Learning Vocabulary from Context
The difference between the reading and study of a pencil.
" To get the most out of reading, must read with a pencil ( or pen) in
hand.
Try this: Get a newspaper , choose a short article, and
follow these instructions :
Read the article to the end , as fast as you can,
underlining the words you do not understand .
Go back and re-examine the words that was causing problems .
One well known method for the realization of new words is to examine the
context , namely the situation in which the word is located .
There are four different ways of learning from context :
Examples : A list of things you can give the meaning of the
word
Synonyms: Another word with the same meaning is used
Preparation: We offer more information that makes the
meaning of the word clear
Explanation: The word is actually explained in the article
Example :
Look at this sentence: "We knew he was crazy because he
kept talking to himself and write words in the air. " "Crazy " ,
you can guess , is another word for " crazy " .
In this judgment , the behavior of the person that helps you
understand the word . You are reading an "example" of the conduct of
a person crazy .
SYNONYM :
Here's a headline from a newspaper article : " Fed bar
key rate near zero"
You may not know what " bar " means. However, the
first sentence of the article says in part: " The U.S. Federal Reserve cut
a key rate Tuesday ... " So this synonym tells you "slash" here
means "to cut " .
PREPARATION:
Perhaps you are still confused about how " bar "
or "cut" is used here. The continuation of the first sentence: "
The U.S. Federal Reserve slashed a key rate Tuesday to a range of zero to 0.25
percent - a cut of at least 0.75 percentage points. " Here more
information has been on the "cut" . It was designed .
EXPLANATION :
If you are still not sure , the rest of the article
discusses the issue , giving an explanation of the action and its cause. When
finished, you should have no doubt about the meaning of the " bar " .
NOTES :
You might not be able to get the meaning of a word from
context. In that case, use a dictionary . But you must use an English
dictionary - English , not one bilingual .
Why? First, because it will expand its capacity to English ,
introducing even more words. Second, because it keeps your thoughts " , in
English, " rather than switching back to their own language. And finally ,
because sometimes, bilingual dictionaries are just wrong.
Of course, to continue learning , write new words in a
notebook , and review them often. And do not forget to use them!
PRACTICE:
Answer questions about real phrases from a newspaper . Which
of the four techniques used ?
1. What "mother" and "crisis" mean in
this sentence ?
" China will reduce a tax on home sales to slow a fall
in the goods market that can lead the fourth largest economy in the world in
the deepest recession since 1990. "
Two . What is the meaning of the " delicacies "
here ?
"The delegation ... brought several hundred kinds of
Taiwan delicacies , ranging from fruits and liquors and snacks for tea. "
Three . What is the meaning of "stimulating " in
this sentence ?
" This rate is the key tool of the Fed to stimulate or
slow the U.S. economy as it tries to balance the twin goals of economic growth
and price stability . "
April . What is the meaning of "dual" in the
previous sentence ?
MORE PRACTICE :
Continue this lesson by reading a newspaper, as described
above !
ANSWERS TO PRACTICE:
1. Take " down" first. Can you find a synonym for
"crisis" in this sentence ? I hope you realize that
"deceleration " means the same as " depression. "
You should realize that depression is something wrong ,
something that the government wants to leave . Thus the development of the
reasons for the reduction of taxes is his idea that "mother" as a
verb meaning " high" .
Two . This is a case where examples are useful : "
fruit and snacks and tea liquor . " These are very tasty food , and that
is the meaning of " delicacies " .
Three . Do you know what the opposite of a synonym is ? Is a
" antonym " . So here , if you do not know what it means to
"stimulate" means , realize that it is the opposite of "slow
down" and get the meaning: " acceleration " .
Four . The development will help here , since there are two
goals "dual" must mean "two."
This lesson is © 2012 by James Baquet . You may share this
work freely. Teachers can use in the classroom as long as students are told the
source ( URL ) . You may not publish this material and sell it. Please write if
you have any questions about "fair use" .
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