2007-English High-Frequency Vocabulary for Postgraduate Entrance Exams-Palmtop Treasure-Chinese National Postgraduate Entrance Examination(Second Edition)

Author: Xia Yirong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: According to the requirements of the new National Postgraduate Entrance Examination English Syllabus, the English exam for postgraduate entrance no longer includes a separate vocabulary test. Traditional types of antonym discrimination and near-synonym identification are no longer the (difficult points) and focus of postgraduate entrance vocabulary. Instead, recognizing words specified in the syllabus, low-frequency words in word frequency statistics, and the 3% of words beyond the syllabus that need to be guessed from context, as well as derivative words formed by certain prefixes and suffixes, have become the (difficult points) and focus in reading, translation, and English knowledge application. To adapt to this change, major postgraduate entrance exam tutoring centers and training schools across the country have invited top instructors such as Professor Xia Yirong to compile this 2007 Postgraduate Entrance Exam English High-Frequency Vocabulary in Hand. The purpose is to help readers shift the focus of vocabulary learning to vocabulary recognition and memorization. The features of this book include:
1. Selectively Comprehensive Word Selection: To reduce readers' reading burden, the book uses computer programs to control the English synonyms and definitions in each entry and the words in example sentences to ensure that all words specified in the English exam syllabus are covered. Although the syllabus requires mastery of 5,500 words, based on frequency analysis of past exam questions and years of tutoring experience, the words that pose the greatest difficulty to readers are approximately 2,500. Therefore, the compilers have selected high-difficulty, key, and high-frequency words from the exam syllabus as entries in this book. At the same time, the synonyms and example sentences in the entries of this book also cover all 5,500 words specified in the syllabus! Additionally, for words that readers often confuse, the book uses synonym or definition annotations, which not only helps readers familiarize themselves with the derivational power of prefixes and suffixes in English word formation but also enhances their ability to think in English, thereby improving the learning effectiveness of the book.
2. Example Sentences in Real Contexts: Most example sentences in the book are quoted from famous quotes, long and complex sentences in postgraduate entrance exam reading comprehension passages, excellent writing samples, and outstanding English dictionaries. Although polysemy is quite common in the English language, a frequency analysis of word and meaning frequencies in postgraduate entrance exam questions reveals that the meanings of frequently tested words follow certain patterns. Based on this statistical foundation, the compilers have selected common meanings and corresponding example sentences. By reading such sentences, readers can not only further understand the meanings of words but also improve their English reading comprehension skills, transitioning from word-level to sentence-level reading and laying a solid foundation for later reading comprehension at the paragraph level.
3. Comprehensive and Efficient Roots and Affixes Summaries: English vocabulary encourages innovation and the use of new meanings, and roots and affixes play a significant role in the development and use of English words. Over the long history of the English language, the use of roots and affixes has also evolved. For example, the suffix “-wise” was once rarely used but is now popular. Many English learners may only know the common meaning of the suffix “-ism” as “practice, doctrine,” but it also carries another meaning in modern English: “discrimination,” such as “racism (racial discrimination)” “ageism (discrimination against the elderly)” “alphabetism (discrimination caused by alphabetical arrangement)” (the latter was the central theme of a passage in the 2004 postgraduate entrance exam reading comprehension). Additionally, although there are numerous roots and affixes in derivation and compounding, and they generate a vast number of derivative words, this book adheres to a practical principle by collecting the most frequently appearing linguistic units in exams. In other words, most of the example words fall within the scope of the syllabus vocabulary list.
4. Systematic and Efficient Phrasal Verbs and Collocations: The syllabus vocabulary list only lists words without definitions or summaries of common collocations. To address this, the compilers have conducted statistical research on a large amount of linguistic data and compiled frequently appearing phrases and collocations to help candidates overcome this bottleneck in the quality of vocabulary learning. When memorizing phrases and collocations, readers can fully utilize the printed format of this book to enhance memory effectiveness.
5. Scientific Handling of the Connotations of Out-of-Syllabus Words: According to the Exam Syllabus, 3% of words beyond the syllabus may appear on the exam. These out-of-syllabus words are key points that candidates must pay attention to and are also difficult to overcome. Listing certain words based on experience is undoubtedly a “subjective guess,” whilely (randomly) predicting words based on the compilers' imagination or subjective forecasts is akin to “fishing in the dark,” which would only result in “wasting effort for little gain.” In reality, the English language is a product of cultural and social development, and the words used in postgraduate entrance exam passages are no exception. In other words, difficulties often lie in words with special connotations. For example, the word “utopia” appeared in the second reading comprehension passage of the 2000 exam. Western authors often use this word, which often carries a strong implication of being “highly unrealistic” or “unpractical.” Another example is the word “disadvantage (disadvantage)” and expressions like G-7 in the second reading comprehension passage of the 2004 exam. If candidates can understand the connotations of these common words, it will undoubtedly greatly benefit their comprehension of passages, capturing the emotions expressed by the author, and grasping the author's implied meaning. Only in this way can candidates improve the targetedness of their review and achieve “effortless success.”
6. “Magic Memory Cards” for Effective Memorization: The book uses a two-color printing method to help readers memorize. It employs the “magic memory card” technique, which is designed based on the principle of “color overlap.” Readers can conveniently use this book for self-testing and memorization. When using it, readers simply place the plastic “magic memory card” over the page, and the Chinese definitions will automatically disappear, achieving the purposes of review, memorization, and self-testing.