronounced, especially the accented syllables. You consume. Pull out important details from the sur- should pronounce each word aloud several times. The rounding text to make them more visible and accessi- sentence below each definition illustrates the word’s ble to you. Underline or highlight information that meaning. You should fill in the blank inside each sen- viii –INTRODUCTION– tence with the correct word from the list. It is a good Self-Analysis 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 habits. the meaning of the words, you should circle any clues 1. I feel confident that I express myself in the text that might help you figure out the meaning clearly in speaking. of these unfamiliar words. Then, you will read and fill in the blank to com- 2. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I plete the sentence by selecting the best choice from the know what I want to say but just can’t Vocabulary List on which you are working. Read each think of the right word. sentence slowly and carefully. There are usually clues 3. I notice unfamiliar words in print and within each sentence that tell you which word from the wonder about their meanings. list is the best choice. Next, you will encounter exercises that revolve 4. Sometimes I come across unfamiliar around synonyms and antonyms. You will read a group words in print and feel that I should of words and decide which one is not a synonym. Then, know them. you will read a group of words and select the word 5. I remember words that I had on from the Vocabulary List that is most nearly opposite vocabulary quizzes and tests at school. in meaning from the entire group of words. You will also complete matching, true/false, and 6. If I write down new words, I can learn choosing the right word exercises that will help you them. reinforce the meanings of each new word you have 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.