TOPSCOREGRE

BUILDING VOCABULARY 2

2025-03-08T21:46:00.000-08:00

TO UTTER AND MUTTER

In the introduction, we came across the word 'mutter'. But did you know that 'mutter' has something to do with 'utter'? Sounds interesting, right?

👉 To utter means to speak. Simple!
👉 To mutter means to speak in a low, unclear tone — like when you're grumbling or talking under your breath.

So, the opposite of muttering is speaking clearly. And when we speak clearly, we either articulate or enunciate.

To articulate means to speak clearly and distinctly.
To enunciate means to pronounce each word very clearly.

Let's do a quick recap:

WORD	MEANING
UTTER	Speak
MUTTER	Speak Unclearly
ARTICULATE	Speak Clearly
ENUNCIATE	Speak clearly and Precisely

Spotting Connections (Analogies)

Now, here's something interesting. Sometimes you'll come across word problems that test how well you understand connections between words - analogy problems.

For example:
ENUNCIATE: WORDS

✅ "Think about it: What could be the connection here?" Well, when we enunciate, our words become clear and distinct. So, the connection is:
✅ Enunciating makes words clear.

Now, look at this analogy:
LIMN: LINES

Ever heard the word limn? It means to draw or sketch something very clearly. So, just like enunciating makes words clear, limning makes lines clear. The link here is all about making something clear or distinct.

So the analogy works like this:
👉 ENUNCIATE: WORDS
👉 LIMN: LINES

(When we ‘enunciate’ our words become clear, just as when we ‘limn’ our lines become clear)

Cool, right?

Back to Muttering...

Now that we've explored clear speaking, let's turn back to muttering.

✅ Did you know there are many synonyms for 'mutter'?

· Mumble – when you speak unclearly.

Whisper – when you speak in a low voice, usually so no one hears you.
Murmur – when you speak softly and in an unclear way.

All of these are ways of speaking in low or unclear tones. And when we speak like that, our voice can get muffled (like when you talk under a blanket).

Here's something fun to think about:

Sound can get muffled.
Light can get muted (dimmed).

Now we can create an analogy:
👉 SOUND: MUFFLED
👉 LIGHT: MUTED

(In each pair, the first word tells you how someone speaks, and the second shows in what manner they do it.)

Neat, huh?

Different Ways of Speaking

Let's go a little further. There are many different ways of speaking. Here's a quick look:

MUTTER → Speak unclearly.
SHOUT → Speak very loudly.
DRONE → Speak in a flat, monotonous tone.
ARTICULATE → Speak clearly and distinctly.

This creates another set of analogies:
👉 MUTTER: INDISTINCTLY (You can't hear clearly.)
👉 SHOUT: LOUDLY (Everyone hears you!)
👉 DRONE: MONOTONOUSLY (Same tone, no excitement.)
👉 ARTICULATE: DISTINCTLY (Perfect clarity.)

(In each pair the first word denotes a way of uttering and the second the mode of uttering)

You can even flip the analogy:
👉 MUTTER: DISTINCT (When you mutter, your words are not distinct.)
👉 ARTICULATE: UNCLEAR (When you articulate, your words are not unclear.)

(The first word is in opposite relation to the second)

Isn't it amazing how much you can learn from just two simple words — utter and mutter?

So the next time someone mutters, don't just say 'What?!' — ask them to ‘articulate’ or ‘enunciate’. Who knows, you might impress them with your vocabulary!

BUILDING VOCABULARY : 1

2025-03-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Building Verbal Skills: Beyond Memorizing Words 🚀

What if I told you that mastering vocabulary has little to do with memorizing words — and everything to do with making connections between ideas?

The key to sharpening your verbal ability lies in thinking creatively. It's about understanding how words relate to each other, how one idea can spark another, and how language is built on hidden analogies.

So, from this moment on, we won't just learn words — we'll learn to think like wordsmiths.

Thinking Beyond the Obvious

Let’s begin with a simple word: EXPLODE 💥

What’s the first image that comes to mind? Probably a bomb bursting, right? But what if I told you explode has another meaning:

Explode → To completely disprove or invalidate something, especially an idea or theory.

✅ Example: Darwin exploded the myth of creationism.

Here, explode doesn't mean a physical blast. It means to shatter a widely held belief — to debunk it.

Connection:

EXPLODE: MYTH → DEBUNK: THEORY

Both involve breaking something down. When you explode a myth, you disprove it; when you debunk a theory or an idea, you expose it as invalid. And that’s your first key insight:

👉 Verbal ability is about connecting ideas, not memorizing definitions.

Building Analogies: Raze, Fell, Level

Now, let’s think deeper.
If you can explode a myth, you can also:

Raze a building.
Fell a tree.
Level an opponent.

All these actions share a common theme — bringing something down.
So you get:

BUILDING: RAZE → Demolish a building.
TREE: FELL → Cut down a tree.
OPPONENT: LEVEL → Defeat an opponent.

See how one word (explode) led to a chain of powerful analogies?

(An analogy, by the way, is a relationship of similarity between two pairs of words. The similarity acts as the common thread that connects them.)

👉 This is exactly how high-level verbal mastery works — finding hidden parallels.

From Action to Result: Quarry to Stone

Let’s push it further. If you fell a tree, you get timber. If you quarry rock, you get stone.

This forms a new analogy:

FELL: TIMBER → Cutting trees yields timber.

(Don’t confuse ‘fell’ with the past form of ‘fall’)

QUARRY: STONE → Mining rocks yields stone.

Pattern?
👉 Action → Result

Now watch this:

BAKE: CAKE → Baking yields a cake.
SHEAR: WOOL → Shearing yields wool.

Your mind is already thinking in patterns, isn't it? 😉

Unexpected Connections: Growth and Transformation

Let’s stretch our thinking. Did you know:

The seed of a date fruit is called a stone.
The seed of an oak tree is called an acorn.

This leads to analogies of growth or transformation:

OAK: ACORN → An oak grows from an acorn.
SALMON: ROE → A salmon grows from fish eggs (roe).
MOTH: CATERPILLAR → A moth transforms from a caterpillar.

Pattern?
👉 Seed (Source) → Product.

Would you have guessed that explode → debunk would eventually lead you to moth → caterpillar? That’s the magic of verbal mastery.

Time to Tackle Antonyms!

Alright, let’s shift gears. Now that you understand how words relate — can you tackle antonyms (words with opposite meanings)?

1. MUTTER
(Find the word that opposes the idea of muttering)

A. please oneself
B. resolve conflict
C. speak distinctly ✅
D. digress randomly
E. omit willingly

Why is ‘speak distinctly’ correct?

MUTTER means to speak indistinctly.
SPEAK DISTINCTLY means the opposite — speak clearly and loudly, or articulate.

But wait — don't stop here. There's more to unlock.

Building Analogies from Antonyms

Watch this:

MUTTER: INDISTINCTLY
SHOUT: LOUDLY
DRONE: MONOTONOUSLY
ARTICULATE: DISTINCTLY

(The beauty lies in the clear relationship between the words: the first denotes the action, the second specifies how it's performed, distinctly capturing different modes of speaking.)

We’ve now created four powerful analogies. And here’s the beauty:

👉 Every time you encounter a word, don't just define it — connect it. Find its opposite, analogy, source, or result.

Your Key Takeaway

If you take away one lesson from this — let it be this:

✅ Stop memorizing words.
✅ Start connecting them.

Language is like a web. Every word has:

A result (fell → timber).
A transformation (acorn → oak).
An opposite (mutter → articulate).

The more you practice finding relationships, the sharper your verbal ability will become.

So — ready for your next word?

ENGLISH GRAMMAR I

2025-03-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends!
Did you know that every language has its own set of letters called an alphabet? Remember, the word alphabet doesn’t refer to a single letter but rather the entire set of letters in a language. So, it isn’t proper to say “alphabet A”; instead, it’s just “letter A,” which is one part of the English alphabet.

Here’s something fascinating: The word alphabet comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet—alpha and beta—which correspond to a and b in English. That’s why alphabet means the entire sequence of letters, like a, b, c, and so on.

When we combine some of these letters to form a meaningful group, we get a word. And here’s where the fun begins—words can play different roles, just like characters in a story:

Nouns are the stars of the show—they name people, animals, places, or things. Think of them as the who or what of any sentence. For example, dog, mountain, or Emma.
Adjectives are like artists, painting pictures of those nouns. They tell us if the dog is playful, the mountain is tall, or Emma is curious.
Verbs bring the action! They’re the doers—jumping, singing, thinking, or even sleeping (yes, that’s an action too!).
Adverbs add flair to the verbs, showing how, when, or where something happens. A dog can bark loudly, Emma can climb a mountain quickly, and the sun can shine brightly.
Conjunctions are the glue holding everything together. They link words and ideas, like bridges between thoughts. For instance, and, but, or because.
Prepositions are your navigators, pointing out where things are or when they happen. The book on the table, the cat under the bed, or the party at noon—all use prepositions to make sense.

Language is truly amazing, isn’t it? Now that we’ve introduced these parts of speech, let’s explore how they work together to create beautiful sentences!

As we’ve seen, some words are naming words, which we call nouns. Let’s take an example:
Emma is a girl.
In this sentence, there are two nouns: Emma and girl.

Emma is the name of a particular girl. Since it is a specific name, we call it a proper noun.

The word girl can refer to any girl. It is a name that is common to all girls, so we call it a common noun.

Here’s another example:
Canada is a country.
In this sentence:

Canada is a specific name, so it is a proper noun.
Country can refer to any country, making it a common noun.

In short:

A name common to every person or thing of the same class is a common noun (e.g., boy, chair, country, city, girl).
The name of a specific person or place is called a proper noun (proper meaning "one’s own") (e.g., Canada, India, Emma, Tom).

There are a couple of things to take note of here:

Proper nouns always start with a capital letter (or uppercase), like India.
A proper noun can become a common noun when used with an article (a, an, the).

For example:
a) Sachin is the Bradman of India. (Here, Bradman is not referring to a specific individual but is used to mean "any excellent batsman.")
b) Rahim is a Kalidasa in his village. (Here, a Kalidasa means "any great poet.")

Before we call it a day, here is a brief recap:

The naming words are called nouns. When a noun refers to a thing or a person of the same class, it is called a common noun; when it refers to a specific person or place, it is called a proper noun and it starts with a capital letter.

Enough for today!

Alright, friends?_______________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE:

1. What does the word "alphabet" mean?

a) A single letter
b) A group of letters forming a word
c) The entire set of letters in a language
d) A single language

2. From which language does the word "alphabet" originate?
a) Latin
b) Greek
c) English
d) Sanskrit

3. Which of the following is true?

a) It is proper to say “alphabet A”

b) Proper nouns start with a capital letter

c) Proper nouns can never be common nouns

d) All common nouns start with an upper case

4. Choose the correct sentences from the following options.

a) Mumbai is the Manchester of India

b) Mumbai is Manchester of India

c) Alappuzha is Venice of Kerala

d) Alappuzha is the Venice of Kerala

5. Which of the following uses a proper noun as a common noun?

a) Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists of all times

b) The Taj Mahal is a historical monument

c) It takes great genius to become an Einstein these days

d) Wherever you travel in Kozhikode, you meet people of warmth.

________________________________________________________________________

ANSWERS

1. c) Alphabet refers to the entire set of letters in a language, not any individual letter

2. b) The word “alphabet” originates from the Greek language

3. b) All proper nouns start with a capital letter

4. b) & d). Since “Manchester” (a city of textiles) and “Venice” (a port city) are used as common nouns they need to be prefixed with the article “the”.

5. c) Since “an Einstein” is used in the sentence, it works as a common noun.

________________________________________________________________________

Let's speak

2019-09-12T21:30:00.004-07:00

Hi,

Welcome back to learning words and their associations!

One way to build a good vocabulary is to learn the antonyms.

Let’s learn new, unfamiliar, words and their uses and associations as we examine some Antonyms. Also, remember that the words appearing in Antonyms can as well appear in problems of Analogies or Sentence Completion. So, be ready.

Here comes the first problem:

We have to pick from the choices a word or phrase that is against the idea of the headword.

1.MUTTER

A.please oneself

B. resolve conflict

C. speak distinctly

D. digress randomly

E. omit willingly

See the close connection between MUTTER and UTTER.

To utter is to speak.

To mutter is to speak in a muted tone, to talk in such a low tone that the talk becomes indistinct or unclear. So, the idea opposed to mutter is to speak distinctly or clearly.

When we speak clearly we ARTICULATE. Or, we can say we ENUNCIATE.

To enunciate is to make each of our words very distinct.

Let's recap what we just read.

To UTTER = To Speak

To MUTTER = To Speak Unclearly

To ARTICULATE = To Speak Clearly

To ENUNCIATE = To speak Clearly

Elsewhere, we will face these words in problems of Analogies. In these problems we get a pair of words that are connected with some idea. We have to pick from among the choices a pair of words that is connected with the same idea. For example, once the following pair was presented as a question:

ENUNCIATE : WORDS

We know that to enunciate is to speak distinctly, the act of which makes our words very distinct. The linking idea between the two terms is that of making things distinct. The answer choice for this problem was

LIMN : LINES

To limn is to draw or sketch very clearly, the act of which makes our lines very clear. The linking idea between the terms is again the same as in the question pair, that of making things distinct. Just as when we enunciate our words become clear, when we limn our lines stand out clearly.

Another way of putting it is:

If, when we enunciate we limn, then our words become lines.

Hence,

ENUNCIATE : WORDS

is similar to

LIMN: LINES

Now, let's get back to 'MUTTER'.

The words 'MUMBLE', 'WHISPER' and 'MURMUR' also mean 'MUTTER'. When we 'mutter', 'mumble', 'whisper', or 'murmur', we speak in low tones. The intensity of our sound gets reduced. Our sound gets 'muffle'd. To muffle is to reduce the intensity of sound, just as to mute is to reduce the intensity of the light.

Hence,

SOUND : MUFFLED

is the same as

LIGHT : MUTED

Muttering is one way of speaking, just as shouting is another way. Droning is yet another way. When we 'drone' we speak monotonously, i. e., in a single tone. When we speak clearly, as we have already seen, we articulate. Hence,

MUTTER : INDISTINCTLY

is the same in relationship as
SHOUT : LOUDLY

is the same in relationship as
DRONE : MONOTONOUSLY
is the same in relationship as

ARTICULATE : DISTINCTLY

These analogies can be given in the following manner too:

MUTTER : DISTINCT

When we mutter, our words are not distinct.

ARTICULATE : UNCLEAR

When we articulate, our words are not unclear.

We have seen that the word ‘DRONE’ means to speak monotonously. In fact, ‘DRONE’ as a noun refers to the ‘lazy bee’ among the honeybees. And, as we know, the buzzing sound of a bee is very droning, monotonous.

Because a drone is a kind of bee, we can also get analogies like

DRONE: BEE

A drone is a kind of bee

in the same way as

CARP: FISH

A carp is a kind of fish.

These sorts of analogical problems are very common in tests.

Here are a few more examples from the old questions.

PINE: CONIFER

A pine tree is a coniferous tree.

FIR: TREE
A fir is a tree.

TROUT: FISH
A trout is a fish.

SACRIFICE: WORSHIP
Sacrifice is a form of worship.

AUGURY: PREDICTION

Augury is a form of prediction.

KIDNEY: ORGAN
A kidney is a kind of organ.

HEART: ORGAN
A heart is another kind of organ.

RIB: BONE
A rib is an example of bone.

CAT: ANIMAL
A cat is an animal.

CHAIR: FURNITURE

A chair is an item of furniture.

FORGERY: COUNTERFEIT
Forgery is an example of counterfeit.

EMBEZZLEMENT: FRAUD
Embezzlement is a kind of fraud.

DART: MISSILE
A dart is a small sort of missile.

SKIFF: BOAT
A skiff is small type of boat.

ANECDOTE: NARRATIVE/ STORY
An anecdote is a very small story.

SNACK: MEAL
A snack is a very small meal.

SKIT: PLAY
A skit is a very short play

GADGET: TOOL
A gadget is a kind of tool.

TRINKET: JEWELRY
A trinket is a piece of cheap jewelry.

APPLE: FRUIT

An apple is a sort of fruit.

WOOL: FABRIC
Wool is a type of fabric.

ALLERGY: REACTION
An allergy is a form of reaction.

LANCET: INSTRUMENT

A lancet is a cutting instrument.

OSTRICH: BIRD
An ostrich is a bird.

TIGER: CAT
A tiger is a cat

ENZYME: CATALYST
An enzyme is a sort of catalyst.

BACTERIUM: MICROBE
A bacterium is a microorganism.

PILLAR: SUPPORT
A pillar is a form of support.

STOCKADE: ENCLOSURE
A stockade is an enclosure for cattle.

WING: STRUT
A wing is a form of strut [projection].

WALL: BUTTRESS
A wall is a form of buttress[support-].
PYLON: GUY
Pylon is a kind of guy [a rope for steadying some object].

LIMERICK: POEM
A limerick is a kind of comical poem.

LAMPOON: SATIRE
A lampoon is a ridiculing sort of satire[an ironical work of art].

LULLABY: SONG
A lullaby is a form of lulling [soothing] song.

DIRGE: MUSIC
Dirge is a form of sad music.

WALTZ: DANCE
Waltz is a form of dance.

TANGO: DANCE
Tango is another type of dance.

ELEGY: POEM
An elegy is a form of sad poem

TURQUOISE: GEM
A turquoise is a kind of gem like a ruby or an emerald.

VIOLET: FLOWER
A violet is a kind of flower.

OATH: PROMISE

An oath is a solemn promise

CONTRACT: AGREEMENT
A contract is a solemn agreement.

BUTTERFLY: INSECT
A butterfly is an insect.

METAPHYSICS: PHILOSOPHY
Metaphysics is particular form of philosophy.

MANSION: RESIDENCE

A mansion is a rich person’s residence.

LIMOUSINE: AUTOMOBILE
A limousine is a rich person’s automobile or car.

VENOM: POISON
Venom, poison of snake, is a kind of toxin.

MILK: NUTRIENT
Milk is a kind of nutrient [food].

CACOPHONY: SOUND
Cacophony is an unpleasant kind of sound.

GLARE: LIGHT
Glare is an unpleasant form of light.

DECLAMATION: GRANDILOQUENCE
Declamation is a type of grandiloquence [showy speech].

DIATRIBE: ABUSE
Diatribe is a speech of abuse.

ALCHEMY: SCIENCE
Alchemy is an ancient form of pseudo-science.

NOSTRUM: REMEDY
Nostrum is an ancient form of pseudo-medicine

DOGGEREL: VERSE
Doggerel is form of comical verse [poem].

BURLESQUE: PLAY
Burlesque is a form of comical play.

INFERNO: FIRE
Inferno is a raging, violent form of fire.

HURRICANE: STORM
Hurricane is a violent, raging kind of storm.

ALCOVE: RECESS
An alcove is an arched recess.

DOME: ROOF
A dome is an arched roof.

SUBSIDY: SUPPORT
Subsidy is a financial form of support.

DEBT: OBLIGATION
Debt is a financial form of obligation.

As we can see, it is not just our knowledge of the word- meaning that is tested, especially in analogies, but our knowledge and experience of the world around us.

Carp, as we a saw, is a fish.
But, as a verb , carp means to complain too much.
When we carp, we complain constantly about some very unimportant matters. Carp in this sense is the opposite of compliment.

If we get a pair of terms like

CARP: COMPLAIN

how do we connect them?

The first term in the pair is undesirably higher in its degree of intensity than the second. The two terms basically mean the same, but are not exact synonyms. One is higher in degree than the other and undesirable as well.

Again, this is a common kind of analogy that we encounter in the test.
A parallel example of the above can be

IMPORTUNE: REQUEST

When we importune, we repeatedly request in an annoying manner.

Another example:

GRILL: QUESTION

When we grill someone, we question him/her too much, maybe, even using the third degree.

Yet another example:

PRY: ENQUIRE

When we pry into some one's affairs, we enquire into them so deeply as to make it uncomfortable for him/her.

Here follow other examples of the same type of analogy we can see in the big book:

(In some cases the part of speech may change, but the link between the terms remains the same.)

GROVEL: PETITION

ENTANGLE: INVOLVE

GUZZLE: DRINK

GLARING: BRIGHT

DEAFENING: LOUD

EXHORT: SUGGEST

GOAD: DIRECT

PENURIOUS (miserly): FRUGAL (economical)

OBSEQUIOUS (obedient like a slave): COMPLIANT (willing to obey)

GARRULOUS: (intolerably talkative) TALKATIVE

CLOYING (intolerably sweet): SWEET

PARANOID (madly suspicious) SUSPICIOUS

IDOLATROUS (madly devoted): ADMIRING.

BELABOR (repeatedly state): ASSERT

FUSS: TEND (nurse)

QUIXOTIC (madly dreamy): IDEALISTIC

TOUCHY: SENSITIVE

ZEALOUS (fanatical): ENTHUSIASTIC

CHAUVINISTIC: PATRIOTIC

PRODIGAL: GENEROUS

ARROGANT: CONFIDENT

OFFICIOUS: ATTENTIVE

DOTE: LIKE

UPBRAID: REPROACH

GULLIBLE: TRUSTING

CREDULOUS: TRUSTING

QUERULOUS: COMPLAINING

PROFLIGATE: SPENDING

SERVILE: COMPLIANT

We've seen that a term like CARP varies its reference in different contexts. Such terms which have different meanings in different situations we describe as AMBIGUOUS.

An ambiguous word is confusing in meaning as they have many meanings. They are polysemic (having many senses). Because polysemic or ambiguous terms can mean this or tha , they are also called EQUIVOCAL.
An equivocal word has got many definitions; they have various meanings.

Now, let's take a problem of Sentence Completion:

Because they had various meanings in nineteenth-century biological thought, "mechanism" and "vitalism" ought not to be considered ____________ terms; thus I find the recent insistence that the terms had single definition to be entirely _______ .

A. UNIVOCAL ------ ERRONEOUS

B. PROBLEMATIC ------ ANACHRONISTIC

C. INTRACTABLE ------ OBTUSE

D. CONTINGENT ------- SUSPECT

E. MULTIFACETED ------ VAPID

We can see that the first part of the statement says that the terms "mechanism" and "vitality" had various meanings in the past. Therefore they were actually EQUIVOCAL; i.e., they ought not to be considered non-equivocal. So, it's clear that they were UNIVOCAL( having just one meaning or one definition.) . We can see that the right choice for the first blank can only be univocal, as no other word in that column of choices has any similar meaning. In fact, as only one word from the choices can fit into the first blank, we don't have to bother about the second blank. Only choice A can fill the blanks.

When we speak in an ambiguous or equivocal manner, we EQUIVOCATE. An Equivocation is an equivocal statement, the meaning of which is confusing.

In the same way, a platitude (an unoriginal and boring statement) is a banal (unoriginal and uninteresting) statement.
Hence,

EQUIVOCATION: AMBIGUOUS

(An ambiguous statement is called equivocation.)

just as

PLATITUDE: BANAL

(A banal statement is called a platitude.)

Today, we stop at this juncture.

See you Later.

The Light-Hearted

2017-06-26T19:23:00.002-07:00

GLIDE, we've seen, is a light and graceful movement.

Another light and sportive move is denoted by the term GAMBOL. When we GAMBOL we walk, jump or move with quick, light and fast steps. We CAVORT when we GAMBOL. Or we can say we FLIT. Butterflies FLIT from flower to flower,i.e., they take short and light flights.

GAMBOL also means to ROMP. Children who ROMP in a courtyard, move about in a playful way. Hence,

CAVORT: SPORTIVE

When we cavort, we are sportive or playful

in the same way as

FLIRT: AMOROUS

When we flirt we are playfully loving(amorous).

We have seen that GAMBOL, CAVORT, ROMP, and FLIT are SYNONYMS.

Just as these terms indicate light, playful, and quick movements, TRUDGE and PLOD indicate slow, heavy movements. When we TRUDGE or PLOD we walk with slow, heavy steps. Hence,

GAMBOL x PLOD

FLIT x TRUDGE

On the other hand, when we SAUNTER, STROLL, or STRIDE we walk with long, steady steps. So,

SAUNTER: WALK

When we saunter we walk with long, drawn-out steps,

just as

PRATE (drawl): SPEAK

when we prate we speak with long, drawn-out syllables;

or, just as

LOPE: RUN

When we lope we run with long strides.

A contrasting movement for STRIDE can be MINCE, to walk with short, quick steps.When we STRIDE we take big steps; when we MINCE we take small steps, just as when we SIP we take small quantities ; when we QUAFF (GUZZLE, GULP) we take large quantities. Hence,

QUAFF: SIP

is same in relation as

STRIDE: MINCE

SEAR: WARM

(To sear\SCORCH\is to heat to a large degree, while to warm is to heat to a small degree.)

is same in relation as

GUSH: TRICKLE

(To gush is to emerge in large quantities; to trickle is to emerge in small quantities.)

A LESSON in WRITING

2013-05-06T21:19:00.003-07:00

Today, we will look at a few aspects of good writing.

Words like 'if','of', and 'and' mainly develop relationships between words. Yet, writers use expressions like 'in conjunction with', in place of 'and' and 'when it is the case that' in place of 'if'. Or, writers tend to use ' a major portion of' in place of 'most'.

An expression like ' in conjunction with' or 'as well as' does more than 'and'. When additional meaning is not involved 'and' will do the work. Look at the following:

We hope that these data in conjunction with the other will explain the unusual diode properties.
We hope that these data and the other will explain the unusual diode properties.

The most important feature of this communication system was the quality and reliability realized from the voice and teletype circuits.
The most important feature of this communication system was the quality and reliability of the voice and teletype circuits.

These consoles can take the normal shock and vibration encountered in shipping.
These consoles can take the normal shock and vibration of shipping.

We can some times replace an infinitive with "for'.
See the following:

To achieve high gain and phase inversion, transformer couple each stage.
For high gain and phase inversion, transformer couple each stage.

To permit more reliable operation, we sealed the other vans.
For more reliable operation, we sealed the other vans.
To ensure a secure fit use the smaller hole.
For a secure fit use the smaller hole.
You need only 128 words to perform addition.
You need only 128 words for addition.

See some other examples in which 'for' can be used:

Evaluate more promising systems with respect to speaker identification.
Evaluate more promising systems for speaker identification.

This is true only in the case of high-temperature .
This is true only for high-temperature.

Pursuant to contract BC 93-650, our plant delivered a processor.
For contract BC 93-650, our plant delivered a processor.

We have now seen that we can trim certain expressions to make statements clearer and look better. You find this kind of exercise useful in shaping your writing

CHAPTER 8: INVALIDATIONS

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Let's take up a new word, "PERTAIN."

If A pertains to B, A is related to B.
To pertain is to be related, to be pertinent or relevant.

Below are some of the synonms of

RELEVANT:

PERTINENT

GERMANE

APPOSITE

APPROPRIATE

APT

BEFITTING

SUITALE IN A CONTEXT

ANTONYMS:

APPROPRIATE x INAPPROPRIATE

RELEVANT x IRRELEVANT

APT x INAPT

APPOSITE x EXTRANEOUS

SUITABLE x UNSUITABLE

Here is one of the problems of antonyms:

PERTAIN:

A. be apathetic

B. be illegitimate

C. be irrevocable

D. be incongruous

E. be irrelevant.

Pertain is to be pertinent or relevant. So, the answer choice is E.

Now, look at choice C.

The word, "irrevocable" comes from the term" REVOKE".

Revoke means to take back or withdraw something like a rule, law or a statement.

Here are a few words of similar meaning:

REVOKE:

REPEAL

RECANT

RETRACT

RESCIND

ABROGATE

ABOLISH

ANNUL

VOID

NULLIFY

These words imply the idea of invalidation.

Look at the following analogies which have the idea of invalidation.

RESCIND:ORDER

REPEAL: RULE

RETRACT: PROMISE

RECANT: STATEMENT

RENOUNCE:PLEDGE

WITHDRAW: CANDIDACY

ABROGATE: LEGISLATION

ABOLISH:ENACTMENT

ANNUL: MARRIAGE

NULLIFY: CONTRACT

VOID: CHECK

In all these cases, the first term in the pair invalidates or cancels the second.

To REVOKE, as we have seen, is to withdraw.

So, something REVOCABLE can be changed.

On the contrary, something IRREVOCABLE is impossible to be changed.

Another common type of analogy is about this kind of impossibility.

Let’s take a look at some of such analogies:

IRREVOCABLE: REPEAL

Irrevocable cannot be repealed (withdrawn).

INVINCIBLE: SUBDUE

Invincible (unconquerable) cannot be subdued (overcome).

INCORRIGIBLE: REFORM

Incorrigible (beyond correction) cannot be reformed.

IMPERVIOUS: DAMAGE

Impervious (undamageable) cannot be damaged.

IMPENETRABLE: PASS

Impenetrable cannot be passed through.

INDELIBLE: ERASE

Indelible (inerasable) cannot be erased.

FEARLESS: DAUNT

Fearless cannot be daunted (discouraged).

IMPASSIVE: PERTURB

Impassive (undisturbable) cannot be perturbed (agitated).

PROHIBITIVE: PURCHASE

Prohibitive (too high in price) cannot be purchased.

INSOLUBLE: DISSOLVE

Insoluble cannot be dissolved.

UNTENABLE: DEFEND

Untenable (indefensible) cannot be defended.

INELECUTABLE: AVOID

Inelecutable (inevitable) cannot be avoided.

BUOYANT: SINK

Buoyant cannot be sunk.

WARY: GULL

Wary ( careful&suspicious) cannot be gulled (easily cheated).

VIGILANT: AMBUSH

Vigilant (watchful) cannot be ambushed(taken by surprise).

ERRATIC: PREDICT

Erratic (unpredictable) cannot be predicted.

EXEMPLARY: CRITICIZE

Exemplary (perfect) cannot be criticized.

COMMENDABLE: REPROACH

Commendable (praiseworthy) cannot be reproached (blamed).

IRREFUTABLE: DISCONFIRM

Irrefutable (that which can't be disproved) cannot be disconfirmed (disproved).

UNIMPEACHABLE : QUESTION

Unimpeachable cannot be questioned.

ELUSIVE: CAPTURE

Elusive cannot be capture.

INVULNERABLE : INJURE

Invulnerable cannot be injured.

PEERLESS : MATCH

Peerless cannot be matched

Chapter 7: KINDS OF ANALOGIES

2013-03-08T20:48:00.002-08:00

We' ve been on and off looking at a few analogical problems.

Today, let's exclusively focus on some general patterns in analogies.

Before we look at the patterns, let's view a few tips for cracking the problems in analogies:

1. Before we look at the choices, we have to formulate a relationship between the head pair of words.

2. We must learn to recognize common types of analogies.

3. We have to eliminate answer pairs that are clearly wrong.

4. We must be aware of possible correct answers given in the reverse order.

5. If more than one answer is possible, we analyze the words again.

Now, look at a few examples:

BACCHUS: DRINK

A. Orpheus: Eurydice

B. Amazon: ruler

C. Diana: hunt

D. Zeus: Olympus

E. Plato: Aristotle

Bacchus is the god of wine; Diana is the goddess of hunt.

EXCERPT: NOVEL

A. critique: play

B.review : manuscript

C. swatch: cloth

D. foreword: preface

E. recital: performance

Excerpt is a part of novel; swatch is part of a piece of cloth.

INELUCTABLE: AVOID

A. ineffable: utter

B.impalpable: desire

C.impermeable: endure

D.irascible: provoke

E.irreconcilable: estrange

Something ineluctable is impossible to be avoided; something ineffable is impossible to be uttered.

What matters in analogies is the relation between the the given words. Before looking at the choices make a brief sentence expressing the relation between the words.

EXAMPLES:

1. FISH: SCHOOL

A school is group of fish.

2. JOURNALIST: TYPEWRITER

A journalist uses the typewriter as a tool.

3. ORCHESTRA: MUSICIAN

An orchestra consists of musicians.

Now, let's look at the various types of analogies:

I. SYNONYMS and their VARIANTS:

Synonyms are words with similar meanings and the same part of speech. In synonym variants words have similar meanings but different parts of speech.

Examples:

1. VERBOSE(wordy): WORDINESS

2.SOLICITOUS(concerned): CONCERN

3.BACKSLIDING(slipping): RECIDIVISM

4. PERSPICACIOUS(insightful): INSIGHT

II. ANTONYMS and theirVARIANTS

Antonyms are words of opposite meanings but of the same parts of speech. Antonym variants have different parts of speech.

Examples:

1. NERVOUS(unpoised): POISE

2. INIQUITOUS(unvirtuous): VIRTUE

3. PEERLESS(matchless): MATCH

4. ABSTINENT(starving): GORGE(eat too much)

III. MEMBER and CLASS

In this type the first term may be an element of a class the second term suggests

or vice versa.

Examples:

1. SNAKE: INVERTEBRATE

2. PENGUIN: BIRD

3. SALAMANDER: AMPHIBIAN

4. SONNET: POEM

5. METAPHYSICS: PHILOSOPHY

IV DEGREE OF INTENSITY

Here two words express the same concept but one will be stronger in implications than the other.

Examples:

1.INTEREST: OBSESSION

2.BREEZE: TEMPEST

3.FOND: DOTING

4.GRASPING(GREEDY): RAPACIOUS

V DEFINITION

This is the most common type. Here we can use one word to define the other.

Examples:

1.LION: CARNIVORE

2.SHARK: SCAVENGER

3.SANCTUARY: REFUGE
TAXONOMIST: CLASSIFY

OTHER TYPES OF ANALOGIES

PART TO WHOLE

ACTOR: TROUPE

PLOTTER: CABAL

ISLAND: ARCHIPELAGO

CANTO: POEM

FUNCTION

ASYLUM: REFUGE

An asylum provides refuge.

BALLAST: STABILITY

A ballast provides stability.

MNEMONIC: MEMORY

A mnemonic aids memory.

III.

MANNER

PRATTLE: SPEAK

To prattle is to in an idle manner.

PROMENADE: WALK

To promenade is to walk in an idle manner.

MUMBLE: TALK

To mumble is to talk indistinctly.

IV.

ACTION& ITS IMPORT

WINCE: PAIN
Wince signifies pain.

BLUSH: DISCOMFITURE

Blush signifies discomfiture.

PROSTRATION: SUBMISSIVENESS

Prostration signifies submissiveness.

WORKERS &THEIR ARTICLES

POET: ODE

A poet creates an ode.

ARCHITECT: BLUEPRINT

An architect creates a blueprint.

MASON: WALL

A mason builds a wall.

VI.

WORKERS & THEIR TOOLS

PAINTER: BRUSH
REAPER: SICKLE
CARPENTER: VISE

VII

WORKER & WORK

ACROBAT: CARTWHEEL
An acrobat performs a cartwheel.
FINANCIER: INVESTMENT
A financier makes an investment.
TENOR: ARIA
A tenor sings an aria.

VIII

WORKER &WORKPLACE

MUSICIAN: CONSERVATORY

SCULPTOR: ATELIER

MINER: QUARRY

LAWYER: COURT

UMPIRE: DIAMOND

TOOL & ITS FUNCTION

DRILL: BORE

CROWBAR: PRY

SIEVE: SIFT

CAUSE & EFFECT

SOPORIFIC: SLEEP

SUDORIFIC: SWEAT

TONIC: INVIGORATION

EMOLLIENT: SOOTHING

COAGULANT: CLOTTING

GENDER

DOE: STAG
VIXEN: FOX
MARE: STEED
WOMAN: MAN
DUCK: DRAKE
GOOSE: GANDER

XII SYMBOL & ITS MEANING

DOVE: PEACE

Dove is the symbol of peace.
SPHINX: ENIGMA
Sphinx is a symbol of enigma.

XIII
SPATIAL ORDER
ROOF: FOUNDATION
BASEMENT: ATTIC
ZENITH:NADIR

XIV

ITEM TO CATEGORY

IGUANA: REPTILE

CAT: MAMMAL

SMALL Vs BIG

PEBBLE: BOULDER

BROOK: RIVER

FIGURINE: COLOSSUS

XVI

TYPE Vs GENERAL

LILAC: FLOWER
TERMITE: INSECT
PUN: JOKE

XVII

INDIVIDUAL Vs GROUP

LION: PRIDE

WITCH: COVEN

QUAIL: COVEY

GOOSE: GAGGLE

FISH: SCHOOL

XVIII

PERSON & QUALITY

SKEPTIC: DOUBT

SAGE: WISDOM

LOGICIAN: RATIONALITY

XIX

YOUNG & ADULT

SAPLING: TREE

ACORN: OAK

NOVICE: NOVA

Chapter 6: HOT HEADS, PIG HEADS AND SKEPTICS

2013-03-04T21:14:00.003-08:00

A few of my friends were very SKEPTICAL (doubtful, suspicious) about the readership, when I started this blog. Despite their SKEPTICISM, I PERSISTED in my attempt. My PERSEVERANCE has now paid. The number of suggestions, complaints and compliments my e-mail inbox receives bear testimony to the tremendous readership my blog has

I use this space to thank warmly all my readers .

When we PERSIST in something, we CONTINUE to DO it; we do not give up; we PERSEVERE.

PERSEVERANCE is CONTINUATION of EFFORT.

Look at a previous ANTONYM pair.

PERSEVERANCE x CESSATION of EFFORT (stopping effort)

CESSATION is from CEASE, stop. So UNCEASING is non- stop, continuous. INCESSANT is a synonym of UNCEASING. Another synonym is CEASELESS.

Let’s recap these SYNONYMS of CONTINUOUS:

UNCEASING

INCESSANT

CEASELESS

PERPETUAL

PERENNIAL

Look at another ANTONYM pair:

PERPETUAL x SPORADIC

SPORADIC or INTERMITTENT means OCCASIONAL, happening now and then.

When we continuously do something, we PERSIST in it. We become PERSISTENT or TENACIOUS. TENACIOUS people are generally called DIE HARD. They do not easily give up.

Just as IMPETUOUS (rash) people are called HOTHEADS, PERSISTENT people are called DIEHARDS.

HOTHEAD: IMPETUOUS

DIEHARD: TENACIOUS

IMPETUOUS people are very RASH in their actions. They never think of the consequences of their actions, before they act. They are THOUGHTLESS. They are very HASTY.

The following are SYNONYMS of IMPETUOUS:

PRECIPITATE

HASTY

HURRIED

RASH

THOUGHTLESS

IMPULSIVE

HOTHEADED

Here are some ANTONYM pairs:

PRECIPITATE x DELIBERATE

IMPULSIVE x THOUGHTFUL

HOTHEADED x PREMEDITATED

If some people are HOTHEADED, some others are PIG-HEADED.

A PIG-HEADED person is very STUBBORN; unmanageably firm and hard; very uncompromising and rigid. There is many a word which refers to the idea of being RIGID. Let’s list them now:

RIGID

INFLEXIBLE

INTRACTABLE

INTRANSIGENT

INEXORABLE

INCORRIGIBLE (beyond correction)

UNYIELDING

UNAMENABLE

RELENTLESS

FROWARD

RECALCITRANT

REFRACTORY

IMPLACABLE (uncompromising)

PIG-HEADED

MULISH OBDURATE

OBSTINATE

WILLFUL

HEADSTRONG

ADAMANT (firm like a rock and hard like a diamond)

STUBBORN
OBDURATE
DOGMATIC
OSSIFIED

All the above listed words have similar meaning.

The Importance of College Admission Essay

2013-03-02T05:08:00.002-08:00

Why the College Admission Essay Is Important and How You can Write a Good College Admission Essay

Well, as a student, you now want to secure a seat in a reputable college. In fact, you have, all through these years, been dreaming about getting admission to some illustrious college to enhance your further education.

What, do you think, is it that makes you eligible for college admission? Your academic competence? Your excellence in activities other than the curricular merit? The flawless letters of recommendation from your teachers? Certificates of your irreproachable conduct? Of course, all these factors do matter. However, the colleges would like to assess one more of your skills: your competence in creating an excellent CollegeAdmission Essay, an extremely important factor in deciding your merit for admission.

Any college worth its repute would like to know what kind of student it is admitting to its courses. Your essay for college admission enables the authorities concerned to measure various aspects of your attitude and potentials. It will mirror how you have approached the topic, how painstakingly you have researched, how well you have marshaled your thoughts, and how good you are at your skills of language. The college authorities will see whether your essay has an arresting introduction and whether your conclusion is comprehensive and your line of thinking rational as well as imaginative. In short, your College Admission Essay will be a reliable mirror of your personality and will help the authorities gain an insight into your aptitude to decide whether you fit into their system.

Many an eminent college has turned down the applications of many students as their essays have been sloppy in form and incoherent in content. So, it is extremely important that you carefully think before you ink your College Admission Essay.

How do you write an essay the college of your dream will not set aside? Writing any essay involves four indispensable steps:

Thinking, which some pompously call brainstorming, about the topic,

Putting down the ideas on paper and organizing them into a coherent whole,

Writing the essay, and

Editing it.

To begin the first step of thinking, you just have to read the assigned topic and get the ‘key phrase’. Suppose your College Admission Essay asks you to state your purpose of seeking admission, your key word will be ‘purpose’. Ask yourself why you chose your course and why you chose the college of your preference? What motivated you to pursue that specific discipline and that particular institution? Pin down the motivation and find out what that motivation is driving you toward. Articulate what situations and innate gifts propelled you toward the subject of your study. Delineate what you, your community, and your college will stand to gain, once you finish your course.

After jotting down your random thoughts, organize them. Prioritize your ideas. Decide which ideas you would like to keep as salient and which you would like to subordinate. Form them into crude paragraphs.

Now, here comes the real writing! First, you need to construct an introduction to your College Admission Essay. As you know, a job well-begun is a job almost done. Let your imagination come into full play at this stage. It will be worthwhile to begin with a quotation. Needless to say, the quote must be relevant, and in accord with the tone and tenor of your essay. If your essay is about the statement of your purpose, you can use something like, “Nothing is born in this world without some purpose”, or “an unseen hand guides everything to its destiny”. Link the quote with your opening statement.

Remember to keep your introduction brief. Present the main idea (which is called the ‘topic sentence’) of your essay in the last sentence of your introduction.

After the introduction, select paragraphs from the crude draft you have already made.Remember to discuss each component of your main idea in separate paragraphs. Use reasons and illustrations to reinforce your points. Be systematic in your transitions from idea to idea. Indicate the transition with appropriate linking terms. For example, if you are moving to a contrasting point, use a word like ‘however’.

As you write your College Admission Essay, pay heed to your language. Use more positive words; use the negatives only to create specific impact; employ the appropriate vocabulary; pronouns must match with their nouns; subjects must agree with their verbs; and prepositions must be properly placed. While concluding, briefly recapitulate your main points. As you draw to the last sentence allude to the quote with which you began. Let the last sentence of your College Admission Essay as well be a quote related to the prefatory quote.

Once you have readied your College Admission Essay, go through it with a comb.Emend your text: correct the spellings, rephrase awkward expressions, and replace or remove irrelevant words. Thus hone your essay to possible perfection.

To conclude, writing your College Admission Essay is a painstaking task. But it is worth the effort as a well-written essay for admission almost ensures admission to the college of you dream.

Wish you all all the best.

CHAPTER5: AMBIGUITY and EUPHEMISM

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We've seen that a term like CARP varies its reference in different contexts.

Such terms which have different meanings in different situations we describe asAMBIGUOUS.

An ambiguous word is confusing in meaning as they have many meanings. They arepolysemic(having many senses).

Because polysemic or ambiguous terms can mean this or that , they are also calledEQUIVOCAL.
An equivocal word has got many definitions; they have various meanings.

Now, let's take a problem of Sentence Completion :

Because they had various meanings in nineteenth-century biological thought,"mechanism" and "vitalism" ought not to be considered ____________ terms; thus I find the recent insistence that the terms had single definition to be entirely _______ .

A. UNIVOCAL ------ ERRONEOUS

B. PROBLEMATIC ------ ANACHRONISTIC

C. INTRACTABLE ------ OBTUSE

D. CONTINGENT ------- SUSPECT

E. MULTIFACETED ------ VAPID

We can see that the first part of the statement says that the terms "mechanism" and "vitality" had various meanings in the past. Therefore they were actuallyEQUIVOCAL; i.e, they ought not to be considered non-equivocal. So, it's clear that they were UNIVOCAL( having just one meaning or one definition.) . We can see thatthe right choice for the first blank can only be univocal, as no other word in that column of choices has any similar meaning. In fact, as only one word from the choices can fit into the first blank, we don't have to bother about the second blank. Only choice A can fill the blanks.

When we speak in an ambiguous or equivocal manner, we EQUIVOCATE.

An Equivocation is an equivocal statement, the meaning of which is confusing.

In the same way, a platitude( an unoriginal and boring statement) is abanal(unoriginal and uninteresting) statement.
Hence,

EQUIVOCATION: AMBIGUOUS

(An ambiguous statement is called equivocation.)

just as

PLATITUDE: BANAL

(A banal statement is called a platitude.)

Let's take up a new word,

'Euphemism' refers to a pleasant expression used in place of a harsh expression.

It is a pleasant substitute for offensive expressions.

Sometimes, when we have to say some truth which may hurt the listener, we use a euphemism. For example, the expression, 'old man' may sound harsh to an old man.

So, we substitute 'old man' with 'senior citizen'.

'Senior citizen', therefore, can be called the 'euphemism' for 'old man'.

When we use'pass away' for 'die', we use a euphemism.

We use euphemism to avoid offense, just as we use prevarication (the telling of lies) to avoid truth.

Hence,

EUPHEMISM: OFFENSE

PREVARICATION: TRUTH

As we've seen, 'to prevaricate' is to tell lies, to be dishonest.

A prevaricator is a liar.

So, we can have a pair of related words as follows:

LIAR: PREVARICATE

A liar is a prevaricating person.

This is a common problem of analogy.

A few more examples follow:

BRAGGART (BLOWHARD): BOAST

A brggart or a blowhard is a boasting person.

(to brag is to boast )

PATRON: SUPPORT

A patron is a supporting person

(to patronize is to support)

HAGGLER: BARGAIN

A haggler is a bargaining person.

(to haggle is to bargain)

LAMPOONER: RIDICULE

A lampooner is a ridiculing person.

(to lampoon is to ridicule)

MENTOR: GUIDE

A mentor is guiding person.

(to mentor is to guide)

HECKLER: HARASS

A heckler is a harassing person.

(to heckle is to harass)

In all the above analogies we get the function of the first term in the second.

Chapter 4: Words of same sense but of diverse degrees

2013-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

Carp, as we a saw, is a fish.
But, as a verb , carp means to complain too much.
When we carp, we complain constantly about some very unimportant matters.
Carp in this sense is the opposite of compliment.

If we get a pair of terms like

CARP: COMPLAIN

how do we connect them?

IMPORTUNE: REQUEST

When we importune, we repeatedly request in an annoying manner.

Another example:

GRILL: QUESTION

When we grill someone, we question him/her too much, maybe, even using the third degree.

Yet another example:

PRY: ENQUIRE

When we pry into some one's affairs, we enquire into them so deeply as to make it uncomfortable for him/her.

Here follow other examples of the same type of analogy :

(In some cases the part of speech may change, but the link between the terms remains the same.)

GROVEL: PETITION

ENTANGLE: INVOLVE

GUZZLE : DRINK

GLARING: BRIGHT

DEAFENING: LOUD

EXHORT: SUGGEST

GOAD: DIRECT

PENURIOUS(miserly): FRUGAL(economical)

OBSEQUIOUS(obedient like a slave): COMPLIANT(willing to obey)

GARRULOUS: (intolerably talkative)TALKATIVE

CLOYING(intolerably sweet): SWEET

PARANOID(madly suspicious) SUSPICIOUS

IDOLATROUS( madly devoted): ADMIRING.

BELABOR( repeatedly state): ASSERT

FUSS: TEND(nurse)

QUIXOTIC(madly dreamy): IDEALISTIC

TOUCHY: SENSITIVE

ZEALOUS(fanatical): ENTHUSIASTIC

CHAUVINISTIC: PATRIOTIC

PRODIGAL: GENEROUS

ARROGANT: CONFIDENT

OFFICIOUS: ATTENTIVE

DOTE: LIKE

UPBRAID: REPROACH

GULLIBLE: TRUSTING

CREDULOUS: TRUSTING

QUERULOUS: COMPLAINING

PROFLIGATE: SPENDING

SERVILE: COMPLIANT

Chapter 3: Analogies: the sense of the word and the world

2013-02-28T20:09:00.002-08:00

We have seen that the word ‘DRONE’ means to speak monotonously.
In fact, ‘DRONE’ as a noun refers to the ‘lazy bee’ among the honeybees.
And, as we know, the buzzing sound of a bee is very droning, monotonous.

Because a drone is a kind of bee, we can also get analogies like

DRONE: BEE

A drone is a kind of bee

in the same way as

CARP: FISH

A carp is a kind of fish.

These sorts of analogical problems are very common in our test.

Here are a few more examples from the old questions.

PINE: CONIFER

A pine tree is a coniferous tree.

FIR: TREE

A fir is a tree.

TROUT: FISH

A trout is a fish.

SACRIFICE: WORSHIP
Sacrifice is a form of worship.

AUGURY: PREDICTION

Augury is a form of prediction.

KIDNEY: ORGAN

A kidney is a kind of organ.

HEART: ORGAN

A heart is another kind of organ.

RIB: BONE

A rib is an example of bone.

CAT: ANIMAL
A cat is an animal.

CHAIR: FURNITURE

A chair is an item of furniture.

FORGERY: COUNTERFEIT

Forgery is an example of counterfeit.

EMBEZZLEMENT: FRAUD

Embezzlement is a kind of fraud.

DART: MISSILE

A dart is a small sort of missile.

SKIFF: BOAT

A skiff is small type of boat.

ANECDOTE: NARRATIVE/ STORY

An anecdote is a very small story.

SNACK: MEAL

A snack is a very small meal.

SKIT: PLAY

A skit is a very short play

GADGET: TOOL
A gadget is a kind of tool.

TRINKET: JEWELRY
A trinket is a piece of jewelry.

APPLE: FRUIT

An apple is a sort of fruit.

WOOL: FABRIC

Wool is a type of fabric.

ALLERGY: REACTION

An allergy is a form of reaction.

LANCET:INSTRUMENT

A lancet is a cutting instrument.

OSTRICH: BIRD
An ostrich is a bird.

TIGER: CAT
A tiger is a cat

ENZYME: CATALYST

An enzyme is a sort of catalyst.

BACTERIUM: MICROBE

A bacterium is a microorganism.

PILLAR: SUPPORT

A pillar is a form of support.

STOCKADE: ENCLOSURE

A stockade is an enclosure for cattle.

WING: STRUT

A wing is a form of strut [projection].

WALL: BUTTRESS

A wall is a form of buttress[support-].

PYLON: GUY

Pylon is a kind of guy [a rope for steadying some object].

LIMERICK: POEM
A limerick is a kind of comical poem.

LAMPOON: SATIRE
A lampoon is a ridiculing sort of satire[an ironical work of art].

LULLABY: SONG

A lullaby is a form of lulling [soothing] song.

DIRGE: MUSIC

Dirge is a form of sad music.

WALTZ: DANCE

Waltz is a form of dance.

TANGO: DANCE

Tango is another type of dance.

ELEGY: POEM

An elegy is a form of sad poem

TURQUOISE: GEM
A turquoise is a kind of gem like a ruby or an emerald.

VIOLET: FLOWER
A violet is a kind of flower.

OATH: PROMISE

An oath is a solemn promise

CONTRACT: AGREEMENT

A contract is a solemn agreement.

BUTTERFLY: INSECT

A butterfly is an insect.

METAPHYSICS: PHILOSOPHY

Metaphysics is particular form of philosophy.

MANSION: RESIDENCE

A mansion is a rich person’s residence.

LIMOUSINE: AUTOMOBILE
A limousine is a rich person’s automobile or car.

VENOM: POISON

Venom, poison of snake, is a kind of toxin.

MILK: NUTRIENT

Milk is a kind of nutrient [food].

CACOPHONY: SOUND

Cacophony is an unpleasant kind of sound.

GLARE: LIGHT

Glare is an unpleasant form of light.

DECLAMATION: GRANDILOQUENCE
Declamation is a type of grandiloquence[showy speech].

DIATRIBE: ABUSE
Diatribe is a speech of abuse.

ALCHEMY: SCIENCE

Alchemy is an ancient form of pseudo-science.

NOSTRUM: REMEDY

Nostrum is an ancient form of pseudo-medicine

DOGGEREL: VERSE

Doggerel is form of comical verse [poem].

BURLESQUE: PLAY

Burlesque is a form of comical play.

INFERNO: FIRE
Inferno is a raging, violent form of fire.

HURRICANE: STORM
Hurricane is a violent, raging kind of storm.

ALCOVE: RECESS

An alcove is an arched recess.

DOME: ROOF

A dome is an arched roof.

SUBSIDY: SUPPORT

Subsidy is a financial form of support.

DEBT: OBLIGATION

Debt is a financial form of obligation.

As we can see, it is not just our knowledge of the word- meaning that is tested, especially in analogies, but our knowledge and experience of the world around us.

Commonly Confusing Words

2011-12-29T02:14:00.000-08:00

MASTERFUL/MASTERLY

Masterly uses master in the sense of master craftsman. It means of a master-in other words, first-rate: It was a masterly presentation! Masterful uses master in the sense of a dog and its master. It means like a master-in other words, domineering: He was masterful when the strikers confronted him.

NAUSEATED/NAUSEATING/NAUSEOUS

Nauseated means disgusted or sick to one’s stomach. Nauseating and nauseous both mean causing nausea or revulsion. If you want to say that you’re feeling queasy, use nauseated, not nauseous. Her new perfume made me feel nauseated. Her makeup job is nauseating too.

ORAL/VERBAL

Oral means spoken, as opposed to written: She gave me written instructions, and explained them orally. Verbal means having to do with words or language. It can refer to spoken and written words. He has a terrible temper, but he only expresses it verbally, never physically.

PERSECUTE/PROSECUTE

To persecute someone is to continually make trouble for him; to prosecute someone is to press civil or criminal charges against him. Hitler persecuted many ethnic and religious groups. You can’t be prosecuted for making a face at someone.

PORE/POUR

To pour is to dump something out of a container. To pore over something is to read it very intently. If you like a book, you’ll pore over it. If you don’t like it, you might pour your tea on it.

PRECEDE/PROCEED

Precede means come before; proceed means go ahead. A precedes B in the alphabet. As soon as you’ve stopped screaming, we’ll proceed with this meeting.

PREMIER/PREMIERE

Premier as an adjective means most important. (Some people use it to mean first in time, but this usage is almost extinct.) As a noun, it means prime minister. As a noun or verb, premiere means the first performance or exhibit of a play, film, or piece of music. The premier attended the premiere of my new play. The premier reason for doing it is that you’ll be fired if you don’t..

PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLE

Principle is a noun, meaning a fundamental truth or law; principal is an adjective and a noun, and can mean the head of a school, a sum of money that accrues interest, or a person of the highest rank within a group. The principal of my school didn’t have any principles!” A principle of sound investment is to get a high interest rate for your principal. He’s the principal tenor in the opera company. If you’re referring to a person, you will always use principal rather than principle. Just remember: The principal is your pal!

Frequently Misused Words and Expressions

2011-10-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

CONSENSUS

Consensus: general opinion or position acceptable to everyone involved.

The consensus was that he wouldn't stay with the company much longer.

Republicans and Democrats tried to reach a consensus on the bill.

Consensus does not mean majority.

And don’t say consensus of opinion.

DIFFERENT THAN

Different than is now so common that many people consider it standard. However, we must discourage this ugly construction. Use different from!

A man’s viewpoint is different from a woman’s.

EKE OUT

Many writers mistakenly use the expression eke out to mean barely achieve.

The horse eked out a narrow victory.

I eked out a tiny profit.

The standard definition of eke out is supplement:

I eked out my salary by winning at the racetrack.

The Thanksgiving turkey was eked out by stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Eke is an old-fashioned word meaning extra or more. The word nickname comes from the centuries-old expression eke-name, which means extra name.

EMPHASIZE

Most of us know that emphasize means give special force or prominence to:

She dressed to emphasize her figure. I emphasized the importance of speaking clearly.

However, some people think emphasize also means feel what the other person is feeling. The word they want is empathize.

I try to empathize with any customer who has a complaint.

ENORMITY

Enormity means heinousness, or dreadfulness. It does not mean immense size.

Because of the enormity of his offense, the judge sentenced him to death.

EQUALLY AS

If you want to sound really illiterate, just use equally as, as in :

I’m equally as fond of Ms. Smith as I am of Ms.Jones.

As is implied in the word equally. In any case, in the above sentence, you shouldn’t use equally at all. Just say, ”I’m as fond…” Use equally to precede a list to which it refers:

I’m equally indebted to my boss, my assistant, my family, and my dog.

EQUIVOCAL/EQUIVOCATE

Equivocal means ambiguous, questionable, or misleading. If you’re equivocating, you’re being deliberately vague or ambiguous in order to avoid committing yourself, or to mislead or confuse the person you’re speaking with. Equivocating is not exactly lying; it’s just not being entirely truthful. The definitions of equivocal and equivocate do not have anything to do with words like equal, equivalent, or equate.

IRREGARDLESS

Strictly speaking, it’s not true that there is no such word as irregardless. Since so many people use it, we have to admit that it’s a word. However, it’s an illiterate word, and has no place in business writing. Use regardless.

LITERALLY

Many writers use literally when they mean figuratively.

He literally stuck a knife in my heart and twisted it.

Really? Then why aren’t you dead? This is a very easy mistake to make. Many of us throw in the word literally as a “flavoring particle,” just to make the sentence a little stronger-as you might say. “He’s a total fool,” instead of “He’s a fool.” Only use literally when you have to emphasize the fact that you really do mean something literally: After the burial, he literally danced on her grave. I was disgusted by this display of hatred.

MAJORITY

A majority means more than half. It does not mean the most. A plurality means more than any of the others, but not more than half. In other words, if Ms. Smith got 53 percent of the votes, she would have a majority. If she got 48 percent, Mr. Jones got 40 percent, and Ms. Brown got 12 percent, Ms. Smith would have a plurality, not a majority, If more than half the people in a town were Catholic, then the Catholics would be in the majority. If the religious breakdown were 45 percent Catholic, 20 percent Protestant, 15 percent Jewish, 10 percent Buddhist, and 10 percent Muslim, then the Catholics would have a very large plurality, but not a majority. Plurality also refers to the difference between one number and another. If the 435-member House of Representatives had 218 Republicans, 190 Democrats, 20 Communists, and 7 Liberatarians, then the Republicans would have a majority of one. (That is, 218 is one seat more than half of the total.) They would have a plurality of 28 over the Democrats.

MOMENTARILY

Momentarily means for a moment, not in a moment. If you say,”I’ll be back momentarily,” it means, I’ll be back, but only for a short time.” If you mean to say that .you won’t be gone long, say, “I’ll be back soon.”

PARTY

Party can mean a group of people: Mr. Jones and his party means Mr. Jones and the people he brought with him. A person can be a party to a contract, in a legal document, or party to a conspiracy. Party is not a synonym for person. Don’ say, “The party I spoke to yesterday,” if you’re referring to one person.

PENULTIMATE

Penultimate means next to last. It does not mean highest or greatest. Some people use phrases like, This meeting is of penultimate importance, probably because penultimate is such an impressive-sounding word.

PRESENTLY

Presently means soon or shortly thereafter.

I’ll be back presently.

He lay on the floor sobbing for a while, but presently he composed himself.

Presently does not mean now. At present does.

Chapter 103: SEX and MURDER

2011-03-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

The celebrated writer Seema Musthafa has written today in Deccan Chronicle daily on gender discrimination. (I hope you still remember the idea of discrimination we discussed in an earlier post. When we discriminate on the basis of GENDER, the DISCRIMINATION is called SEXISM.). One of the HORRID (terrible) consequences of SEXISM is female FOETICIDE.

Killing an EMBRYO is called FOETICIDE, just as killing a CHILD is called INFANTICIDE.
When we kill a KING or a QUEEN we call that murder REGICIDE.
On the other hand, the murder of a HUMAN is called HOMICIDE, and the killing of one’s own SELF, SUICIDE.

Another horrid result of SEXISM is UXORICIDE.
UXORICIDE is the murder of one’s WIFE.
Incidentally, when you love your wife too much, you are called UXORIOUS.
When you are UXORIOUS, you DOTE on your wife.

(When you DOTE, you shower excessive love; when you LIKE, you show mild love. In the same way, when you UPRAID you show excessive disapproval, whereas when you when you REPROACH you show mild disapproval.

Hence, REPROACH: UPBRAID

LIKE: DOTE)

When we kill our BROTHER, the killing is called FRATRICIDE. (There’s a popular novel called “FRATRICIDE” by the Greek writer Kazantzakis.)
Killing our FATHER is termed PATRICIDE, while killing our MOTHER is MATRICIDE. When it comes to the murder of our sister, it is SORRORICIDE.

Let us now get these different murders in the ANALOGY mode.

FATHER: PATRICIDE

MOTHER: MATRICIDE

BROTHER: FRATRICIDE

SISTER: SORRORICIDE

WIFE: UXORICIDE

HUMAN: HOMICIDE

QUEEN: REGICIDE

SELF: SUICIDE

CHILD: INFANTICIDE

EMBRYO: FOETICIDE

I think it’s enough murders for a day.
We will meet again in the next post.

Chapter 103: Valentine

2011-03-01T23:30:00.000-08:00

It was Valentine’s Day yesterday. The world, especially the young world, was in the celebratory mode. When love is in the air, we become tender and kinder. We share and care. A sense of SOLICITUDE envelopes us.

SOLICITUDE is the feeling of CONCERN for others.

When we do not care for the feelings of others, we become insensitive. We are then UNCORNCERNED. The following words are the
SYNONYMS of UNCONCERN:

NONCHALANCE
APATHY
INDIFFERENCE

The three words allude to a LACK OF CONCERN for others, i.e, a LACK OF SOLICITUDE. Hence, INDIFFERENCE can be the ANTONYM of SOLICITUDE.

SOLICITUDE x INDIFFERNCE

If we are INDIFFERENT, we can be called CALLOUS, UNFEELING in the heart.

The following words are the SYNONMS of CALLOUS:
UNCONCERNED
INDIFFERENT
APATHETIC
NONCHALANT

If we have care and concern for others, we can be called SOLICITOUS. When we are SOLICITOUS, we are full of concern, just as when we are BALEFUL, we are full of evil.

Hence, SOLICITOUS: CONCERN
BALEFUL: MENACE (evil)

If one is BALEFUL, one is full of EVIL. Such a one is WICKED. We can now look at a few words which mean EVIL and WICKED:
EVIL
VILE
VICIOUS
MENACING
MINATORY
MALIGN
MALIGNANT
MALICIOUS
MALEVOLENT
BALEFUL
BANEFUL
OMINOUS
PORTENTUOUS
SINISTER

Words with the prefix MAL generally indicate something evil, just as the prefix BENE indicates something good.
Hence MALIGN (evil) x BENIGN (kindly)
MALEVOLENT (having evil intentions) x BENEVOLENT (having good intentions)
MALEFACTOR (evil-doer) x BENEFACTOR (do-gooder)
MALEDICTION (curse) x BENEDICTION (blessing)

To be alive in a world of love is really a benediction.

Chapter 102: GENDER RELATIONS

2010-11-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes GENDER RELATIONS play a part in the analogy-problems in GRE.

Below we can see a few of these GENDER ANALOGIES.

MALE: FEMALE

HUSBAND: WIFE
MAN: WOMAN
DON: DONA
SENOR: SENORITA
FOX: VIXEN
BULL: COW
STEED/ STALLION: MARE
RAM: EWE
STAG: DOE
DRAKE: DUCK
GANDER:GOOSE
TIGER: TIGRESS
FOX: VIXEN

When we are on to the animals, let’s also examine the sounds made by them.

A “COW”, for instance, makes the sound “MOO”, just as a “SHEEP” makes the sound “BAA”.

Below we have a few ANIMALS and the CHARACTERISTIC SOUNDS they produce.

COW: LOW/MOO
SHEEP: BLEAT
CHICKEN: CLUCK
CROW: CAW
DOG: BAY/BARK
HORSE: NEIGH
PIG: GRUNT/OINK
DUCK: QUACK

100:some problems of ANALOGIES with explanations.

2010-10-09T05:40:00.001-07:00

Below are some problems of ANALOGIES with explanations.

1. PANTRY : FOOD ::

(A) museum : replicas

(B) ship : cargo

(D) armory : weapons

(E) warehouse : storage

The analogy is about a place of storage and what is stored there. A pantry is a place for storing food, just as an armory is a place for storing weapons. So, (D) is the answer.

A museum is a place for keeping artifacts, not replicas (copies). Hence (A) is wrong.

A ship is not a place for keeping cargo. A ship carries cargo. Hence (B) is wrong.

An office is not a place for storing business. Hence (C) is wrong.

A warehouse is a place of storage. It keeps wares, not storage. Hence (E) is wrong.

2. MIRTH : LAUGHTER ::

(A) uncertainty: nod

(B) approval : applause

(D) labor : sweat

(E) love : respect

The analogy is about an emotion and its expression. Laughter expresses mirth (great joy), just as applause expresses approval. So (B) is the answer.

Nod may express approval, but not uncertainty. Hence (A) is wrong.

Alarm (scare) does not express danger. Alarm may be caused by danger. Hence (C) is wrong.

Sweat may be produced by labor, but sweat does not express labor. Hence (D) is wrong.

Respect does not express love. They are two different feelings. Hence (E) is wrong.

3. ABRADED : FRICTION ::

(A) refined : combustion

(B) attenuated : coagulation

(D) strengthened : compression

(E) desiccated : dehydration

The analogy is about cause and effect. Friction causes things to become abraded (worn out), just as dehydration causes things to become desiccated (dry). Hence (E) is the answer.

Combustion does not cause things to get refined (purified). Hence (A) is wrong.

Coagulation (clotting) does not cause things to get attenuated (become thin). Hence (B) is wrong.

Immersion (dipping) does not cause things to get diluted. Hence (C) is wrong.

Compression does not cause things to get strengthened. Hence (E) is wrong.

4. PARSIMONY : MISER ::

(A) temerity : despot

(B) belligerence : traitor

(D) equanimity : guardian

(E) rebelliousness : insurgent

The analogy is about a person and his defining trait. A person of parsimony (miserliness) is called a miser, just as a person of rebelliousness is called an insurgent (rebel). Hence (E) is the answer.

A person of temerity (boldness) is called a daredevil, not a despot (tyrant). Hence (A) is wrong.

A person of belligerence (rebellion) is called a rebel, not a traitor (cheat). Hence (B) is wrong.

A person of remorse (regret) is called a ruer, not a delinquent (misbehaving minor). Hence (C) is wrong.

A person of equanimity (calm) is a person of poise, not a guardian. Hence (D) is wrong.

5. NITPICK : CRITICIZE ::

(A) mock : imitate

(B) complain : argue

(D) fret : vex

(E) cavil : object

The analogy is about words basically having the same meaning, but with difference in their degree of intensity. Nitpick is to criticize too much, just as cavil is to object too much. So, (E) is the answer.

To mock is not to imitate too much, but to imitate comically. Hence (A) is not the answer.

To complain is not to argue too much, but to express dissatisfaction. Hence (B) is not the answer.

To ask and to interrogate are same in degree of intensity. Hence (C) is wrong.

To fret is to worry; to vex is to irritate. The two terms have different meanings. Hence (D) is wrong.

6. FATIGUE : REST ::

(A) gravity : weight

(B) friction : heat

(D) dizziness : vertigo

(E) radiation : light

The words in the given pair are in opposite relationship. Fatigue denotes a want of rest, just as dehydration indicates a want of water. Hence (C) is the answer.

Gravity causes weight. They are not opposites. Hence (A) is wrong.

Friction causes heat. They are not opposites. Hence (B) is not the answer.

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness. Hence (D) is wrong

Light is a kind of radiation. Hence (E) is wrong.

7. RECYCLE : DISPOSAL ::

(A) recommend : insistence

(B) reciprocate : treatment

(D) attach : conquest

(E) offer : sale

The concept of recycling is against the concept of disposal, just as the concept of demolition (destruction) is against the concept of rehabilitation (saving). Hence (C) is the answer.

Insistence is a stronger form of recommendation. Hence (A) is wrong.

Treatment is in expectation of reciprocation. Hence (B) is wrong.

Conquest results in attachment of properties. Hence (D) is wrong.

Sale is what we offer to sell. Hence (E) is not the answer.

8. DICTIONARY : ALPHABETICAL ::

(A) map : contoured

(B) diary : anecdotal

(D) narrative : prosaic

(E) annals : chronological

Items in a dictionary are arranged in alphabetical order, just as items in the annals (record of historical events) are arranged in chronological order. Hence (E) is the answer. The analogy is about the order of items in a book.

In (A) ‘contoured’ (outlined) does not refer to any order of items in a map. Hence it is wrong.

In (B) ‘anecdotal’ (descriptive of amusing events) does not indicate any order of items in a diary. So, it is wrong.

In (C) 'outlined’ does not denote any order of items in an outline. So it is wrong.

In (D) ’prosaic’ (dull) does not denote any order in a narrative. So, it is wrong.

9. ATTENUATE : THICKNESS ::

(A) separate : substance

(B) ventilate : circulation

(D) relocate : site

(E) debilitate : strength

In the given pair the first word reduces the second. Attenuate means to reduce the thickness, just as debilitate (weaken) means to reduce the strength. So, (E) is the answer.

To separate is not to reduce substance. So, (A) is wrong

To ventilate is not to reduce circulation. So, (B) is wrong.

To vaccinate is not to reduce immunity. So, (C) is wrong.

To relocate is not to reduce site. So, (D) is wrong.

10. SATIRE : RIDICULE ::

(A) oration : enmity

(B) lullaby : dream

(D) elegy : sorrow

(E) sonnet : remembrance

A satire expresses ridicule, just as an elegy expresses sorrow. Hence, (D) is the answer.

An oration (speech) does not necessarily express enmity. So, (A) is wrong.

A lullaby (song for lulling babies) does not express dream. So, (B) is wrong.

A parody does not express any praise. So, (C) is wrong.

A sonnet need not necessarily express remembrance. So, (E) is wrong.

11. STOIC : PERTURB ::

(A) perplexed : enlighten

(B) nondescript : neglect

(D) avaricious : satisfy

(E) daunting : bewilder

The analogy is one of impossibility. It is impossible to perturb (disturb) someone who is stoic (keeping cool in any adversity), just as it is impossible to satisfy someone who is avaricious (extremely greedy). So, (D) is the answer.

One who is perplexed (confused) needs enlightening. So, (A) is wrong.

One who is nondescript is generally neglected. So, (B) is wrong.

Tranquil means pacified. So, (C) is wrong.

Daunting (discouraging and formidable) may bewilder (confuse) some people. So, (E) is wrong.

12. EXCULPATORY : ABSOLVE ::

(A) motivational : stir

(B) conventional : resist

(D) pedantic : learn

(E) ponderous : choose

The given pair of words consists of synonym variants. ‘Exculpatory’ means absolving, just as ‘motivational’ means stirring. Hence, (A) is the answer.

‘Conventional’ does not mean resisting. So, (B) is wrong.

‘Rhetorical’ does not mean speaking; it is speaking pompously or dramatically. So, (C) is wrong.

‘Pedantic’ is not learning, but showing off learning. So, (D) is wrong.

‘Ponderous’ means heavy, not choosing. So, (E) is wrong.

13. MODERATE : INTENSITY ::

(A) extenuate : seriousness

(B) separate : distance

(D) commemorate : memorial

(E) disparage : animosity

To moderate is to reduce intensity, just as to extenuate (lighten) is to reduce seriousness. So, (A) is the answer.

To separate does not mean to reduce distance. So, (B) is wrong

To indulge does not mean to reduce chaos (confusion). So,(C) is wrong.

To commemorate is to memorialize. So, (D) is wrong.

To disparage (look down upon) does not mean to reduce animosity (hatred). So (E) is wrong.

2010-07-11T00:06:00.000-07:00

CONSENSUS

Consensus: general opinion or position acceptable to everyone involved.

The consensus was that he wouldn’t stay with the company much longer. Republicans and Democrats tried to reach a consensus on the bill.

Consensus does not mean majority. And don’t say consensus of opinion.

DIFFERENT THAN

Different than is now so common that many people consider it standard. However, we must discourage this ugly construction. Use different from!

A man’s viewpoint is different from a woman’s.

EKE OUT

Many writers mistakenly use the expression eke out to mean barely achieve.

The horse eked out a narrow victory.

I eked out a tiny profit.

The standard definition of eke out is supplement:

I eked out my salary by winning at the racetrack.

The Thanksgiving turkey was eked out by stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Eke is an old-fashioned word meaning extra or more. The word nickname comes from the centuries-old expression eke-name, which means extra name.

EMPHASIZE

Most of us know that emphasize means give special force or prominence to:

She dressed to emphasize her figure. I emphasized the importance of speaking clearly.

However, some people think emphasize also means feel what the other person is feeling. The word they want is empathize.

I try to empathize with any customer who has a complaint.

ENORMITY

Enormity means heinousness, or dreadfulness. It does not mean immense size.

Because of the enormity of his offense, the judge sentenced him to death.

EQUALLY AS

If you want to sound really illiterate, just use equally as, as in :

I’m equally as fond of Ms. Smith as I am of Ms.Jones.

As is implied in the word equally. In any case, in the above sentence, you shouldn’t use equally at all. Just say, ”I’m as fond…” Use equally to precede a list to which it refers:

I’m equally indebted to my boss, my assistant, my family, and my dog.

EQUIVOCAL/EQUIVOCATE

IRREGARDLESS

LITERALLY

Many writers use literally when they mean figuratively.

He literally stuck a knife in my heart and twisted it.

MAJORITY

MOMENTARILY

PARTY

PENULTIMATE

PRESENTLY

Presently means soon or shortly thereafter.

I’ll be back presently.

He lay on the floor sobbing for a while, but presently he composed himself.

Presently does not mean now. At present does.

CHAPTER 22: LET'S BE ANGRY TODAY

2010-06-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Let's take the word, IRE.
IRE as a noun refers to great ANGER.
All the following words denote GREAT ANGER:

RAGE

WRATH

FURY

INDIGNATION

IRE

When we’re full of IRE, we’re IRATE.
IRATE means very angry. The following are the SYNONYMS of IRATE:

WRATHFUL

INDIGNANT

INFURIATED

FURIOUS

ENRAGED

INCENSED

When we INCENSE others, ENRAGE them; make them angry.
When we PROPITIATE others, we PLEASE them; make them happy to get into their good books.
Hence,
INCENSE x PROPITIATE

When we PLEASE people with ulterior motives, we APPEASE them. All the following terms are SIMILAR in meaning to APPEASE:

WHEEDLE

COAX

CAJOLE

PLACATE

APPEASE

CONCILIATE

BLANDISH

The things we use to BLANDISH, we call SOPS (BLANDISHMENTS). All the CONCESSIONS people receive are SOPS, things meant to PACIFY or PLEASE people. FLATTERY is another form of BLANDISHMENT.

The following ANALOGIES are all similar in their relationships:

SOP (BLANDISHMENT): COAX {We use SOP to COAX [appease].}

FLATTERY: APPEASE {We use FLATTERY to APPEASE.}

CONCESSION: PLACATE {We use CONCESSION to PLACATE [pacify].}

MEDAL: HONOR {We use a MEDAL to HONOR others.}

THREATS: COERCE {We use THREATS to COERCE [force] others.}

CHAPTER21: A FEW MORE ANALOGIES TO SOLVE

2010-06-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more ANALOGIES to solve:

The SOLUTIONS are colored.

32. PANTRY : FOOD ::

(A) museum : replicas

(B) ship : cargo

(D) armory : weapons

(E) warehouse : storage

33. MIRTH : LAUGHTER ::

(A) uncertainty : nod

(B) approval : applause

(D) labor : sweat

(E) love : respect

34. ABRADED : FRICTION ::

(A) refined : combustion

(B) attenuated : coagulation

(D) strengthened : compression

(E) desiccated : dehydration

35. PARSIMONY : MISER ::

(A) temerity : despot

(B) belligerence : traitor

(D) equanimity : guardian

(E) rebelliousness : insurgent

36. NITPICK : CRITICIZE ::

(A) mock : imitate

(B) complain : argue

(D) fret : vex

(E) cavil : object

37. FATIGUE : REST ::

(A) gravity : weight

(B) friction : heat

(D) dizziness : vertigo

(E) radiation : light

38. RECYCLE : DISPOSAL ::

(A) recommend : insistence

(B) reciprocate : treatment

(D) attach : conquest

(E) offer : sale

39. DICTIONARY : ALPHABETICAL ::

(A) map : contoured

(B) diary : anecdotal

(D) narrative : prosaic

(E) annals : chronological

40. ATTENUATE : THICKNESS ::

(A) separate : substance

(B) ventilate : circulation

(D) relocate : site

(E) debilitate : strength

41. SATIRE : RIDICULE ::

(A) oration : enmity

(B) lullaby : dream

(D) elegy : sorrow

(E) sonnet : remembrance

42. STOIC : PERTURB ::

(A) perplexed : enlighten

(B) nondescript : neglect

(D) avaricious : satisfy

(E) daunting : bewilder

43. EXCULPATORY : ABSOLVE ::

(A) motivational : stir

(B) conventional : resist

(D) pedantic : learn

(E) ponderous : choose

44. MODERATE : INTENSITY ::

(A) extenuate : seriousness

(B) separate : distance

(D) commemorate : memorial

(E) disparage : animosity

45. JOLT : MOVE ::

(A) possess : acquire

(B) arrive : remain

(D) spiral : turn

(E) rattle : hear

46. EXEMPT : LIABILITY ::

(A) flout : authority

(B) bestow : reward

(D) restrain : disorder

(E) pardon : penalty

47. FULL-BODIED : FLAVOR ::

(A) penetrating : vision

(B) humorous : character

(D) nostalgic : feeling

(E) resonant : sound

48. LEGACY : PREDECESSOR ::

(A) gift : donor

(B) gratuity : service

(D) receipt : customer

(E) loan : collector

49. HERO : ADMIRABLE ::

(A) critic : capricious

(B) braggart : surly

(D) anarchist : powerful

(E) enemy : immoral

50. GALVANIZE : STIMULATE ::

(A) agitate : occlude

(B) incubate : humidify

(D) irrigate : flush

CHAPTER19: ANALOGY: SOLUTIONS

2010-06-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

The following are the solutions to the problems of analogies in the previous post.
The first pair is the problem and the second the solution.

1. REPELLENT : ATTRACT ::
ephemeral :endure
Just as a REPELLENT never attracts, an EPHEMERAL never ENDURES.

2. ANARCHIST : GOVERNMENT::
    abolitionist : slavery
Just as an ANARCHIST does not want any GOVERNMENT, an ABOLITIONIST does not want any SLAVERY.

3. ADMONISH : DENOUNCE ::
    punish : pillory
The second term in the pairs is more severe than the first.

4. JOKE : PUNCH LINE ::
   plot : denouement
The second indicates the climax of the first.

5. VEER : DIRECTION ::
    convert : belief
The first term in the pairs indicates a turning away from the second

. 6. REPROBATE : MISBEHAVE ::
      sycophant : fawn
The second term in the pairs denotes the function of the first.

7. IMPERVIOUS : PENETRATE ::
    ineluctable : avoid
It is impossible to penetrate the impervious, just as it is impossible to avoid the ineluctable.

8. CONSENSUS : FACTIONALISM ::
    clarity : confusion
Where there is consensus there is no factionalism; where there is clarity, there is no confusion.

9. MARTINET : DISCIPLINE ::
    pedant : learning
A martinet is a person of discipline; a pedant is a person of learning.

10. CENSUS : POPULATION ::
      inventory : stock
The first term denotes a detailed list of the second.

11. AUTHENTICITY : FRAUDULENT :
      sincerity : hypocritical
The first is the antonym variant of the second.

12. VARNISH : GLOSSY ::
      sand : smooth
We varnish a thing to make it glossy; in the same way, we sand a thing to make it look smooth.

13. AMENITY : COMFORTABLE ::
      honorarium : grateful
The first term makes us feel the second.

14. PAIN : ANALGESIC ::
     symptom : palliative
The second term relieves us from the first.

15. VOICE :SHOUT ::
      hand : clutch
The first has to be very strong to perform the second.

16. PONTIFICATE : SPEAK ::
     strut : walk
The first one is a proud show of the second.

17. BIBLIOPHILE : BOOKS ::
      gourmet : food
The first loves the second.

18. INDIGENT : WEALTH ::
      redundant : indispensability
The first is the antonym variant of the second.

19. PROGRAM : CONCERT ::
     agenda : meeting
The first is the plan for the second.

20. EMBRACE : AFFECTION ::
     shrug : indifference
The first indicates the second.

21. ENTHUSIASM : MANIA ::
      suspicion : paranoia
The second refers to a mad degree of the first.

22. ANONYMOUS : IDENTIFY ::
      nonchalant : excite
It is impossible to do the second to the first.

23. CARTOGRAPHER : MAP ::
      tailor : clothing
The second is the creation of the first.

24. EXEMPLARY : IMITATION ::
      redoubtable : regard
The first one is worthy of the second.

25. INSENSITIVE : BOOR ::
      mischievous : imp
The first describes the second.

26. LABYRINTHINE : SIMPLICITY ::
      jejune : interest
The pairs are antonym variants.

27. EUPHEMISM : OFFENSIVE ::
      aphorism : diffuse
The first is against the second.

28. OIL : LUBRICATE ::
      antiseptic : disinfect
The second is the use of the first.

29. CONSTRUCT : REMODEL ::
      compose : edit
The second is an improvement on the first.

30. SPOKE : HUB ::
      radius : center Spoke is the radius to the hub.

A Few Problems of Analogies

2010-06-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

Today, I want you to solve the following problems of analogy that appeared in recent GRE tests. I have not included the answers for the problems in this post. You will get them in the next post.

1. REPELLENT : ATTRACT ::
(A) elastic : stretch
(B) sensitive : cooperate
(C) progressive : change
(D) flammable : ignite
(E) ephemeral : endure

2. ANARCHIST : GOVERNMENT ::
(A) legislator : taxation
(B) reformer : bureaucracy
(C) jurist : law
(D) suffragist : voting
(E) abolitionist : slavery

3. ADMONISH : DENOUNCE ::
(A) challenge : overcome
(B) reward : praise
(C) control : contain
(D) persuade : convince
(E) punish : pillory

4. JOKE : PUNCH LINE ::
(A) sermon : congregation
(B) conceit : allegory
(C) rhetoric : persuasion
(D) conspiracy : arrest
(E) plot : denouement

5. VEER : DIRECTION ::
(A) align : connection
(B) filter : contamination
(C) convert : belief
(D) deflect : motivation
(E) substantiate : authenticity

6. REPROBATE : MISBEHAVE ::
(A) sycophant : fawn
(B) critic : rebuke
(C) ruffian : tease
(D) cynic : brood
(E) narcissist : covet

7. IMPERVIOUS : PENETRATE ::
(A) ineluctable : avoid
(B) ineradicable : damage
(C) boorish : flatter
(D) irrepressible : censure
(E) disruptive : restrain

8. CONSENSUS : FACTIONALISM ::
(A) ritual : orthodoxy
(B) reality : plausibility
(C) reason : thought
(D) clarity : confusion
(E) leadership : subordination

9. MARTINET : DISCIPLINE ::
(A) illusionist : misdirection
(B) dilettante : commitment
(C) renegade : allegiance
(D) pedant : learning
(E) hack : writing

10. CENSUS : POPULATION ::
(A) interrogation : guilt
(B) survey : price
(C) interview : personality
(D) questionnaire : explanation
(E) inventory : stock

11. AUTHENTICITY : FRAUDULENT :
(A) morality : utopian
(B) intensity : vigorous
(C) sincerity : hypocritical
(D) particularity : unique
(E) plausibility : narrated

12. VARNISH : GLOSSY ::
(A) sharpen : blunt
(B) measure : deep
(C) sand : smooth
(D) approximate : precise
(E) anchor : unstable

13. AMENITY : COMFORTABLE ::
(A) tact : circumspect
(B) nuisance : aggravated
(C) honorarium : grateful
(D) favorite : envious
(E) lounge : patient

14. PAIN : ANALGESIC ::
(A) energy : revitalization
(B) interest : stimulation
(C) symptom : palliative
(D) despair : anxiety
(E) reward : incentive

15. VOICE :SHOUT ::
(A) ear : overhear
(B) eye : see (C)
hand : clutch (D)
nerve : feel (E)
nose : inhale

16. PONTIFICATE : SPEAK ::
(A) strut : walk
(B) stare : look
(C) patronize : frequent
(D) eulogize : mourn
(E) reciprocate : give

17. BIBLIOPHILE : BOOKS ::
(A) environmentalist : pollution
(B) zoologist : animals
(C) gourmet : food
(D) calligrapher : handwriting
(E) aviator : aircraft

18. INDIGENT : WEALTH ::
(A) presumptuous : independence
(B) imperturbable : determination
(C) inevitable : inescapability
(D) indigestible : sustenance
(E) redundant : indispensability

19. PROGRAM : CONCERT ::
(A) bibliography : book
(B) menu : entree
(C) questionnaire : poll
(D) platform : campaign
(E) agenda : meeting

20. EMBRACE : AFFECTION ::
(A) prediction : memory
(B) innuendo : secrecy
(C) shrug : indifference
(D) conversation : familiarity
(E) vote : unanimity

21. ENTHUSLASM : MANIA ::
(A) idea : inspiration
(B) nightmare : hallucination
(C) failure : disgust
(D) suspicion : paranoia
(E) energy : fitness

22. ANONYMOUS : IDENTIFY ::
(A) nonchalant : excite
(B) repressed : constrain
(C) misled : trust
(D) annoying : assist
(E) unremarkable : please

23. CARTOGRAPHER : MAP ::
(A) astronomer : stars
(B) carpenter : wood
(C) lumberjack : saw
(D) tailor : clothing
(E) weaver : loom

24. EXEMPLARY : IMITATION ::
(A) venerable : denigration
(B) novel : duplication
(C) redoubtable : regard
(D) challenging : determination
(E) creditable : verification

25. INSENSITIVE : BOOR ::
(A) spontaneous : extrovert
(B) mischievous : imp
(C) conformist : ally
(D) officious : zealot
(E) extravagant : miser

26. LABYRINTHINE : SIMPLICITY ::
(A) epic : scope
(B) digressive : motive
(C) heretical : sincerity
(D) austere : design
(E) jejune : interest

27. EUPHEMISM : OFFENSIVE ::
(A) rhetoric : persuasive
(B) aphorism : diffuse
(C) metaphor : descriptive
(D) repetition : fatiguing
(E) conciliation : appeasing

28. OIL : LUBRICATE ::
(A) preservative : desiccate
(B) wine : ferment
(C) honey : pollinate
(D) antiseptic : disinfect
(E) soil : fertilize

29. CONSTRUCT : REMODEL ::
(A) exhibit : perform
(B) compose : edit
(C) demolish : repair
(D) quantify : estimate
(E) predict : assess

30. SPOKE : HUB ::
(A) radius : center
(B) parabola : equation
(C) line : point
D) vector : direction
(E) slope : change

CHAPTER 17: THE RAIN

2010-05-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

It has been very cold for the last few days. The schools in Delhi have been given holidays. The roads in the North have become white carpets. They look like the shroud of dead bodies. To say the truth, I have been feeling very uneasy for some time. It is as though the smell and feel of DEATH is all around. I can say there has been an AVALANCHE along the mountainside of my mind scape.

An AVALANCHE is a huge slide of snow, just as a LANDSLIDE is a huge slide of rocks.
The path of the AVALANCHE is the MOUNTAINSIDE, just as the path of a FLOOD is the FLOODPLAIN.

Hence,

INUNDATION (flood): FLOODPLAIN

AVALANCHE (snow slide): MOUNTAINSIDE

The following are the SYNONYMS of
FLOOD
SPATE
DELUGE
INUNDATION

To INUNDATE is to FLOOD or OVERFILL.

Hence,

INUNDATE x DRAIN (empty)

FLOOD x DEPLETE (empty)

DEPLETE can be taken as the ANTONYM of REPLENISH.

To REPLENISH is to REFILL.

REPLENISH x DEPLETE

DEPLETED x REPLETE (full)

When we are REPLETE with food, we have absorbed as much food as we can; jut as when a SPONGE is SATURATED, it has absorbed as much liquid as it can.
Hence,

SPONGE: SATURATED

DINER: REPLETE

Let us get back to “DELUGE.”
Flooding rain is also called DELUGE.
A DROPLET is a tiny member of DELUGE, just as a PEBBLE is a tiny member of a LANDSLIDE,
or an ICICLE is a tiny member of an AVALANCHE.
So,

AVALANCHE: ICICLE

LANDSLIDE: PEBBLE

DELUGE: DROPLET

DELUGE refers to a large quantity of rain pouring down from the sky.
When a large number of explosives pour down from the sky we call it a BARRAGE.
Thus,

DELUGE: RAIN

is the same as

BARRAGE: EXPLOSIVES.

When it rains suddenly and strongly we call the RAIN a CLOUDBURST.
When the WIND appears suddenly and strongly, we call it a GUST.
In the same way, sudden and strong appearance of LIGHT we call a FLARE.
Sudden and unexpected appearance of WATER or BLOOD we call a SPURT.
Thus,

BLOOD: SPURT

LIGHT: FLARE

WIND: GUST

RAIN: CLOUDBURST

Today, we’ll stop at this.