I like Deena Seifert’s article “Top 5 Reasons Why Vocabulary Matters” on the IC InferCabulary website. Seifert, the co-founder of Communication APPtitude LLC, says that there has been a big push to improve students’ vocabulary skills and she has the main reasons why they are so important.
Increasing vocabulary improves reading comprehension, whether you’re reading Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” or “Ulysses” by James Joyce. This summer in the public speaking class, each student will choose a book to read. The students will present informative speeches about the books.
Language development is another reason. Seifert says that children who develop a rich vocabulary tend to be deeper thinkers, express themselves better and read more.
Next week I will discuss Seifert’s next three reasons. Here is this week’s word quiz. Enrich your vocabulary with these.
1. incursion (in-CUR-zhun)
A. an expedition with controversial dogma
B. mandatory religion
C. an entering in or into (something, such as an activity or undertaking)
D. a mercurial ingression
The Webster Encyclopedia says that the French incursion under Maximillian forced Benito Pablo Juarez to conduct a guerilla campaign, which he won with U.S. backing. Thanks to Merriam Webster for incursion’s definition, C.
2. reeling (ree-LING)
A. gently smiling
B. stealing
C. having a feeling of losing control
D. coming from behind for a victory
Jesse Waters of Fox News reports that one month ago, animal shelters were reeling from the lack of donations and stacked shortages, but now during the pandemic adoptions have soared in Palm Beach County, Fla.
3. discomfit (dis-COM-fit)
A. to improvise in making something fit such as shoes, bolts, hats
B. to disabuse
C. to narrow
D. to keep from achieving a goal
This past Saturday Meaghan was not discomfited from her goal of cleaning the windows in Hank’s and her master bedroom.
4. zephyr (ZEFF-er)
A. led
B. a correction
C. nullification
D. a gentle breeze, particularly a westward breeze
I couldn’t resist including “led” as one of the choices; get it? Led Zephyr! If you chose D, you are right. Example: A zephyr disheveled their hair and blew out his cigarette while they were taking a stroll on Whippoorwill Drive, and it was then and there she fell in love with him.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
