Network Concise Dictionary Activities using the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary

Transcription

1 Network Concise Dictionary Activities using the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary To do these activities, you will need to use a copy of the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary the book or the CD-ROM. Activity 1 Counting parts of speech Many of the words in the dictionary have more than one part of speech. Each part of speech usually has its own entry. You can find the part of speech at the beginning of the entry. Look up the words below in bold (1 4) in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and decide if the statements are true or false. 1 cold can be an adjective or a verb. 2 major can be an adjective, a noun or a verb. 3 The dictionary shows 2 different parts of speech for present. 4 The dictionary shows 5 different parts of speech for well.

2 Activity 2 Finding the right part of speech Look up the words below (1 4) in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and choose the correct answer. 1 buy is a a noun b a verb c a noun and a verb 2 choose is a a noun b a verb c a noun and a verb 3 dark is a a noun b an adjective c a noun and an adjective 4 lucky is a a noun b an adjective c a noun and an adjective Activity 3 Looking at an entry Words often have more than one meaning. The dictionary entry shows a list of the meanings, or senses, that a word can have. Look up coat in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and answer each of the questions with a number. 1 How many senses can you see for the noun coat? 3 Which sense of coat is another word for hair? 2 Which sense of coat means something you can wear? 4 Which sense of coat goes with painting?

3 Activity 4 Finding the right meaning Read sentences 1 4. Look up the words in bold in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and choose the correct meaning for each sentence. 1 A lot of people lost their jobs when the factory closed. a sense 1 b sense 2 c sense 3 2 Sally invited us to her birthday party. a sense 1 b sense 2 c sense 3 d sense 4 3 I tried to phone them, but the line was busy. a sense 1 b sense 2 c sense 3 d sense 4 4 Did you remember to lock the front door? a sense 1 b sense 2 c sense 3

4 Activity 5 Finding the right preposition The dictionary shows which prepositions are used with some words. You can see this information at the beginning of the entry, or at the beginning of a sense. Read sentences 1 4. Look up the words in bold in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and choose the correct preposition. 1 Don t disturb Frank! He is busy his homework. a at b from c with 2 In this question, you have to choose three possible answers. a from b by c with 3 She s very good Maths. a at b on c in 4 What do you think your new teacher? a to b of c by

5 Activity 6 Using shortcuts to find the right meaning When a word has many different meanings, it can sometimes be difficult to find the one you are looking for in the dictionary. The Oxford Wordpower Dictionary has 'shortcuts' at many of the longer entries. Shortcuts give a short description of a meaning, or group of meanings. You can use them to help you find your way to the right definition more quickly. Look up bar (noun) in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary. Match the different meanings of bar with the shortcuts where they appear in the dictionary. 1 prison bars 2 a bar of gold 3 a few bars of a song 4 a sandwich bar 5 a bar to success a for drinks/food b on a window c soap/chocolate d that prevents you e in music

6 Activity 7 Finding irregular verbs With most English verbs, you make the past tense and the past participle by adding the ending -ed. However, many English verbs do not follow this rule. The Oxford Wordpower Dictionary shows the past tense (pt) and past participle (pp) forms of these irregular verbs at the beginning of the entry. Write the missing form of the verb. Look up the words in bold in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and use the information in the main entry for the verb to help you. 1 The past tense is hurt. The past participle is. 2 The past tense is oversaw. The past participle is. 3 The past participle is sprung. The past tense is. 4 The past participle is worn. The past tense is. Activity 8 Finding opposites with prefixes Some words have the opposite meaning if you add a prefix (like un- or in-) to them. The Oxford Wordpower Dictionary shows opposites in a section at the end of the entry, marked with the OPP symbol. Write a prefix in the gap to make the opposite of the word in bold. Check your answers by looking up the word in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary. 1 Police said the violence at the demonstration was totally acceptable. 2 Isn't it rather convenient having the fridge in the living room? 3 He agreed that it was an perfect solution to the problem. 4 Your evidence is relevant to the case.

7 Activity 9 Finding phrasal verbs The Oxford Wordpower Dictionary shows phrasal verbs in a section at the end of the entry for a verb, marked with the PHR V symbol. Find look (verb) in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and go to the part of the entry where phrasal verbs are listed. Use the information there to help you choose the right word to complete the sentences. 1 The neighbour looked our cats while we were on holiday. a after b into c through d up 2 I usually look my s when I arrive at work. a after b into c through d up 3 I always look to the summer holidays. a forward b on c out d round 4 We spent all afternoon looking the museum. a forward b on c out d round

8 Activity 10 Finding the right idiom The Oxford Wordpower Dictionary shows idioms in a section at the end of the entry for a word, marked with the IDM symbol. Look up the words in bold in the Oxford Wordpower Dictionary and go to the part of the entry where idioms are listed. Use the information there to help you choose the right word to complete the sentences. 1 The nearest town is about 10 km away, as the crow. a flies b goes c travels d walks 2 Don't count your chickens before they're. a cooked b hatched c here d ready 3 I'll go to the post office on my way to the shops, so I can kill two birds with one. a attack b bullet c shot d stone 4 I have two bank accounts because I don't like to put all my in one basket. a birds b chickens c eggs d money