CET-4 & CET-6 High-Frequency Vocabulary Pocket Guide

Author: Xia Yirong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: According to the new National Postgraduate Entrance Examination English Test Syllabus, the English exam has abolished the vocabulary section as a separate test. Traditional types of synonym discrimination and near-form word identification are no longer the (difficult points) and focus of postgraduate entrance exam vocabulary. Instead, identifying 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 affixes, 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 lecturers 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 their focus from vocabulary memorization to vocabulary identification and retention. The book's features include:
1. Selected Words with Precision and Comprehensiveness. To reduce readers' reading burden, the book uses computer programs to control the English synonyms and example sentences within each entry, ensuring that these English definitions and sentences cover all words specified in the exam syllabus. 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 the book. Meanwhile, the synonyms and example sentences in the entries also cover the entire 5,500 words specified in the syllabus! Additionally, for words that readers often confuse, the book uses synonym or definition annotations. This 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 effectiveness of learning.
2. Example Sentences in Real Contexts. Most of the 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 and meaning analysis of past 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 deepen their understanding of word meanings but also improve their English reading comprehension skills, transitioning from word-level to sentence-level reading and laying a solid foundation for future passage-level comprehension.
3. Comprehensive and Efficient Roots and Affixes Summaries. English vocabulary encourages creativity and the use of novel meanings, and roots and affixes play a significant role in the development and use of English words. Throughout 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 modern meaning: "discrimination," such as "racism (racial discrimination)," "ageism (discrimination against the elderly)," and "alphabetism (discrimination caused by alphabetical arrangement)" (the latter was the central theme of a passage in the 2004 reading comprehension). Additionally, although there are numerous roots and affixes in derivation-based word formation, producing a vast number of derived 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 Compilation. 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 phrasal verbs and collocations to help candidates overcome this bottleneck in vocabulary learning quality. When memorizing phrasal verbs and collocations, readers can fully utilize the book's printed format to enhance memory effectiveness.
5. Scientific Handling of the Connotations of Words Beyond the Syllabus. According to the Exam Syllabus, 3% of words beyond the syllabus may appear in the exam. These words are key points that candidates must pay attention to and are also difficult to overcome. Listing certain words based on experience is an "subjective guess," while arbitrarily predicting words based on the compilers' imagination or subjective assumptions is like "searching for a needle in a haystack," only to achieve "half the effort, half the result." In fact, 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, the (difficult points) often lie in words with special connotations. For example, the word "utopia" appeared in the second reading 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 (weakness)" and expressions like "G-7" in the second reading passage of the 2004 exam. If candidates can grasp the connotations of these common words, it will undoubtedly greatly benefit their understanding of passages, capturing the emotions expressed by the author, and comprehending the "subtext" implied by the author. Only in this way can candidates improve the targeting of their review and achieve "twice the result with half the effort."
6. "Magic Memory Cards" for Effective Memorization. The book uses a two-color printing method to help readers memorize. It employs "Magic Memory Cards" technology, designed based on the principle of "color overlap," allowing readers to conveniently self-test and aid memorization. When using it, readers simply place the plastic "Magic Memory Cards" over the book pages, and the Chinese word meanings will automatically disappear, achieving the goals of review, memorization, and self-testing.