Focus on vocabulary

1. Transcribe and read out these words.

adequate, compatible, diverse, converse, proviso, momentary, multitude, prejudice, artificial, reciprocal, absorb, involuntary, resolve

2. Explain the meaning of the following words.

1. sturdy 6. checkmate (v)

2. command (n) 7. condemn

3. encounter (v) 8. proviso

4. accomplish 9. lead up to sth

5. converse 10. extensive

3. Give synonyms.

1. unaware 6. various

2. fast 7. irregular, occasional

3. satisfactory 8. limited

4. ordinary 9. turn down

5. force (v) 10. engrossing, gripping

4. Read the definitions and work out the words.

1. give variety to

2. (cause to) be in a suitable or harmonious relation with

3. complete control or knowledge of

4. pay no attention to

5. take hold of

6. sth that is decided

7. person with much knowledge

8. be easily seen above or among others

9. a great number

10. sth needed

5. Give the opposites.

1. voluntary 5. out of reach

2. compatible 6. artificial

3. profound 7. adequate

4. accept 8. commonplace

6. Fill in the correct prepositions.

1. A well-disciplined mind can work … compulsion.

2. True scholarship is compatible … freedom and delight.

3. Memory of language is … association.

4. To construct phrases … an author’s pattern.

5. Read some snatches … odd moments of waiting and resting.

6. We should learn to act … resolve and determination.

7. … no means confine yourself … one subject, still less … one author.

8. If the book is your own, mark freely … the margin any passage that especially interests you.

9. A book that has lived 50 years is sure to be … the ordinary standard.

10. Read in quantities, just as much as you can master … one stretch.

7. Explain the difference in meaning between the following words and choose the right word to fit into each of these sentences.

1. intelligent – intellectual

a. She isn’t interested in … things.

b. Human beings are more … than animals.

c. Philosophy interests … but not ordinary people.

2. continuous – continual

a. The trees formed a heavy … line on the horizon.

b. Stop that … hammering!

3. content – contents

a. Look at the list of the … in the book.

b. The … of the book is very good but I don’t like the pictures.

c. The police were interested in the … of the murdered woman’s bag.

8. Paraphrase the extract replacing the underlined words and expressions.

The first requirement for a sufficient vocabulary is general reading. This reading for building up one’s vocabulary is different from reading for mastery of any particular subject. To acquire a large supply of valuable words, one should make one’s reading as wide and as various as possible, but it must be in really good English, worth being influenced by.

With the great number of books now constantly appearing, one who would read for intellect and style can seldom afford to read a new book “to see if it is good”. There are some books of sudden popularity that a good mind may turn down at once. The ordinary person will do best to take the opinion of good judges and pay no attention to any book not recommended by them. On the other hand, a book that has lived 50 years is sure to be first-rate; otherwise it wouldn’t have lived.

Read in quantities, just as much as you can manage without stopping. By such continuous reading your mind becomes influenced by the author’s style and you will find yourself unconsciously constructing phrases or sentences after the author’s pattern.

The opposite is equally true. Read by snatches, keep some first-class book within reach where it can be picked up and read in odd moments of resting and waiting.

9. Say it in English.

1. содержание книги

2. делать выводы

3. недостатки и предубеждения

4. необычно богатый и элегантный стиль

5. отметить отрывок на полях

10. Complete each of the following sentences in three different ways.

1. To develop the instinct of language one must …

2. In reading for command of words …

3. Make your book a companion and …

11. Fill in the gaps to make as many word combinations as possible. You should get at least a dozen phrases.

1. to __________ vocabulary

2. an __________ vocabulary

Could you explain what “an adequate vocabulary” is?

12. Can you explain what the following sentences mean?

1. The first requirement for an adequate vocabulary is general reading.

2. Vocabulary building should go beyond commonplace words and momentary interests.

3. We must get over the illusion that “a book is a book”.

4. Memory of language is by association.

5. By continuous reading you will develop the instinct of language.

6. We may checkmate necessity by doing what we can.

7. By following one’s likings limitlessly there is danger of developing mental one-sidedness.

13. As you read the following passage, try to decide what the missing words might be.