Page 231 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 15: Vocabulary and Usage : Words often Confused and Misused

69. Understand (know the meaning of): He didn’t understand French. Notes
Comprehend (understand fully; grasping with the mind): He comprehends the Aristotelian
theory of imitation.
Appreciate (understand and enjoy): We can’t appreciate Wordsworth’s poems unless we
understand his love of nature. 70. Unite (join): United we stand, divided we fall.
Combine (join together): We can’t always combine work with pleasure.
Co-operate (work or act together in order to bring about a result): A country connot progress
unless its people co-operate with the government.
71. Use (employ for a purpose): A knife is used to cut bread. Employ (give work to, usually for
payment): He is employed in a school.
Utilize (use a thing for some profit): Life can be a bed of roses if we learn to utilize the opportunities
we get in our life.
72. Vigorous (strong, energetic): He delivered a vigorous speech.
Strenuous (using or needing great effort): He remains busy from dawn to dusk and leads a very
strenuous life.
73. Vacant (not occupied by anyone): I have applied for a vacant post in the Royal Hotel.
Empty (having nothing inside): The famous big house on the Mall Road is now empty.
74. Wise (ability of sound judgement): Only wise man can see the things in advance.
Sage (having the wisdom of experience [often ironic]) He behaves just like a sage.
Prudent (acting only after careful planning): A prudent man takes up a project after careful
forethoughts.
75. Witty (things that are brilliantly or sparkingly amusing): A witty comment always appeals to
the mind.
Humorous (having a sense of humour): Mark Twain is a famous humorous writer.
Ludicrous (ridiculous; exciting or deserving derision): His comments are generally ludicrous.
Farcical (extremely ludicrous of futile): His behaviour was farcical.
76. Womanly (befitting a woman): She possesses all womanly qualities.
Womanish (weak; like women): The boys of womanish qualities cannot stand firm before dangers
15.2 Review Questions

I. Supply from the brackets correct words in the spaces left blank in the following sentences.
1. Lalita ....... to me for a long time, (talked, spoke)
2. He is ....... of his friend’s wealth. (Jealous, envious)
3. I do not know whether the fruits are ....... or not. (fresh, new)
4. There lies a ....... post of a Hindi teacher in our college. (empty, vacant)
5. Yesterday I ....... a big bird, flying high in the sky. (looked, saw)
6. Sonia purchased a ....... book from the book fair. (little, small)
7. The ....... of Kashmir is extremely beautiful. (scenes, scenery)
8. James is a ....... fellow. (handsome, beautiful)
9. He ....... that he is a smoker. (admitted, confessed)
10. He lives in his ....... house. (ancient, old)
II. Choose the correct word from the bracket:
1. Cats live in ....... (homes, houses)
2. He was rewarded for his good ....... . (behaviour, conduct)
3. Death is the wages of ....... . (crime, sin)

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