Chapter: Loneliness
đ Vocabulary
English For Today Classes Nine and Ten
â Most Important Exam Words
lonelinesssolitarypervasivediscomfortsocial connectionisolationdemographic factorsimmigrantretirementdisabilitybereavementrestrictioninteractcope withfulfildiminishvolunteeraccomplishmentnurturewellnessregimeweepmirthrejoiceshrinkdeclinenectargallgriefrepressionself-assertionsignificancepersistenceimposeconvey
đ Word Formation Rules
âē Add the suffix -ness to an adjective to form a noun: lonely â loneliness, happy â happiness.
âē Add the suffix -ment to a verb to form a noun: accomplish â accomplishment, retire â retirement.
âē Add the suffix -tion or -sion to a verb to form a noun: isolate â isolation, perceive â perception, repress â repression.
âē Add the prefix dis- to form an opposite or negative word: comfort â discomfort, ability â disability, connect â disconnect.
âē Add the prefix im- before words beginning with p, b or m to form a negative: possible â impossible, mature â immature.
âē Add the suffix -ive to form an adjective: affect â affective, restrict â restrictive.
âē Add the suffix -ful to form an adjective meaning full of: care â careful, meaning â meaningful.
âē Add the suffix -less to form an adjective meaning without: home â homeless, care â careless.
âē Change a noun into a verb by using a related form: communication â communicate, connection â connect.
âē Use self- as a prefix to form words related to personal identity or independence: self-assertion, self-confidence, self-control.
1. Loneliness: Core Concepts (8 words)
loneliness[/ËlÉĘnlinÉs/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻāĻāĻžāĻāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ; āύāĻŋāĻāϏāĻā§āĻāϤāĻžāϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ
Alt: āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Loneliness can affect people of every age.
Syn: solitude, isolationAnt: companionship, togetherness
đĄ Exam tip: Loneliness is a feeling, whereas being alone is a situation.
solitary[/ËsÉlÉtri/]adjmedium
Meaning: āύāĻŋāĻāϏāĻā§āĻ; āĻāĻāĻžāĻā§
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āϝāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāϞāĻžāĻĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻž
Example: The old man lived a solitary life.
Syn: lonely, isolatedAnt: social, friendly
đĄ Exam tip: Solitary means alone; it can describe a person, place or activity.
pervasive[/pÉËveÉĒsÉĒv/]adjhard
Meaning: āϏāϰā§āĻŦāĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§; āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§
Alt: āϝāĻž āϏāϰā§āĻŦāϤā§āϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ
Example: The feeling of fear became pervasive during the crisis.
Syn: widespread, prevalentAnt: limited, rare
đĄ Exam tip: Use pervasive for something that spreads throughout a place or situation.
affective[/ÉËfektÉĒv/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ; āĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻŖ
Alt: āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻŦā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ
Example: Loneliness causes affective discomfort.
Syn: emotional, sentimentalAnt: unemotional, rational
đĄ Exam tip: Do not confuse affective with effective; affective relates to feelings.
cognitive[/ËkÉÉĄnÉtÉĒv/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻā§āĻāĻžāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ; āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ
Alt: āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤāĻž, āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻ āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ
Example: Loneliness may cause cognitive discomfort.
Syn: mental, intellectualAnt: physical, unconscious
đĄ Exam tip: Cognitive is often used with mental processes and understanding.
discomfort[/dÉĒsËkĘmfÉt/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ
āϏā§āĻŦāϏā§āϤāĻŋ; āĻ
āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āĻāύā§āĻĻā§āϝ
Alt: āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻāώā§āĻā§āϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ
Example: Social isolation can create emotional discomfort.
Syn: uneasiness, distressAnt: comfort, ease
đĄ Exam tip: The prefix dis- often gives a negative meaning.
connection[/kÉËnekĘÉn/]nouneasy
Meaning: āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ; āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻ
Alt: āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻāϤ āĻŦāύā§āϧāύ
Example: Strong social connections protect people from loneliness.
Syn: relationship, linkAnt: separation, disconnection
đĄ Exam tip: Social connection is a key phrase from the lesson.
isolation[/ËaÉĒsÉËleÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύā§āύāϤāĻž; āĻāĻāĻāϰ⧠āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āϝāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϞāĻžāĻĻāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Physical isolation may increase loneliness.
Syn: separation, solitudeAnt: integration, companionship
đĄ Exam tip: Isolation can be physical, social or emotional.
2. Causes and Risk Factors (8 words)
contribute[/kÉnËtrÉĒbjuËt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻŦāĻĻāĻžāύ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž; āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Several factors contribute to loneliness.
Syn: help, causeAnt: prevent, hinder
đĄ Exam tip: Contribute to is followed by a noun or gerund.
demographic[/ËdemÉËÉĄrÃĻfÉĒk/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāύāĻŽāĻŋāϤāĻŋāϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ
Alt: āĻāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŦāϝāĻŧāϏ, āϞāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āώā§āĻ ā§āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ
Example: Demographic factors may influence loneliness.
Syn: population-based, statisticalAnt: individual, personal
đĄ Exam tip: Demographic factors include age, occupation and social group.
immigrant[/ËÉĒmÉĒÉĄrÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϏā§
Alt: āϝ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻĻā§āĻļā§ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϏāĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ
Example: An immigrant may feel lonely in an unfamiliar country.
Syn: migrant, settlerAnt: native, citizen
đĄ Exam tip: An immigrant enters a country; an emigrant leaves a country.
retirement[/rÉĒËtaÉĒÉmÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻŦāϏāϰ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖ
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻāϰāĻŋ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻ
āĻŦāϏāϰ āύā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Retirement may reduce a person's daily social interaction.
Syn: withdrawal, pensioningAnt: employment, service
đĄ Exam tip: Retirement is a common cause of loneliness among older adults.
disability[/ËdÉĒsÉËbÉĒlÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž; āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻŦāύā§āϧāĻāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻž
Example: A disability may restrict social activities.
Syn: impairment, infirmityAnt: ability, fitness
đĄ Exam tip: Disability may be physical, mental or sensory.
bereavement[/bÉĒËriËvmÉnt/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ; āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻāύ āĻšāĻžāϰāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻāĻ
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻŽā§āϤā§āϝā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Bereavement can make a person feel deeply lonely.
Syn: mourning, griefAnt: happiness, joy
đĄ Exam tip: Bereavement is usually associated with the death of someone close.
restriction[/rÉĒËstrÉĒkĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻž; āύāĻŋāώā§āϧāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϞāĻžāĻĢā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻž
Example: Physical restrictions may limit opportunities for socialising.
Syn: limitation, constraintAnt: freedom, permission
đĄ Exam tip: Restriction is commonly followed by on: restrictions on movement.
interact[/ËÉĒntÉrËÃĻkt/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻŽāĻŋāĻĨāϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāĻž; āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻā§ āĻ
āĻĒāϰā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Students interact with others through group activities.
Syn: communicate, socialiseAnt: ignore, withdraw
đĄ Exam tip: Interact with someone means communicate or work with that person.
3. Effects and Prevention (8 words)
cope[/kÉĘp/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāϞāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ āĻŋāύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŽāϞāĻžāύā§
Example: Friends can help us cope with loneliness.
Syn: manage, handleAnt: surrender, neglect
đĄ Exam tip: The correct structure is cope with a problem.
fulfil[/fĘlËfÉĒl/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āϏāύā§āϤā§āώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Healthy relationships fulfil our need for companionship.
Syn: satisfy, achieveAnt: frustrate, fail
đĄ Exam tip: Fulfil a need, desire, duty or promise.
diminish[/dÉĒËmÉĒnÉĒĘ/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻāĻŽāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž; āĻšā§āϰāĻžāϏ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦ āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: Regular communication can diminish feelings of loneliness.
Syn: reduce, decreaseAnt: increase, intensify
đĄ Exam tip: Diminish may be transitive or intransitive.
volunteer[/ËvÉlÉnËtÉĒÉ/]verbeasy
Meaning: āϏā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻāĻžāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻŋāύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Many students volunteer for charitable organisations.
Syn: serve, offerAnt: refuse, avoid
đĄ Exam tip: Volunteer for an organisation or volunteer to do something.
accomplishment[/ÉËkĘmplÉĒĘmÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻžāĻĢāϞā§āϝ; āĻ
āϰā§āĻāύ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ āϏāĻĢāϞāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāύā§āύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞ
Example: Volunteering gives people a sense of accomplishment.
Syn: achievement, successAnt: failure, defeat
đĄ Exam tip: Accomplishment is a noun formed from accomplish.
nurture[/ËnÉËtĘÉ/]verbhard
Meaning: āϞāĻžāϞāύ āĻāϰāĻž; āϝāϤā§āύ āύā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻŖāĻā§ āϝāϤā§āύā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Regular contact helps nurture emotional health.
Syn: nourish, developAnt: neglect, damage
đĄ Exam tip: Nurture can be used for children, relationships and abilities.
wellness[/ËwelnÉs/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏā§āϏā§āĻĨāϤāĻž; āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Exercise promotes physical and emotional wellness.
Syn: health, well-beingAnt: illness, sickness
đĄ Exam tip: Wellness includes physical, mental and social health.
regime[/reÉĒËĘiËm/]nounhard
Meaning: āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽāĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ; āϰā§āĻāĻŋāύ
Alt: āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: A regular exercise regime improves health.
Syn: routine, programmeAnt: disorder, inactivity
đĄ Exam tip: In this chapter, regime means a systematic routine, not a government.
4. Poem: Solitude (8 words)
weep[/wiËp/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻāĻĻāĻž; āĻ
āĻļā§āϰā§āĻĒāĻžāϤ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§ āĻā§āĻā§āϰ āĻĒāĻžāύāĻŋ āĻĢā§āϞāĻž
Example: She began to weep after hearing the sad news.
Syn: cry, sobAnt: laugh, smile
đĄ Exam tip: Weep is an irregular verb: weep, wept, wept.
mirth[/mÉËθ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāύāύā§āĻĻ; āĻšāĻžāϏāĻŋāĻā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻŦ
Alt: āĻāϞā§āϞāĻžāϏ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻĢā§āϞā§āϞāϤāĻž
Example: The children filled the room with mirth.
Syn: joy, happinessAnt: sorrow, sadness
đĄ Exam tip: Mirth is a literary word meaning great amusement or joy.
rejoice[/rÉĒËdĘÉÉĒs/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāύāύā§āĻĻ āĻāϰāĻž; āĻāϞā§āϞāϏāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: The people rejoiced at their team's victory.
Syn: celebrate, delightAnt: grieve, mourn
đĄ Exam tip: Rejoice at or over something; rejoice in good news.
sigh[/saÉĒ/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻĻā§āϰā§āĻāĻļā§āĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻĢā§āϞāĻž
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻāĻ, āĻā§āϞāĻžāύā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻŦāϏā§āϤāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻļā§āĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž
Example: She sighed with relief after the examination.
Syn: exhale, moanAnt: inhale, laugh
đĄ Exam tip: Sigh can be both a verb and a noun.
shrink[/ĘrÉĒÅk/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻā§āĻā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž; āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§ āĻĒāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The audience shrank from hearing the painful truth.
Syn: contract, recoilAnt: expand, enlarge
đĄ Exam tip: Shrink is irregular: shrink, shrank, shrunk.
decline[/dÉĒËklaÉĒn/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāϤā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž; āĻāĻŽā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤāĻžāĻŦ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖ āύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Example: He declined the invitation politely.
Syn: refuse, decreaseAnt: accept, increase
đĄ Exam tip: Decline has two common meanings: refuse and decrease.
nectar[/ËnektÉ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻŽā§āϤ; āĻŽāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧ
Alt: āĻĢā§āϞā§āϰ āĻŽāϧ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āϤā§āϝāύā§āϤ āϏā§āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧ
Example: The bee collected nectar from the flowers.
Syn: honey, sweetnessAnt: poison, bitterness
đĄ Exam tip: In the poem, nectared wine symbolises great pleasure.
gall[/ÉĄÉËl/]nounhard
Meaning: āϤāĻŋāĻā§āϤāϤāĻž; āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§āϰ āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ
Alt: āϤāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āϤāϰāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻāώā§āĻāĻāϰ āĻ
āĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻāϤāĻž
Example: He had to drink the gall of disappointment alone.
Syn: bitterness, sorrowAnt: sweetness, pleasure
đĄ Exam tip: Gall is used metaphorically in the poem to mean suffering.
5. The Story of an Hour: Emotions (8 words)
afflicted[/ÉËflÉĒktÉĒd/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ; āĻĒā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϤ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āϰā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻāĻž
Example: Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble.
Syn: troubled, sufferingAnt: healthy, well
đĄ Exam tip: Afflicted with is a common collocation for illness.
grief[/ÉĄriËf/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ; āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻāĻ
Alt: āĻŽā§āϤā§āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻĄāĻŧ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖā§ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻāώā§āĻ
Example: She was overcome by grief after hearing the news.
Syn: sorrow, mourningAnt: joy, delight
đĄ Exam tip: Grief is usually a noun; grieve is the related verb.
abandonment[/ÉËbÃĻndÉnmÉnt/]nounhard
Meaning: āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖāĻšā§āύāϤāĻž; āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϤā§āϝāĻžāĻ
Alt: āϏāĻāϝāĻŽ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻā§āύ⧠āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ
Example: She wept with sudden, wild abandonment.
Syn: desertion, unrestrainednessAnt: restraint, control
đĄ Exam tip: In the story, abandonment means a complete lack of restraint.
repression[/rÉĒËpreĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĻāĻŽāύ; āĻ
āĻŦāĻĻāĻŽāύ
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻā§āĻĒā§ āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Her calm face showed years of repression.
Syn: suppression, restraintAnt: expression, freedom
đĄ Exam tip: Repression is often connected with emotions and desires.
elusive[/ÉĒËluËsÉĒv/]adjhard
Meaning: āϧāϰāĻž-āĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϰā§; āĻĻā§āϰā§āĻŦā§āϧā§āϝ
Alt: āϏāĻšāĻā§ āĻŦā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻž āĻāĻŽāύ
Example: The emotion was subtle and elusive.
Syn: unclear, evasiveAnt: clear, obvious
đĄ Exam tip: Elusive describes something difficult to find, catch or understand.
tumultuously[/tjuËËmĘltĘuÉsli/]advhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻŖā§āĻĄāĻāĻžāĻŦā§; āĻ
āĻļāĻžāύā§āϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§
Alt: āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻāϤā§āϤā§āĻāύāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰāϤāĻžāϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§
Example: Her bosom rose and fell tumultuously.
Syn: wildly, violentlyAnt: calmly, quietly
đĄ Exam tip: The adverb modifies an action done in great agitation.
exalted[/ÉĒÉĄËzÉËltÉĒd/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻŽāĻšāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāύā§āĻŦāĻŋāϤ; āĻ
āϤā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻŋāϤ
Alt: āĻāĻā§āĻāϤāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāϞ āĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ
Example: She felt an exalted sense of freedom.
Syn: elevated, gloriousAnt: depressed, humble
đĄ Exam tip: Exalted may describe a high position or an elevated feeling.
self-assertion[/Ëself ÉËsÉËĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻāϤā§āĻŽāĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻž; āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ
Alt: āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϧā§āύāϤāĻž āĻĻā§āĻĸāĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ
Example: Mrs. Mallard experienced a powerful feeling of self-assertion.
Syn: self-confidence, independenceAnt: submission, obedience
đĄ Exam tip: Self-assertion is central to Mrs. Mallard's changing emotions.
6. Academic and Literary Vocabulary (8 words)
perception[/pÉËsepĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧāĻŋ; āĻĻā§āώā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āύā§āĻāĻŦ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž
Example: Her perception of freedom changed suddenly.
Syn: understanding, awarenessAnt: ignorance, misunderstanding
đĄ Exam tip: Perception means the way something is understood or interpreted.
significance[/sÉĒÉĄËnÉĒfÉĒkÉns/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϤāĻžā§āĻĒāϰā§āϝ; āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻ
āϰā§āĻĨ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽā§āϞā§āϝ
Example: She could not immediately accept the significance of the news.
Syn: importance, meaningAnt: insignificance, triviality
đĄ Exam tip: Significance is the noun form of significant.
persistence[/pÉËsÉĒstÉns/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āϧā§āϝāĻŦāϏāĻžāϝāĻŧ; āĻ
āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϞāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻ
āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻšāϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŖ
Example: Persistence is necessary for success.
Syn: perseverance, continuityAnt: inconstancy, weakness
đĄ Exam tip: Persistence may be positive, but blind persistence can be harmful.
impose[/ÉĒmËpÉĘz/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻžāϰāĻ āĻāĻĒāϰ āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āĻāĻž āĻā§āϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: No one should impose a personal will on another person.
Syn: force, inflictAnt: relieve, withdraw
đĄ Exam tip: Impose something on someone is the common sentence pattern.
subtle[/ËsĘtÉl/]adjhard
Meaning: āϏā§āĻā§āώā§āĻŽ; āĻ
āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ
Alt: āϝāĻž āĻā§āĻŦ āϏāĻšāĻā§ āĻŦā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻā§āώā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻž
Example: A subtle change appeared in her expression.
Syn: delicate, faintAnt: obvious, į˛å¤§
đĄ Exam tip: The b in subtle is silent; pronunciation is /ËsĘtÉl/.
compassionate[/kÉmËpÃĻĘÉnÉt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻšāĻžāύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻļā§āϞ; āĻĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϞā§
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āϝā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§ āϏāĻšāĻŽāϰā§āĻŽā§
Example: Richards was compassionate when he brought the sad news.
Syn: sympathetic, kindAnt: cruel, heartless
đĄ Exam tip: Compassionate people show concern for others' suffering.
anticipate[/ÃĻnËtÉĒsÉĒpeÉĒt/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻāĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻ
āύā§āĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž; āĻĒā§āϰāϤā§āϝāĻžāĻļāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝāϤ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϞ⧠āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Example: They anticipated a difficult reaction from Mrs. Mallard.
Syn: expect, foreseeAnt: doubt, ignore
đĄ Exam tip: Anticipate is followed by a noun or gerund, not usually by to + verb.
convey[/kÉnËveÉĒ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāύāĻžāύā§; āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻ
āύā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻāĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: Josephine had to convey the sad news gently.
Syn: communicate, expressAnt: conceal, withhold
đĄ Exam tip: Convey a message, idea, feeling or information.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ Remember the contrast: being alone is a situation, but loneliness is an emotional feeling.
âĸ Use cope with, contribute to, listen to and suffer from as fixed prepositional phrases.
âĸ For gap filling, identify the exact grammatical form needed: noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
âĸ In the poem, laugh, rejoice, be glad and succeed are contrasted with weep, grieve, be sad and fail.
âĸ The central theme of The Story of an Hour is the conflict between social expectations and personal freedom.
âĸ Use context to distinguish multiple meanings: decline means both refuse and decrease; gall means bitterness in the poem.
âĸ For synonym questions, remember lonelinessâisolation, griefâsorrow, mirthâjoy and diminishâreduce.
âĸ For antonym questions, remember solitaryâsocial, griefâjoy, repressionâexpression and restrictionâfreedom.
âĸ In transformation exercises, remember that lonely is an adjective, loneliness is a noun and alone is an adjective or adverb.
âĸ When writing answers, support opinions with details from the text, such as retirement, illness, bereavement and physical isolation.
âĸ In literature answers, explain quotations in your own words instead of copying the original lines.
âĸ Check spelling carefully: loneliness has one l in the middle and two n letters; fulfil may also be written fulfill in American English.