How Should You Build Up Your Vocabulary?

LESSoN NINE (B)      TEXT  B       How Should You Build Up Your Vocabulary?      Through Context1       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 productive2.           But theres another reason. Suppose someone asks you what the word fast means. You answer, swift. But does it mean that in such contexts3 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 prefix4, suffix5, 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 apparently6 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 tentative7 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.

1 context   

n.背景，环境，上下文，语境

参考例句：

• You can always tell the meaning of a word from its context.你常可以从上下文中猜出词义来。
• This sentence does not seem to connect with the context.这个句子似乎与上下文脱节。

2 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

3 contexts   

上下文( context的名词复数 )； 背景； 投资环境； 设备场境

参考例句：

• Even seemingly innocuous words are offensive in certain contexts. 甚至看似毫无恶意的言辞在某些语境下都会引起冒犯。
• Handheld devices are used in a variety of specific contexts. 手持设备会用在各种各样的具体情境下。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 prefix   

n.前缀；vt.加…作为前缀；置于前面

参考例句：

• We prefix "Mr."to a man's name.我们在男士的姓名前加“先生”。
• In the word "unimportant ","un-" is a prefix.在单词“unimportant”中“un”是前缀。

5 suffix   

n.后缀；vt.添后缀

参考例句：

• We add the suffix "ly" to make the adjective "quick" into the adverb " quickly ".我们在形容词“ quick”后加“ly” 构成副词“quickly”。
• It described the meaning of suffix array and also how to built it.它描述的含义，后缀数组以及如何建立它。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 tentative   

adj.试验性质的，暂时的，犹豫不决的

参考例句：

• I have some tentative suggestions.我有几点不成熟的想法。
• Please come out with your tentative ideas at the meeting.请把你的初步设想在会上讲一讲。