The passage below has 20 high-frequency vocabulary words in it. See if you can understand their meaning from the context. If not read the meanings and sample sentences given below the passage.
When was the last time you played a game or pursued a hobby?
One can choose a hobby from a plethora of options, and explore them more or less deeply. Some try to develop their culinary skills, or attempt writing a book, or indulge in more erudite hobbies like numismatics or philately. Some set their heart on playing a musical instrument, like the guitar.
But people often abandon their culinary journey when their first curry turns out to be insipid. Those who take up writing may love the idea of writing, but when it comes to actually writing, they find themselves staring endlessly at a blank page or computer screen. Most people are too capricious and lazy to stick with a hobby that requires a bit of discipline to be really rewarding. In the end, many become disillusioned when it turns out to be more work than they expected, and their initial euphoria fizzles out. I do not wish to flippantly claim that a hobby is all play and no work; but once you have decided which hobby you want to pursue and have familiarized yourself with the basics of it, you will find that the work that is involved is pleasurable and rewarding in a way that your regular paid work can never be.
And how do you go about choosing a hobby? Above all, don’t be a skeptic: unless you believe in your right and ability to enjoy being a neophyte in a new field, you will not be able to take pleasure in it – and pleasure is the whole point. In choosing, you should use your intuition, and choose something which fits the soul. The trick is to know your inner self, and to be both idealistic and pragmatic at the same time in following it. To find a hobby that will suit your nature and circumstances, you need to make a list of the things you enjoy doing, and then consider how much free time and money you can devote to the activity you choose. No matter how ludicrous your idea for a hobby may initially seem, you have to boldly transcend your doubts and prejudices, and savor the excitement of novelty and uncertainty.
No matter how diffident one is when taking up a hobby, no matter how casually one pursues it, it is still important to have one. A hobby can kindle a new interest in life and reveal hitherto unsuspected aspects of oneself, even on occasion leading to a new career.
Now here are the meanings, with illustrative sentences. Read them through and then see if you can understand the passage.
1. plethora (noun): a large quantity:
“It was raining on the day the politician arrived at his next campaign stop, so when he got to the podium and looked out at his audience, all he saw was a plethora of umbrellas.”
“The response to the director’s new film was a plethora of disappointed reviews.”
2. culinary (adjective): relating to cooking:
“The man I marry will have to have good culinary skills, since I will be too busy with my career to cook, and I love good food.”
3. erudite (adjective): learned; having a deep knowledge of something; reflecting such deep knowledge:
“Let us now hear what the erudite professor himself has to say about this matter to which he has devoted so many years of study.”
“Based as it was on 20 years of research, his writing was erudite; unfortunately, however, he was unable to make his subject interesting.”
4. numismatics (noun, plural): the study of coins:
“Numismatics is an important branch of archeology.”
5. philately (noun): the collection and study of stamps:
“When he told me that he had a passion for philately, I thought I would find him intolerably boring; instead, he introduced me to a fascinating new hobby.”
6. insipid (adjective): lacking taste (in both a literal and figurative sense); dull; uninteresting:
“The restaurant reviewer complained that everything on the menus was more or less insipid: he would have liked a little more spice in everything.”
“I once made an effort to read his poetry, but I found it too insipid to continue.”
7. capricious (adjective): impulsive; affected by short-lived bursts of enthusiasm; frequently changing one’s mind; resulting from or reflecting such impulsiveness:
“Being capricious by nature, he had started learning five different languages at one time or another, but had never progressed beyond the basics before giving up.”
“Thanks to your capricious decision to buy a dog, we have yet another mouth to feed in the house.”
8. disillusioned (adjective, past participle of the verb to disillusion): having the feeling that one’s expectations and beliefs about something have been disappointed and proved false:
“I had grown up believing that the university was a temple of learning filled with young people who were devoted to the search for knowledge and truth, so my first year of undergraduate study left me feeling deeply disillusioned.”
“After twenty years of work in the environmental movement, he retired a disillusioned man.”
9. euphoria (noun): intense happiness; extremely high spirits; exhilaration:
“I have never felt such euphoria as I did on the day of our marriage.”
“Most mountain climbers report that they feel a tremendous euphoria upon reaching the mountain’s summit.”
10. flippantly (adverb, from the adjective flippant): in a frivolous, non-serious, thoughtless manner (generally referring to acts of speech):
“I flippantly told her that our friendship meant nothing to me, but immediately regretted it.”
11. diffident (adjective): lacking confidence; unsure of oneself:
“Despite being told again and again that he was a musical genius, he remained diffident about his ability, and as a result retired early from his career as a concert pianist.”
“Let me assure you that your writing is of the highest quality: you have no reason at all to be diffident.”
12. kindle (verb): to light a fire; to bring something into being or inspire it, starting from a small beginning:
“As night fell, the trekkers gathered sticks and leaves and kindled a fire.”
“In his campaign speeches, the prime ministerial candidate tried to kindle his audience’s patriotism with fiery speeches about the nation’s growing importance on the international scene.”
“I gave her many books of poetry, trying to kindle an interest that we could pursue together, but she just wasn’t interested.”
13. skeptic (noun): someone who doubts:
“I used to be a skeptic in matters of religion, but at this point in my life I feel more inclined to admit that there may be a lot of truth in it.”
“The average voter is much more of a skeptic today than he was thirty years ago, and much less likely to believe politicians’ campaign promises.”
14. neophyte (noun): an absolute beginner in some field or activity:
“Despite being a neophyte in politics, the chief minister’s son was immediately given important posts and responsibilities.”
“Even when he was a neophyte in chess, he used to defeat serious players with years of experience.”
15. intuition (noun): a feeling about something that is not based directly on reasoning or logical processes of thinking:
“Most managers do not actually think through their decisions in a logical and systematic way, but depend on intuition to tell them what they should do in a difficult and complex situation.”
“I can’t really tell you why, but I have an intuition that something terrible is about to happen.”
16. idealistic (adjective): having high, noble, and possibly unrealistic ideals and principles; characterized by or reflecting such an attitude:
“When I was younger, I was very idealistic, and frequently chose to do what I thought was right, even if that meant sacrificing my own interests for the benefit of others.”
“The prime minister’s idealistic decision to institute a universal health care system proved to be an economic disaster for the government.”
17. pragmatic (adjective): realistic; having a sound sense of what is really possible and necessary; characterized by or reflecting such an attitude (opposite of idealistic):
“The new president of the company was much more pragmatic than the previous one, and instituted reforms which quickly made the company profitable again.”
“I take a pragmatic view of marriage: it should be seen as an institution that exists to make both partners happy, and if it ceases to be this, then it should be allowed to come to an end.”
18. ludicrous (adjective): ridiculous; absurd; laughable:
“Your plan to equip the doghouse with a solar-powered heating system is ludicrous.”
“On his first day of work he came to the office dressed in a ludicrous multicolored costume adorned with peacock feathers, mirrors, and chains, and was immediately fired.”
19. transcend (verb): to rise above; to overcome:
“Great works of art are the ones that deal with issues of universal and eternal importance, and thereby transcend the particular historical circumstances in which they were created.”
“Amazingly, she was able to transcend the terrible problems and challenges in her life and become the first person in her family to go to university.”
20. savor (verb): to enjoy the taste of something; to fully enjoy something:
“Just savor the wonderful taste of this garlic and carrot pickle!”
“As he felt his life drawing to an end, he made more and more of an effort to savor each and every moment and experience to the fullest.”
- GRE, GRE Verbal, IELTS, TOEFL
When you are thinking of getting a Master’s or doctoral degree in America, some of the top questions on your mind would be:
• What are the academic requirements in order to be able to apply?
• What are the costs of getting a degree in the US?
• What are the job prospects?
Here’s a quick look at the answers to those questions.
What is the eligibility for applying for a Master’s course in America?
The basic eligibility requirement is 16 years of formal education (12 + 4), the last 4 from an accredited university. So, students who have bachelor’s degrees in engineering (whether they joined engineering courses directly after the 12th Std. or after a diploma course) can directly apply for American Master’s courses. However, students who have completed a three-year degree (e.g. B.Sc.) should ideally complete their Master’s degrees (e.g. M.Sc.) in India and then apply.
Note: External degrees and degrees from open universities that are not accredited may not accepted by American universities.
What is the cost of education in America?
The cost of education in America varies from Rs. 12,00,000 to Rs. 30,00,000 depending on:
• the type of university (private or government-aided)
• its rank
• its geographical location
Apart from tuition fees you also have to bear the costs of:
• insurance
• living (food + housing)
• transportation.
There are many ways to reduce these financial burdens however. Many students manage to get some kind of financial assistance in the form of:
• research and teaching assistantships
• tuition waivers
• on-campus jobs etc.
Such kinds of financial assistance take care of a large part of the expenses incurred when studying in America.
What are the job prospects after completing a Master’s degree course in America?
• After completing your course you are allowed to undertake Optional Practical Training (OPT) for 12 months. OPT may be extended for another 17 months if you fall under the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) category
• Ample job opportunities exist in the fields of engineering and computer science (much tech talent in America is Indian and many Indians hold top positions the field – as is evident from the case of Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft).
Note:
• Professors’ recommendations carry a lot of weight. To get a job you must get excellent references from professors who taught you during your master’s course.
• When you are working in America, your company may apply for H1-B visa (work permit) on your behalf. After this you can apply for a green card.
So, get ready to get your MS in US!
If you are considering higher education in America, either an MBA or MS you will need to take the following tests:
Graduate Record Examination® (GRE®): Those seeking admission for a Master’s degree in any field apart from management are required to take the GRE test. The GRE® is a computer-based test and consists of verbal, quantitative and essay sections. The GRE test is scored as follows. The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored on a scale of 130-170 each and the essay section is scored on a separate scale of 0-6. The score is valid for 5 years. The test can be taken throughout the year at certified test centers.
Graduate Management Aptitude Test® (GMAT®): The GMAT test is required for students seeking a management (MBA) degree in America. The GMAT test too, is computer-based and consists of verbal, quantitative and essay and integrated reasoning sections. There is a combined score on a scale of 200-800 for the Verbal and Quantitative sections. There is separate score for the essay section on a scale of 0-6 and one for the integrated reasoning section on a scale of 1-8. The score is valid for 5 years. The test can be taken throughout the year at certified test centers.
Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL®): Since English is not our native language, all Indians seeking a degree in America are required to take the TOEFL test to prove English proficiency. The TOEFL test is internet-based and consists or reading, listening, writing and speaking sections. The TOEFL test is out of 120 and can be taken on weekends throughout the year at certified test centers. The score is valid for 2 years.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Like the TOEFL® test IELTS too, is an English test required to prove English proficiency. Many American universities now accept IELTS test scores. Hence you may choose to take the IELTS test in place of the TOEFL. The IELTS is paper-based and consists of reading, listening, writing and speaking sections. The score is out of 9.0 and can be taken throughout the year at certified test centers. The score is valid for 2 years.
Note: Prior registration is required for all these tests.
If you are looking for coaching for these tests click this link
(Note: debility means weakness or disability; verbal debility here means a weakness or disability relating to the verbal section. Also, check out the other difficult words in this post. To get the meaning, just hover your mouse over them.)
How to Improve Vocabulary
1. Get those Vocab Lists, Look up those Dictionaries
As we said in our previous post, a good grasp of vocabulary is instrumental to achieving success in the Verbal Section. To improve your vocabulary, start by learning word meanings, synonyms, and antonyms. In order to do this you will need to find a good GRE list on the net – there are several available – and look up the synonyms and antonyms on a good online dictionary e.g.
On every handy piece of software to download and install on your laptop, phones, tablets, PCs etc is wordweb (http://wordweb.info/free/): it will give you words, meanings, sample sentences etc. for every word you hover your cursor over.
(Note to Dilip Oak’s Academy students: you already have VaiVocabulary – this gives you the word list along with synonyms, antonyms, easily confused words and a whole lot of revision features.)
2. Learn, Revise, Repeat
Developing an effective vocabulary also means consistent learning and revision so, start learning well before the exam – at least three months is recommended – and set up a learning and revision schedule. Make regular revision an integral part of your schedule: unless you revise regularly and repeatedly, you won’t remember any of that difficult vocabulary you are learning.
4. Target the Tough Ones
When you revise, mark out any words that you tend to forget: they need extra revision. The more you tend to forget them, the more they need to be revised; and the more you revise them, the better you will remember them!
5. Start Small
Doing all the learning and revision required can be an arduous task so, start with a good 500 high frequency GRE® word list. A short list like this will be a good stepping stone to the longer ones; and learning it will help you in overcoming the mental blocks associated with vocabulary learning.
6. Put it in Context
Keep in mind that simply memorizing words by rote is not enough, however; and developing a good vocabulary is not merely a matter of memorizing meanings of thousands of words. Often students notice that simply knowing the meaning of an obscure GRE word does not guarantee selecting the right answer in the exam. A proper understanding of exactly how to use vocabulary is necessary. It is this knowledge of usage that helps you to choose the right word for the given context. It is therefore advisable that, along with all your efforts to increase your vocabulary, you focus on getting a clear understanding of how to use these GRE words and which words fit in a particular context.
Developing Good Reading Habits
Apart from going through word lists, developing good reading habits is also crucial. One way in which this helps is getting an understanding of usage and context as we saw above. Secondly, though the GRE® is not a test of general knowledge, the reading comprehension passages in the verbal section cover a variety of topics and areas. Some background knowledge of the subjects being discussed in the passage you are reading is always useful since it is always easier to understand something that is at least somewhat familiar than something that is completely unfamiliar. For both these reasons it is imperative that you read a variety of articles from newspapers, magazines, and the web. Sites like the ones below give you access to an eclectic collection of very high quality writings.
http://thebrowser.com/ (easier but nevertheless intriguing reading – good to start with: it stimulates your interest and gets you reading without bogging you down with difficult words or convoluted sentences)
http://www.aldaily.com/ (more complex stuff, really long articles – get into this slowly)
Reading through this material at random can ensure both plenty of practice for comprehension and exposure to vocabulary in context.
(Note for Oak’s students: check out this link)
First, here’s some basic orientation for GRE® rookies. The GRE exam incorporates 3 types of section:
- Analytical Writing (the essay writing section which is scored on a scale of 0-6 with half point increments)
- Quantitative Reasoning (which tests Maths skills)
- Verbal Reasoning (which tests English skills – both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are scored on a scale of 130-170 in 1-point increments)
Typically, cracking the GRE requires 4-12 weeks of preparation. A major chunk of this time will inevitably be invested in preparing for the Verbal section. Why is this so? Firstly, a lot of Indian students taking the GRE are engineers or others for whom the Quantitative Reasoning section is not a major problem. But Verbal reasoning includes questions on Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence which require good reading skills and an extensive vocabulary. However, most Indian students don’t tend to read much and, as a result, these are precisely the skills and knowledge that they lack. So, the Verbal Reasoning section is a tough nut to crack. What difficulties does it throw up?
Doing well in reading comprehension entails, among other things, an ability to read challenging unseen passages on unfamiliar topics, locate relevant information within the mass of details given in the passage, understand assumptions and implications and, get the main point. Choosing the right options from among several close alternatives requires insight, and discrimination, and the ability to recognize correct restatements and inferences.
In Sentence Equivalence or Text Completion questions, a proper understanding of the logic and reasoning of the sentences plays an important role: without it you won’t find the correct approach. Then, there are the vocabulary challenges. We all know that word meanings in the English language can be quite tricky. The GRE exam makes this problem even trickier by offering you close choices in Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion questions – ones which require you to understand the nuances of meaning and usage of words. Understanding usage and context therefore play a very important role in eliminating the wrong answers. Further, the wide variety of sub-question types and the high difficulty level of the questions is a challenge to most students.
Given the difficulties verbal questions pose, preparation for the Verbal section means developing a thorough mastery of vocabulary, reading skills and the strategies for tackle them successfully. Naturally, doing well in the Verbal section takes intensive preparation and practice for all students. You have to start well in advance, have the right resources and a good study plan. Our next blog will give you a few tips on how to move closer to attaining prowess in this difficult section.