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LESSoN NINE (B)
TEXT B
How Should You Build Up Your Vocabulary?
Through Context
When students in a college class were asked what should be done when they came across a new word in their reading, eighty-four percent said, Look it up in the dictionary. If you do, however, you interrupt the very mental processes needed to make your efforts most productive.
But theres another reason. Suppose someone asks you what the word fast means. You answer, swift. But does it mean that in such contexts as fast color, fast woman, or fast friend ? And if a horse is fast, is it securely tied or running at top speed? It could be either. It ahll depends. on the dictionary? No, on context -- on how the word is actually used. After all there are over twenty different meanings for fast in the dictionary. But the dictionary doesnt tell you which meaning is intended. Thats why it makes such good sense to begin with context.
Through Word parts
Now for the next step. often new words contain one or more parts, which, if recognized, provide specific help with meaning. Suppose you read that someone had a preference for reading travel books. The context certainly isnt too helpful. But do you see a prefix, suffix, or root that you know? Well, theres the familiar prefix pre-, meaning before. Look back at the context and try inserting before. Reading travel books apparently comes before other kinds of reading. Yes, a preference is something put before something else.
Your second step, then, is to look for familiar word parts. If they do not give you exact meaning, they should at least bring you much closer.
Now you can see why you should consult the dictionary last, not first. Youve looked carefully at context. Youve looked for familiar word parts. Now you play Sherlock Holmes -- an exciting role. You guess. What exactly does that strange word mean? only when you go through the mental exercises to come up with a tentative definition should you open the dictionary to see if youre right.
Transport
happiness
unhappy
careful
carelessness
try to do sth.
Try doing sth.
I will try to help you with your English.
The front door is lock, why don’t you try entering from the back door.
You play an important rolepart in your class.
An exciting game
I felt so excited.
This book is interesting, and I am interested in it.
only you can solve the problem.
only in this way can you solve the problem.
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