Vocabulary Building Workbook This workbook is designed to help you improve your vocabulary. It includes 24 lessons with a variety of exercises to help you learn new words commonly used in the Canadian workplace. Literacy and Essential Skills – for LEARNING, WORK, and LIFE You can download this publication by going online: http://www12.hrsdc.gc.ca This document is available on demand in multiple formats (large print, Braille, audio cassette, audio CD, e-text diskette, e-text CD, or DAISY), by contacting 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2013 For information regarding reproduction rights, please contact Public Works and Government Services Canada at: 613-996-6886 or [email protected] PDF ISBN: 978-1-100-12137-6 ESDC Cat. : Nº : WP-102-12-13E Table of Contents Introduction page 2 Unit 1 page 5 Unit 2 page 44 Unit 3 page 82 Unit 4 page 121 Unit 5 page 159 Unit 6 page 196 Answer Key page 232 Introduction The Vocabulary Building Workbook will help you improve your vocabulary and learn new words commonly used in the Canadian workplace. The workbook includes 24 lessons with a variety of exercises: • Matching Meanings • Using the Right Word • Relating Meanings • Analyzing and Comparing Words • Reading Comprehension • Crossword Puzzles Getting Started Each lesson starts with a list of words and definitions, and an example of how each word can be used in a sentence to help you better understand the meaning. Once you have read the vocabulary words and definitions in each lesson, you can begin the exercises. Understanding the Parts of Speech Parts of speech help you understand how a word should be used. The part of speech for each vocabulary word is identified using the following abbreviations: noun = n. verb = v. adjective = adj. adverb = adv. preposition = prep. Definitions of the Parts of Speech Noun (n.) A noun is a person, a place or a thing. Example: Tom ran to the store to buy chocolate. 2 | V o c a b ulary Building Workbook Adjective (adj.) An adjective is a word used to describe a noun. Example: Little Tom ran to the corner store to buy white chocolate. Verb (v.) A verb is a word used to show an action. Example: Little Tom ran to the corner store to buy white chocolate. Adverb (adv.) An adverb is a word used to describe a verb. Example: Little Tom ran quickly to the corner store to buy white chocolate. Preposition (prep.) A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. Example: Little Tom ran quickly to the corner store to buy white chocolate. Other Terms You Will Need to Know Synonym A synonym is a word that means the same as another word. Example: large is a synonym for big Example: tiny is a synonym for small Antonym An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Example: hot is an antonym for cold Example: on is an antonym for off Homonym A homonym is a word that sounds the same as another word but means something else and is sometimes spelled differently. Examples of common homonyms: • their (belonging to them) and there (in that place) • hear (to listen to something) and here (in this place) • to (toward), too (also), and two (the number 2) O f f i c e o f L i t e r a c y a n d E s s e n t i a l S k i ll s | 3 Anagram An anagram is a word or phrase that contains all the letters of another word or phrase but in a different order. Example: “post” is an anagram of “stop” Example: “astronomers” is an anagram of “no more stars” Analogy An analogy links two things that are related in some way. For example, an apple is like a ball because they are both round. Word analogies compare two pairs of words. The second pair of words must be related in the same way that the first two words are related. For example, if the first pair of words are antonyms, the second pair of words must also be antonyms. Example: dark is to light as laugh is to cry (antonyms: dark and light are opposites and laugh and cry are opposites) Example: shoe is to foot as tire is to wheel (a shoe goes on a foot and a tire goes on a wheel) Example: post is to stop as drawer is to reward (anagrams: the same letters are used to spell each pair of words) 4 | V o c a b ulary Building Workbook Unit 1 Lesson 1: Page 6 career confident continuous contribute essential fascinate focus invest manuscript numeracy oral performance quality skill sponsor Lesson 2: Page 15 business comment competition contact facsimile form obtain option quote receive recycle reply review transmittal urgent Lesson 3: Page 24 attitude diplomat dramatics encourage environment gossip initiative key mutual organization positive professional reliable success support Lesson 4: Page 33 apply asset available balance candidate confirm excess fare flexible fluent knowledge offer orientation reservation statutory Unit Review: Crossword Puzzle Page 42 Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 5 Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 1 career n. a job held over a long period of time that usually requires education or training • Maria completed a nursing program at college and is looking forward to starting her new career as a nurse. confident adj. sure of yourself or having a strong belief or trust in another person or thing • Grace was more confident about asking for a promotion after she earned her diploma. Also n. confidence; adv. confidently continuous adj. going on or carrying on for a period of time without a break; constant, non-stop • I didn’t have time to restock the shelves because there was a continuous stream of people coming into the store all day. Also n. continuation; v. continue; adv. continuously contribute v. to give ideas, time, money, articles or help towards a common purpose • Are you going to contribute money to the social committee this year? Also n. contribution essential adj. necessary, very important 1. relating to the basic nature of something 2. • 1. Knowing how to use a computer is an essential skill for today’s workplace. The essential oils found in some herbs are available at health food 2. stores. Also n. essence; adv. essentially fascinate v. to attract and hold someone’s attention, interest or curiosity • The children were fascinated by the magician’s tricks. Also n. fascination; adj. fascinating 6 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1 focus v. to pay attention to a particular point 1. to adjust to make an image clearer 2. • 1. Ahmed needed to write memos at work, so he focused on improving his grammar and spelling. Lena focused the overhead projector to make the words on the 2. screen clearer. Also n. focus; adj. focal invest v. to put up money, capital or time for profit or gain • It could be risky to invest your money in the stock market. Also n. investment, investor manuscript n. a document that contains a story, article or other piece of writing that is being prepared for publication ● Aaron submitted the manuscript of his biography to the publisher for approval. numeracy n. ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide and to apply calculations to various tasks • Board games that include play money help children improve their numeracy. Also n. numeral; adj. numerical; adv. numerically oral adj. . spoken 1 . concerning the mouth 2 • 1. Bob is expected to give an oral presentation on the importance of keeping the work area clean and safe. . The dentist explained that oral hygiene is important to prevent 2 cavities. Also adv. orally performance n. . the carrying out of a task or duty 1 . a dramatic or musical show 2 • 1. Improved workplace performance leads to greater productivity and safety. . Her performance at the ballet recital was excellent. 2 Also n. performer; v. perform Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 7