GUESSING WORD MEANINGS

When reading an article or textbook in English, many foreign students feel they must stop and look up
every unfamiliar word in a dictionary. This nray (perhaps) be a useful way of learning nerv words rvhett you are

studying lhe language, but it is ccrtainly not an efficient way of studying your own subject through the
language. Studcnis.forget that thcy oftcn meet strangc rvords when reading in their first language, but usually
continue reading successfully rvithout using a dictionary. There are several ways of doing the same thing in
English

Using affixes to guess word meanings

Many English words arc made up of threc parts: prcfixes, stenrs and sufTixes. Prefixes are elenrents
which aro attaclrcd to thc bcginning of a word, or conlc bcforc (prc-) it. Exanrplcs arc {iorurs likc 6i- (nrcaning
'two' or 'twice') in words like biannual (nrcaniug 'trvicc a year' or 'cvery trvo years') or bilaleral (meaning
'having or involving tno sides, reciprocal, or involving trvo sides or parties equally'), and inler- (meaning
'beiween' or 'among') irr rvords hke interlay (nreaning 'to lay or put between or arnong') and inte rhde (nrcaning
'sonrething that fills tinre bctrvcen two evertts'). Stcms are the basic fomrs fronr which other rvords are
composed. Examples are mtt (nreaning 'send') urd iraci (,-r-,ea"-,ing 'pi,ill' or 'dra','.r). Thel, are used to make "vords
like ransmit, submit, lraction and retrpcl. Suffixes arc elcments rvhich are attached to the ends of stenls, or
comc afaer thenr. Exanrptes arc -er (mcaning 'thc person rt'ho') in s'ords like painter ('one who paints') and
miner (a pcrscn who rvorks in a mine digging coa[, gold, etc.') and -ize (meaning to be or make like') in rvords
like economize ('to be or nrake economical) and hypothesizc ('to make a hypothesis').
Prefixcs and suflixes are togctlrcr called afixes. Knorving the meaning of common stenrs and affixes
can help you guess the meaning of unfarniliar rvords rvhcn you are rcading. We rvill look at stems in the next
section. In this section rve rvill work on affxcs.
As rve said a nronrent ago, thcre arc trvo types of affrxcs - prcfixes and suffixes. Prefixes usually
c!::::ge 3..,,n.r|'c rrreerrirro' qrFfixeq gencrallv alter the part of speech a rvord represents, e.g., rvhether it is a verb,
a noun, an adjective or an adverb. Here are some exanrples of these processes:
PrcJixes

ch

un

gi n g meu n i n g

prefix

trsuul nrcurtittg

escatttltlc

ntcanutS

anti-

against

rcsistirtg uragnetism

lower, reduce,

antinragtretic
antisoptic
antithcsis
dccarbonate

reverse

decrease

baci, u,rong

depopuiate
misbbhave
mismanage

de-

mls-

nrisundei:stand

not

una\vare
unemplol,gd

unqualified

stopping infection
co[trast of two ideas, tlrrrcries
renlove carbon dioxide from
lessen, reduce
reduce populatioru
behave wrongly, inapp ropriately

nianage badly, dishonestly

nris interpret, understand rvrongly
not a\vare, not conscious
not used, not eniployed
absolute, without qualifi cations

Suf/ixes changing part of speech

part of speech
a. verb

suflix

examples

-ize

theorize
resuscitatc

-ate

-fy
-ly

b. adverb
c- noun

satisfy
slowly
contrivancc

-ance
-ence

coincidence
suction

-tion
-isnr

rvisdonr
comrnunism

-ist

capitalist

-er

researcher
consciousucss

-donr

-noss

-able

lcadership
menrorable

-ible

divisible

-tu1

eventful

-less

careless

-ic

eclectic

-ical
-ious
-ish

historical

-ivc

rusPunSrvu

-ship

d. adjective

religious
reddish

..

__ _-:-__-

Suffixcs havo nrcaning, too, of coursc, as can bc sccn in tlrc list. Thus, cdihlc tllqtns'capablc of being
caten', acccssiblc mcans 'capablc of bcing rcachcd', and so on.
Recognizing affixes and knorving their usual nrcanings can bc valuable when you nreet ne\v sords. If
you camc across demystify, for cxanrplc, 1'ou miglrt analyzc it sorrrcthing like this. The nrysl looks like it conres'
from mystery. De- usuatly nlcans 'lo*cr' rcducc or rcvcrsc'. and the -f sholvs it is a verb. It must mean
something like'to take the m),ster),out ofl. You rvould be right. Also, you could quickly tell whether vour guess
rvas probably corrc,ct or not by sccirrg if it frttcd tlrc contcxt'

(Ise afftxcs

lo

guess vocubular-1'.

Studv the following lists of prefixes and strflfixes

[;r

PREFIXES

Example

a-, anab-, absad-, ac-, ag-,

al-, an-, as-, atarnbianteantiauto-

l\{eaning
to,toward
not,without;
away from
to
both
before
against
self

adhere

bene-

r.vell

bi-

two

ashore, aside
amoral
abstraction

ambidextrous
anterior
antisocial
automation
benefactor
biceps

,., :''

'

,com-,corcog-, col-, corra-

,9fiexra (o)-

er-

ro-

down
around

catastrophe
circumvent

together, with

cognate
contraception
deferral
divide
disillusioned
enthralled
extract
extraterrestrial
impartial
involved
infrared
interfere
intrsduce
intramural
rnaladjusted
metaphysics
microscope
misdeed
rnonogitnly
rnuititude
nonentity
obstruct

against

from
part, separate
not
put into
out, from
beyond
not
in,into
below
beiween, among
into
within

rnal-

bad

metamicro-

beyond

lnronornultinonob-, oc-, of-, ops-,

()nc

snrall

wrong

overparaDer-

lporv-

lno',-

lprelpreterlpro-

rl)any

not
against
surpass
excessive
beside
through
many
after
before
more than
for-

back, again
backward
apart
tt tall
^lf

-, suc-, suf-,
sug-, sup-, surpersyn-, sym-, syl-, sys-

under
over
togeiher

rans-

across

tra-

beyond

outmaneuver
overconfident
paramedic
I14rm6ai6

polyglot
posthumous
premeditated
preternatural
proceed
regain
retroactive
sequential
semicoion
submarine
superfluous
syrnbol
transmute
ultrasound
uncertain

SUFFIXES

I
that forms a noun

Meaning
state or quality

accuracy, infancy
courage
drainage

activity
result of activity

-gr,-or

refusal, rival
assistance, dependence
disinfectant, dependent
magistrate
starvation
exploration
organization
kingdom

action
action or process
agent
state
resulting state
action
institution
rank, condition,
domain
af[ected person
person concerned with
diminutive
person who does
sornething
inhabitants, la.nguage

employee

volunteer
maiden
oxen
astronorttcr.

nL:-^^^

form

l-ess, -tress

<temale

l-r,r

an amount

l-hood
-an
l-ian,
-ia

status
pertaining to

authoress, enchantress

names

illlnesses
classes

-tc, -lcs

ar-ts and sciences

l-ia

name
names

l-ia"

l.

l-rn, -rne

1.,",

l-,""

fi"n

of elernents
narres of substances

rnaterial made of
activity
result of activity
condition or actiorr
attitude
aciion

conduct
I

l-i.,
I

l-:t'
l-ltY

l-rve

l-t",, -rtr.
l-lins
l-n,."n,
l-ness

condition
- -"member

of a party
occupation
a member of a cornmunity
state or condition
condition
diminutive
diminutive
result
slate or condition

handful
childhood
Polynesian, republican
dahlia, Australia
phobia,hysteria
reptilia
Iogic, nrusic,
aflthmetic, physics
orchid, oyranrid
chloride. dioxide
gelatin, nrargarine
roofing
driving
building
conrntulricutiorr
idealisrn
baptism
heroism
alcoholism
socialist
cellist
socialite
purity
captive
booklet, kitchenetre
fledgling
lragntent
happiness

l.nn

-.o

place of activity

reginery, military
machinery
friendship
gangster
captive

iollectively
status, condition

l-ery
l-ship

occupation
condition
state or condition
the results of an activity
location
endearment

l-.1.'
l-trve

t-,
Y,E

tury
victory
library, company
daddy, auntie

uffix that forms a verb

e

Meaning

Examole

put in a state
past tense
become

isolate
walked
moisten
deafen
wander, waver
chatter

cause

-er

i0,
ing
ize )-ise in British English)

I
ulTix that fortns an

atljective

simpliff
working
epitomize

rl-.-.-----l^
a).\drrrlrrL

i'vieaning

valuable, sensible
crinrinal, social, musical
malignant, apParent
desolate
wooded
woolen, golden
grander

worthy
quality
kind of agent
kind of state

l-able, - ible
l-al,-ial,-ical
l-ant,-ent

l-"t"

having
material
comparative

l-"a
l-.n

l-.'

origin
having, giving
in the tradition
quality
activity
having the qualities
belonging to
having the character of
somewhat
having the quality of

-lan

-lc
-ing
-iie
-ish

-ive,-active,

-itive

action
imitating sounds
cause
present particiPle
cause

'

without
having tlte qualities of
having the qualities of
having the quality of

like
ly

rull

oi

japanese
useful

Georgian
heroic
working
infantile
Swedish
foolish
youngish
passive, attractive,
sensitive
helpless
childlike
fi'iendly
virtuous, courteous.
vivacious
creamy, bony

uffir that l-ortus:ttt

i\1c:trting

Eranr ple

in a nranner of
in a rnanner or directioir
ir: a rrrAnncr or dircction

backrvard s(s)

happilv
clocku,isc

IXI,ITCISB

Instructicttt : Use inforrnation fronr thc lists to corrrplctc thc follorving tablcs. Soll)c

donc for you as cxanrplcs.

itL.n.rs

Irnvc

bcerr

(n) prefixes and sufli-rcs

Urrrlcrlinc tlrc prcfixcs arrd sufflxes

l, circuntnavigate

8. interchangcablc
9. unilatcrally

2, repossession
3. disrespectful
4. quickly
5. carelessness
6. desalinate
7. autobiographical

10. irnpossibilitl,

l.

intangibly

12. underenrployncnt
1

3. overestimation

14. religiously

I5. unfortunatclv
16. rcinvcstigatc
17. antisocial

I8. introspectivc
i9. interdepcndent
20. retroactivelv

2l . synthetic

(b) prejixes

Find two exanrples for each prefix, Use your dictio,ary if necessarl,.

prelix

usual meaning

L anie2. bi3. co4. ex5 hvpcr6. in7. intra8. macro9. nricro-

before, in front

sub-

18. ultra19. un-

20.

uni-'

of

t*o,

trvicc
rvith, togethcr
from, out of, arvay fronr
abovt: tronrral cxr:r:qqi,.rc

not, rvithoui
inside, rvithin
large, Iarge-scale
snrall, snrall-scalc

10. nronoI 1. nrulti12. post13. pre14. reIrJ.

< JVltll^^_:
16.
17. traris-

a-vanrplas

one, single, alone

marly

after, behind
before

l. antececient
L bicnnial

I lcoautlror
l-I
l.
l.
l.
l.

l._
t_
I._
t.

agarn

iraii paniy
t

under, below, lorver

across, over, cllange
excesslve,. extrenle
not

one

2. anteroom
2. brnan,
2 cocxirr
2

L.
2.

__

_
2_
2. _
2 ___
2._
2.

la
t.

/-

l')

L.

I2
i')

Complete the table. Us'e your dictionary rvhere

No.

tl0lI n

dcscription

varlt

neccssary.

uiljcctivc

urlycrlt

theoretical

infonnativelvJ

4
clcOnOmy

libcralize

central

repeatedly

tolerance

l0

actrvatg

lt

clear

l2

successfully
inclusiveness

t4

understand

l5

tight

justifiablv

16

t7
l8

analysis

demonstrate
valid

19

20

explanatori!y,

EXEITCISE

hstruction:

Cltoosc tlrc correct fornr of cach rvord to colrl)lctc tltc scl)icucc [hat follotvs.'l'hc first
you
been done for
as an exanrplc.

l.

fortunate,unfortunate,fortunately, unfortunately
Thc mistake unfortunatel], meant that the expcrirncnt had to bc rcpeated

2.

understand,misunderstand,understandir:g,nrisrrndcrstanding
The vagucncss of thc instnrcticns caused hinr to

3.

sensitive.hypersensitive, se-nsitivity,hypersensitivity
The man's overreaction to innocent remarks suggested he rvas

4.

include, exclucie, inclusion, exclusion

Cultural differences often lbad to

iris t:isk

fror:r some social events

5.mistakable,unmistakable,mistaliably'unmistakably'

casily
The two animalsl similarity of coloring makes them

6.

model, remodei, modelled, remodelled'

The unpredicateci research findings fbrced him to

uniiaterai.bilateral,unilaterally,bilateraliy'
The ts'o countries are engaged in

hypothesize

13

his theory

negottatlons

has

ll.

rcspcct, dis rcs;:cct, rcspcctfu l, disrcspcct lrr I

Thc prcsidcrrt thrcatcrrcd rrrilitary actiorl ilthcy rcfusccl to
tlrc tcnus of tlrc troaty
i

social, antisobial, socially, antisocialll,

Her frequent exclusion fronr group nrcctings rr,as due to lrcr
10.

bclravior.

rnonolingual, bilingual, trilingual, nru ItilinguaI

A child exposcd [o trvo languages froru birtlr roughly cqually rvill grorv up

Using stcnrs and aflixcs to guess rvor.d rrrelnings

parl.s, prcfixes, stcnrs ar)d suffrxcs. We saici that stL.,rs arc
thc
bnsic fonrrs front rvlrich othcr tt'ords arc cornPoscd. So, irreTtarcrble consists of tlrc prcfix ii.- (r.ca,i,g,not), tlre
slen\ repar (fronr the verb 'rcpair'), and thc suffix -oblc (rncarring 'possible to' or pot capable of bci,g,). 1-h.,
r.r'hole word, irreporable, rircrfns inrpossible to rcpair, or not capablc oFbcing rcpaircd.
Togcther rvith affixcs , stenls can be'r'ery useful irr helping vou guess t5e lrealirrg of u^k,or* u,ords.
For exanrple, if we latorv thc follolving stenrs ancl their nrcarrings
stam
usttul mcaning
port
carry
lrydro
\vat0r
spcct
look at, scc

We said tltat tttany rvords cotttprisc tltrcc

We can use our knorvledge of affixes to guess thc app:'o.rinlatc rncanings of thesc words:

word
transport
porter
hydrodynamic
hydrology
spectator
inspect

apltroximute mcuning
carry across, ovcr
a p.erson u,ho carrics
oprerated by rr,atcr po\\,cr

thc scicri'cc, Strrcll, 1e tltc car

r.h's

\\':ltcrs

sonteone vviro rvatclrcs

look at carcfullv , cxlirrrirrc

Using sterns and affixes in this rvay rvill not alu,ays tcli us the exact nreaning of an unknorvn rvord It
will often help you gucss the approximate n:eanirte,, horvever. You rvill be able to see frcnr the corltext rvhcthcr
your guess is correct or not, and will not have to stop to consult a dictionary if it looks right.

aflixes to guass vocabularl,

Many
English
stenls werc originally Latin or Creck rvords. A list of cornnron oncs is to be found in tlre
.
neld pages. You have probably looked at this list before, but should rtorv study it carefully before doing
exercises 3 and 4
Use stems and

Stems

Meaning

Exanrple
activate
arubulance

act

do

ambula
ami, anro.

walk
love

cnanrored

annus

ycar

aqua
anthrop

wate r

annual
aquarium

astr

hunrankind
star

astronaut

audi

hear

biblio
bio

book

camr
ced,cedc, ceed, cess

meat
go, conle

6amivorous

-t, utluS
urrr

time

'kiil

chronomcter
homicide

dict

closc
say

dorm

s!eep

claustrophobia
dictation
dormitory

_- _

cidc
claudo

life

duct

lead

ego

self

anthropomorphic
audition
bibliography
biography
precede

conduct
egocentic

fact

make

fer

carry

factory
transfer

fem

woman

efFerr in r te

fidel
flex

tnlst

fidelity

bcnd

felxible

fluent, flou
frac, frag
frat
1lg"

florv

superfluous
fractu re

break

brothcr

fratcrnal
fugitrvc

ganl

flce
marriagc

b,iganrist

iSen

birth, racc

gcnocidc

l:::
6r r9J tvJ

earth

gcologl,

gram

Ln.r.

prognosis
g|all1l'nar

graph

writing

telegrap

gress

step, nlove
womal'l

gvnccologusi

gyn

t-- -.
KIIU\^r'

ingress

te:n

IYI c:t n

Exa

irrg

rrr

gtlc

grass

Ircrbivorc

lost

cllcll'l)/

terc

stick
diflurcrrt
:rlikc

hostilc
cohcrcncc

rbi

rctcro

llo
1',d

ro

lcct
latcr
lingtra
lithos

llc(crogcncor.l
'

Itf ilp1,

\va tc r

lrorrtc.rgcncous

1.

tlrrorv

ilttcrjcctiorr

side
(onguc

Iatcral
lingtrist ics

stonc

logy
lunrin

stud1,

light

palcolitlric
biologl,
illuminate

manu

hand

rnanipulatc

nragni
nrania

big

nragnify

madness

mcgalonraniac

masc

nrale

nrascu

matri

mother

Ii

ne

metron

nleasu rc

rrratriarch
nretrical

mit, miss

send

transmit

morph

form

llllul

duaiir

rnctamorphic
inurroriai
synonynr

lnvn''
lomnr

narl'lc

omnipotcnt
optical

all

lo*

eye

lpater, patrr

father

lnathv

feclings

lped

foot

lpel, putsc

puslr, drivc

lpend

hang

lphil

lovc
fear

hobia
hon

patcnral
synrpathy
pedestrian
rcptrlsivc
appcndagc

philosophl'

carry

acrophobia
microphone
transiJort

Meaning

Exanrple

{ouch
t: _-,
0lslancc

contact
teiepathy
terrestrial
thermostat
traction

sound

earth
heat

god

'

--away---- _---=4
--_

draw
colne
tu rn
see

eat

animal

r-nonotheist

ntervene
diversion
invisible
carnivore
zoologist
l

10

trXERCISE 3
Instructiotr:

Usc inforn'lation from the lists and 1'our dictiorrary to do eaclr part of this cxercise. Sontc
iterns have becn done for you as examples.
(a) Underline the sterls in the following rvords and rvritc tltcrrr in thc rniddle colunrn.
Then rvrite thc approxirnatc nreaning of each stcrtr itt tlte coltttutt on the right

Y,

tv0RI)
corDoratlon

,9'l'El,t

l.

corp

APPROXIIYIATE MEANING

l. body

col'Dus

incoroorate
psychology
psychonretry

psychosis
J

terrain
terrarium
terrestrial

3.

a
J

socialist
antisocial
sociology

4.

a
J,

).

!v.v6r

4ttr

telepathy
telescope
6

manufacture
artifact
factory

6.

6.

generate

'7

,
I

genetlc.

i.na.t
geomorphology
isomorphic

Inrorphology
tr ansport
I
porter
portable

l0

II

biolosy
ethology
methodology

(b)''Find out thc nreattittg of thc follorving stcrtrs. Thcn,

usc your dictio,ary to rvrite trvo exa'rplcs
of rvords
using
each sienr.

NO.
I

STEM

APPROXIMAI'E NIEANING

ortho

EXAMPT

I. straight, regular, correct

l.

a. orthodox
b. orthogonal

2.

a.

standard
2

medi

2.

middle

EI

_b.

J,

3.

3.

a.

b.
4

seou

tract

soli

4,

a.

5.

a.

b.

sirrgle, only, alorre

6.

a.

b.

'l

son

7.

7.

a.

b
8

para

con

8. beside, alongside,
resembling, like

8.

9. together

9.

a.

b
a.

b.

l0

l0

omnr

10.

a.

b.

EXERCISE 4
Instruction : Use your knorvledge of the nreanings of stenrs and affixes to guess the meanings of the
underlined words in the sentences belotr'. Check your guesses to sce that thcy fit tire corltext pro'icled
b;r tlie

.---^
, !5t

-a^t
ul
tlr(; sciltcllL..is.
,

Circle the letter corrcsponding to your answcr.

l.

Only one candidate is a sr.rpporter of socialized nredicine. The others prefer a syster.r-r of
private health insurance
a. meciical care for preverrting diseases before the1, occur
b. pubiiciy fittartced rneoical care for all nrenrbers of tlre corrrnrunitv
c. Crugs and ntedicantcnts produced for n.lass collsurnption

2.

The research is designed to discover the age at rvhich children develop nretrrlinpuestic
iwarencss. It is h-vpothesizcd thar this rvill occur sonrc ycars aftcr thc beg,r,rnil.,gs of spccclr
imclf.
a. the ability to talk about tlreir dreanrs.
b. thc ability to conrrrrunicatc
c. consciousness of languagc

.
3.

The prime minister tltreatened to intervene in the disputc if inciustry and tlrc trade unions
carulot resolve their diftbrences.
a. make the dispute illegal
b. come bctr'ecn the otlrcr t.,vo partics as a third 1;artt,nrcdiator
c. stop the dispute

12.

il

4.

The govcnrnrerit clain,s the issue is a nroral one, transcending parti, politics.
a. concerning
b. going bcyond or al:ovc
c. depcnding on

).

Tlre arti cle discusscs scvcral

a. occurring rvithin tlrc rrrirrd
b. cxtrascnsory
c. mysterious

nt

rap51g[p plrcrronrcrra.

Altlrough Christian ntissiortarics ltavc rvorkcd tlrcrc [or ovcr a lrurrdrcd ancl fi0r'1,crrs. thc
tribe is still polytlrcistic.
a. givcn to rvorshipping nrany gods
b. givcn to worslrippirrg their own god
e. primitivc

7.

Snrith is wcll-knorvu lor lris unortlrodox vicws orr child carc

a. not traditional
b. incorrect
c. religious

s;

The.opposition party accused the government of mismanagjlg the econuny.

'lisjjig
- '.^.,i^^
a.

rrir c^-iL
Lu! -LLs
L/wll purposes

b. hflating
c. doing or llandling it badly
9.

l0

Biganry has only rcccntlv bccn nraclc

a crinrinal ofTcrrsc.
a. stealing
b. rnarrying a secord tir,e knorving
a,prcvious,rarriagcs is stiil varic
c. running a casino offering trn,o go,u"s
for ganrbler, ,uh.,l only licensed

for onc sucli garne

The strike disnrpted tlrc negotiations

_- r
^ Lvr\J!rC,
q.
UlStUtOecl

b. cornpleted

c. introduccd a nerv

elente nt into

rr nrav be possibre,:

g,,r.,,, ,,,. -."Y,li:;l'lH:::iJ;,:.1;:1,^i:1,jxi,1,0,",

fimothy scowled rvlren lre ,nrirh. dent
in t i, n.r" .nr.

ffiil'"T::"'jill,T;iHJ:J,i,x,:;;;;l

;::rilIli,i,

flHlT:tT:ruf LHl*?:ffi f;il,::.',H'ffi

H,H[':ays

possiblc to got a cluc Io

consider rrris se,rence

rris,c,u car ArirroLgrr uc can,r

k,,ow thc exacr

:'J:,1".::Jr,,fl :ll:i]ixJHffi

the tttcaning of a rvord fror,

rrrc

,YJ:.'lilff li.

corrcxr Fo,. cxanrprc, co,sidcr trris

Timoihy scowlcd rvhcn hc saw Aunt Ag:rtha.

Unless we lotow rvhat Tinrctirv'.s
opinion of Aunt Agr.tha is, ri,c canrrot
gucss tlre ,rear:irrg
Horvever' other sentcnces i, tlie passage
nright indic^tc *,rrai riis o1;i,io,lr,

rneaning.

of ,,scorr,lecl,, hcrc.
,r,J,r,.r. corrd gi'c a cruc to rhc

,c:,, gs,,: s: cr i,
",..',.|jl:Ti,i-;l:Ji: l::",:i:::::::::):i.!:l:tXi,llj;:ll:.\'7ocab,r,an
13

E prisi,

i;:

(b)"Find out the nrearring of tlrc foilorving stcrns. Tirc,,

usc your dictionaD, to rvritc tu,o exarnprcs
of rvords
using
each siem.

NO.
I

STEM

APPROXIMAT'E N{EANING

ortho

I. straight, regular, correct

EXAMPLES

l.

a. orthodox
b. orthogcinal

standard
2

medi

2. rniddle

mega

3.

seou

tract

2.a

_b
3.

4.

a.

b
5.

5.

a,

b.

sqli

6. sirrgle, only, alonc

6.

a.

b.

son

7.

a.

b
8

para

8. beside, alongside,

8. a.

resembling, like
con

9. together

9.

a.

b.

t0

l0

omnr

10.

a.

b.

EXERCISE 4
Instruction :

Use your knorvledge of the nreanings of stenrs and affrxes to guess the meanings of the
underlined words in the sentences belou'. Check )/our gucsses to sce that tlrey fit the cortext pro,icled
b;r tlie
---^,a^t
r

s5L

ul tll(; 5(,lltullu.JS.

Circle the letter corresporrding to your ans\\/er.

l.

Only one candidate is a supporter of socialized nredicine. The others prefer a systenr of
private hea.lth insurance
a. meciical care for preventing diseases before the1, occur
b. publiciy financed rncciical care for all nrerribe,-s of the corrurrunitv
c. Crugs anci nredicanrcnts produced for n.lass colls,.llnptiorr

2.

The reseat'ch is designed to discover the age at which children develoo nretrrlinsuestic
iwareness. It is hypothesizcd that this rvill occur sonrc ycars aftcr tho rr.g*r.ri,rgs of spceclr
itsclf.
a. the ability to talk about their dreanrs,
b. thc ability to conu.r.runicatc
c. consciousness oflanguagc

.
3.

The prime ministcr threatened to intervene in tlre disptrtc iFinciustry and tlrc trade unigns
carmot resolve their differences.
a. make the dispute illegal
b. come bctr'ecn the otltcr l.,r,o partics as a tlrird l);lrtv ntcdiator
c. stop tlre dispute

12.
n

.,. :
'

EXERCISE

Understnnding words in context

Look at the underlincd $,ord and rvritc its mcaning ort the lirtc.
Bxnnrple :
A ctrtlass is a sltort ctrrvcd srvord'

sword

.. '. '

'...:' ' '.,. '.

You should rvrite "srvord" as thc ntcaning of "ctttlass" bccausc thc dcfinition of "cutlass" is included in tlre
scntcncc.

USING THtr VERB "TO BE"

1'hc objcct follorving thc vcrb "to b0" is frcqucntll,uscd to idcrrtil'y'tlrc subjcct.
Examlrlc:
A salntott is a fislr.
Thc nrcaning of "salttton" is idclttified b1'thc rvord "fislt".

l.

I-lypoxia is an illness causcd b),a dcficicncy of o)i)/gcn in tlic tissucs of thc [rodv

2.

A porcupine is a large clirnbing rodent that is covercd'r,itlt sltarp spines for defense

3.

The atonr is the snrallest part of a cltenrical elcntcnt that catt exist and still havc the
properties of the element.

5.

A drone is a malc bee.

USING APPOSITIVES
A noun or noun group which follorvs a noun and is sct off bl,conlnras is art appositivc. It idcntifics
noun it follows.
Ex:::::p!e :
Mercury, thc silvcr-colored rretal used in tltcrr:rontctcrs, is usuall;,in a liquid I'r:nrr.
'lhe nrcaning of "rrrcrcury"'is idcntificd by its appositivc, "tltc silvcr-col<.,rcd ntctal trscci in tl),inlrorilcicrs".
By adding tltc rvords "rvhich is/arc" or "rvlro is/:rrc," you can tcst

iItlrc

thc

rrotrrt is an apposrlivc

Exarnple :
A4ercury, rvhich is the silver-colorcd nrctal uscd in tlrcnronrctcrs, is usually in a Iiquid
foritt

b.
7.

The goelacanth, a iarge-bodied hollow-spined frsh, rvas tlroLrgl:t tc be cxtinct until

reccntlv.
Pacenrakcrs, srrrall clcctrical dcviccs that stirr:ulatc tltc lrcart lr.tusclc. lravc savctl rttanv
l i ves.

8.

N1any residents o'f Harvaii uscd to believe that the volcano's flarings rvere tira<les of titerr

goddcss, Pclc

9.

Morse code, a systent of telcgraphic signals corttposed of Cots atid dasltcs, rvas invented
b1'Sarnuel FB N4orse.

i(t

Sttrrlr

int

)_rllrc_lLil\'4! , tltc caiasiroplrrc c.<1tlo:;rorts

i]l1r:iIi',rr,,If- ;)l,t]'-']ll Cl-,!;;l,llt,:: .

tr1^

(it lt.l, :,iltr,'.

ilritl

itt\',.) ir jts'.'. - i ) l-',

14

USING PUNCTUATION

Punctuatiol nrarks arc sonrctintcs uscd to sct offa u'ord rvhiclt is bcirtg uscd to idcntilr ilrlo(lli.rr
Sonrc of thc puttctuation tttarks yotl nla)r scc uscd in tlris \\'ay arc.

corrlnlas
dashcs
;:arcntlrcscs ( )

trrackcts'

tl

singlc quotation trtarks

dotrblc quotatiorr ntarks

rr

rr

Exnntllie :
In lascr printirrg, thc grmicr'thc nuutbcr ol'glli (dots pcr irrclr). thc hithcr

thc:

tluetit)'oItllc

irtrngc

produccd.

'l'5e rucanilg of "dpi" is iclcnrificd by thc rvords in parcnthcscs, "clots pcr irtclt".

ll.

Intensity -,loudpcss or softuess - dcpcncls on tlrc extcllt or ar.ttplittrclc of vibrations.

12.

Tlre trse of canrcd,birds, "decovs", is tlot a new idca in hutltittg

13.

If you are ectornorphic (thc slcndcr typo), you arc likcll' to bc good in such sports

as

track, tennis, and baskctball.

14.

A patlr to the cfiicftain's hcadquarters rvinds tltrouglt attciertt p-S[agbgb-inscriptions

irt

stone.

- the use of the tape rccordcr to capturc ntcttiorics of tlrc past irt privatc
interviews - has become increasingly popular aniong professional historians.

l-5. br^l hirt";

USING IIORI'
A u,ord is sorrrctinrr:s idr:rrtifir='d l-,1,L 5;,,,1"..,r:r f:ll:'.'.'llg
pxarnple :
The husky, or sled dog, of the North is a hardy breed.

ih; ,,;;.1 "-;.."

'['he rtteaning of tlre r.r,ord "husky"'is identified b1,the r.i,ords "sled dog" foilorvine th. rvord "or"

lb.

Altitude, or the height above sea level, is a factor that deterr:rrrres cli;nate.

17.

VesDers, or evening worship, can be heard at St. Matterv's Cathedral

18.

In sonre American Indian tribes, the squarv, or \\/on'lan, rvas the o\\ller of all property.

t9.

Thc ccnti'al nerycus systcnr of grasslioppcrs, fi"uit flics, and otlrcr in::cts includcs both thc
brain and a chain cf sinrplcr segrncntal ganelia, or groups ol ncrvc cclls.

't
ZC)

t5

Clatrstroplrobia, or tltc fcar of b-:irrg crtcloscd. is rrorc cornnton tlt'rt rt'tttr'pcol,rlc reaiizc

\\'Lrrcl

,.
,

t'

usiNc ExAI\{PLES
A rvord is sotttetintcs idcntifrcd by exanrples. Thesc tcnrrs otlcn
introduce cxanrples:
as
for example
such as
likc
for instancc
Exarn;rle :
Percussion instnrments, such as dntms, cr,nbals, and tanrbourirres,
rverc the preferqed instruments
in the stud1,.

The ttteattitlg oF "Pcr.ttssiott ittstnrrrcnts" is idc.tificcl bv thc

tlrrcc cxarrrplcs
"tartbourittcs.,,
2l

'

,,clrurrrs,,, ,,cyrrrbals,,,arrri
ur \'rrrr
uvl

'

Such largc fish as grorlpcrs and tnora)'ccls rccoglrizc tlrc rvrassc

as a Friencl tSat rvill help

tlrcrrr.

22'

Crcaturcs such as thc cantcl and thc pcngrrin arc so lriglrlv slrccializcd
tSat tlrc* ca, o'lr.
livc irr ccrtain arcas of thc rvorld.

23'

The sand absorbs cnouglt moisture to support drouglrt-rcsistant

plants suc5 as r.esquitc,

as well as scvcral spccics ofgrasscs.

24' t_l"!i"

paradpEela such as tents, sleeping

Yvry !uuPls ru (lutle contplex.

25'

bags cooking equipnrent can range fronr

Much can be done to halt the process of desertification. For example,

an asphaltlike petroleurl can
be sprayed onto sand dunes; and seecls oftrees and shrubs
can then be planted. The oil stabilizes
the sand and retains moistuire. allowing ve$etatron to become
established.

USING CLAUSES
Adjective clauscs sometintcs identifl rvords. The1, nps introduccd b1,the tvords:

tlrat
rvhcrr

rvltcrc
ri,hiclr

rvho

u,horn

Exanrlllc
Airships. u'lticlt are cigar-sha,pcd, stcerablc balloons, have nrany uses, sucir e-s filr:ring,
advcrtising, arrd cntertainlrlent.
Thc rltcartirlg of "airships" is iicntificd bv tlrc adjoctivc clause "l,hich arc cigar-slrapcd, stcerable balloo,s."
:

26.

27

'

28.

Recent tests sho\v tliat silver sulfadiazine, rvhicli is a compound used in the treatment
bums, can cure tlre rnost serious types of Americen sleeping sickress.

of

The kiva, rvhere Pueblo Indians hold their secret ceremonies, is entered by an'opening in
the root'

Me&df, rvhicii is the succession of scuids,

takes on nerv interest rvlren

fit

intr,, a

rhrthnric

patto rn.

?g.

l(,

NorrlcLhal tccltniqucs, thosc tlr."t clo ncand otl,:r I i.,,cstoclr

-]-lt: i,) ir
nrii..\ lrislt nl:r;cs
lrorr

t<i1l

covotcs, arc bcirrg dcvciopcd ro prorcct slrccl)

c(..ircr) irr;rir li:.: Cncirc rro;d,,ra. rvlricit n.tcans 'clcsccnir:cj

l6

I.JSING ITEFEIII'NI'S
Rcfcrcnts:rrc rvords that rcfcr b:rck or fonvard to otllcr rvcrds in thc scntcncc or paragraph.
li,xarrrple

Thc solar-porvcrcd battcrics in the ERS-l arc cxpccted to function for at least two years, cluring
rvhich tinte thc satcllite rvill be able to gather rnore infonnation tlran any previou.s satellito.
Tlrc nrcarrirrg ol'"EIlS-1" is idcntificd bf its rclcrcrrt "satcllitc."

l.

J'ltc firrntcrs r,,.r..o,,..r,tccl rbotrt tltc grorvirtg nrrrnbcr of boll rvcqrlrls. An iufcs(atiorr of
thcsc insccts could dcstrol, tl)c cotton crop ovcrrrigltt.

i2.

Al least -50 rvced'specics figlrt offcotttpctitors b1, cnritting toxins fronr their roots, leavcs,
or sccds. Tlrcsc lroisons do thcir rvork in a dozcn rvays, suclr as inliibiting gcrrninatiorr of
sccds and dcstrol,ing photosynthcsis abilitics.

33.

lnrllor-turrt t>l'liciuls visitirig prcsirh:rtt l{oosuvclt l'crc strrl>riscd [ly,his nrcnagcric o[1lcts.
No prcvious prcsidcnt had fillcd the Whitc Housc rvith srich a varicty if anirnals.

i4

Tlrc groonr stnrgglcd rvith lris tuxcdo. Hc rvottdcrcd rvhy hc lrad to wcar tlrcsc kinds
clothcs to gct nrarricd.

3_5

Enrnra rvas told.to put thc slrccts itr lhc han:lrcr, but she found the basket too full of soilcd
clothes to f rt the sheets in.

:l

of

USING CONTP-ASTS
Sontetintes tlte nteanings of tvords can be understood
bccar.rse tlrcl,are in contrast to rr.other r'orcl
irr tlre

selltel'lce. Words that indicatc a contrast are

bLrt

llr contrast

despite
Itotvcvcr

irr s1;itc

of

irrstcacl

or'
tunlike
rvhcrcas

Exanrple
l'lre bricf scencs in tllc rlloi'i(j focus on thc boy's ooint olvicr\,,
i'llcreas t5e, lot:gcr scclrcs
dcpicr the frt!rcr's side.
"Btief'sccrlcs are understood to be "slrort" sccncs bccausc
tlrey are in contrast to tlre,,longor,,scenes.
:

36.

The bitc of a garter snake, unrike that of the deadry cobra,

is benien,

3',l

Tlrebluebonnet,theTexrssLatcflower'ffidiesinoverlyrr,,et
conditions.

3S

Despite proposccl cLrtbacks in fittartcial support for dorrrcstic

sttrdc.ts, assisrarrce for
foreign siudettts studying arrcl training in tlre United States is
to be sharply i,.,creased

39'

Unlike ltcr qreqarictts sistcr. Janc is a shv, urrsociablc pc.son

l)arttcs

,\l

t7

,;1. lil,,,.r,l':,-)ll

l:: .::

r:.':l),il]:;i, c lilrnclrrrari-: r te,rrs

,.r,ho docs

,ot like

to go ro

;:..

''

.,.

l.

'

udiNc orrrDil lvoRDS

rN

'ruI

snNTENCE

Otlrer r.vords in u scntcrrcc call sor)rctinres hclp identify a rvord.

Exarrrlllc :
ln ordcr to silt thc ncctar rvitlr its long torrgtrr:. tlrc bcc rtrust clivc irtto thc florvcr arrd iu so
doing bccorncs dustcd witlr thc firrc pollen grairts frottt tltc artthcrs.
Wc can gucss that "ncctar" is thc substancc that bccs collcct frorn a floner becausc the bee nrust "sip ..... rvitlr
its.long tongue" and "dive into the florver". We can gtrcss tltat "antltsr" is a part of the lorver because the bce
gets "dustcd rvith tlrc finc pollcn grains fronr thc arrtltcrs: rvhcn it divcs irrto the florvcr.

4l

1'lrc briglrt purple scntiart gro\vs rvild in Colorado attd bloorrts in latc sunrnrcr.

42.

While blorving air into tlre lcather bag, tlrc bagpipc player produces rnelodres
the chantcrl

43.

IJnfortunately, the plant's hair kill useful insccts, but this problcnr can be alleviated by
controlling the anrount of lrair.

44.

The much larger_full of the nrultidcckcd round ship allorvcd it to carrl,nrorc supplies,

[:1,

fingering

rnore nren, nrore gurls, and nrorc sails, all of'rvlticlr \vcrc nccossary for lorrg voyagcs
comrncrco and discovcry.

45.

of

[n the third century 8.C., Ctcsibuis, thc Crcck cngirrccr and tlrcorist. first cxcrciscd his
inventive talents by nraking an adjustablc mirror and tlrcn crcating ingenious toys rvhich
could move under tlreir own powcr.

18