Vocabulary Definitions PDF

Lesson 8 --------------- Vocabulary Definitions 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 h...

Lesson 8 --------------- Vocabulary Definitions 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. 1. necessary, very important 2. relating to the basic nature of something 1. Knowing how to use a computer is an essential skill for today's workplace. 2. The essential oils found in some herbs are available at health food 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. 1  Also n. fascination; adj. fascinating Focus v. 1. to pay attention to a particular point 2. to adjust to make an image clearer 1. Ahmed needed to write memos at work, so he focused on improving his grammar and spelling. 2. Lena focused the overhead projector to make the words on the 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. 1. Spoken 2. concerning the mouth 1. Bob is expected to give an oral presentation on the importance of keeping the work area clean and safe. 2. The dentist explained that oral hygiene is important to prevent cavities. Also adv. Orally performance n. 1. the carrying out of a task or duty 2. a dramatic or musical show 1. Improved workplace performance leads to greater productivity and safety. 2. Her performance at the ballet recital was excellent. Also n. performer; v. perform 2 Quality n. 1. the level of excellence of a product or service 2. a characteristic of a person or thing 1. Controlling quality in a factory involves making sure there are no flaws in the final product. 2. Reliability is a good quality to have. Also adj. qualitative; adj. qualitatively Skill n. the special knowledge and ability to do a type of activity, often requiring special training When the employer asked her what skills she could bring to the job, Marylou told him that she had excellent computer skills and was very good at writing. Also adj. skilled, skilful; adv. Skillfully Sponsor v. to help to start and/or pay the costs for an activity or a person, group or business The company sponsors a lunch-hour program for employees who want to improve their writing skills. Also n. sponsor, sponsorship A. Matching meanings Match the vocabulary words below to their meanings. Use each word once. 1. contribute carrying on for a certain period of time 2. quality not easily distracted 3. continuous author's document 4. confident physical or behavioral characteristic 5. investing using time or money for possible gain 6. manuscript to share your ideas 7. essential Concert 8. performance very important 9. focused self-assured 3 10. fascinated very interested B. Using the right word Read the text and fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words listed below. Use each word once.  career  focused  confident  fascinated  oral  skills  sponsored  quality  performance  numeracy Jason has been working in the stockroom of a large athletic store since high school; however his goal is to have a (1) _______ in sales. Fortunately, Jason has a pleasant manner, which is an important (2) _________ for a salesperson. Last month, the store management evaluated Jason's job (3) _________, giving him an excellent report. When Jason mentioned that he was (4) ____________ by sales, his supervisor told him about a store- (5) ___________ program involving Essential (6) __________ training. Jason would need to improve his (7) ________ skills in order to work with money. Because part of Jason's job would be to greet customers and build relationships with clients, he would also need to work on his (8) ___________ communication and thinking skills. Jason is very dedicated and (9) ________ on his training. After he completes the essential skills training, Jason is (10) ________ that he will be better equipped to work as a salesperson. C. Relating meanings Circle the letter that corresponds to the best answer. There is only one correct answer for each question. 4  1. Which of the following items is least essential on a cold, rainy day? a. coat b. boots c. umbrella d. belt 2. Which of the following is not another word for skill? a. ability b. talent c. expertise d. happiness 3. Which of the following is most likely to make a person feel fascinated? a. brushing teeth b. reading an interesting book c. eating cereal d. mowing the lawn 4. Which word is the least similar in meaning to contribute? a. perform b. offer c. invest d. sponsor 5. Which one is not an example of a quality? a. confidence b. friendliness c. honesty d. one hundred percent 6. Which of the following would most likely require oral communication? a. a manual b. a document 5  c. a meeting d. a memo 7. Which of the following situations is most likely to build someone's confidence? a. giving a presentation that everyone criticizes b. taking a self-improvement course c. making a mistake at work d. changing duties at work abruptly 8. Which of the following is the least likely to be a manuscript? a. a grocery list b. a novel c. a collection of poems d. a magazine article 9. What is not an example of a career? a. quality control technician b. pastry chef c. cousin d. administrative clerk 10.What is opposite in meaning to the word continuous? a. ongoing b. non-stop c. broken d. unbroken D. Analyzing and comparing words An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike, opposite or related in some way. Complete the analogies using the vocabulary words listed below. The first one is done for you.  fascinated  continuous  career 6   essential  skills  confident  numeracy  focused  oral  sponsor 1. routine is to habit as job is to career 2. useless is to productive as interrupted is to 3. difficult is to hard as self-assured is to 4. report is to written as presentation is to 5. stale is to fresh as uninterested is to 6. gym class is to fitness as math class is to 7. refresh is to update as vital is to 8. capable is to competent as attentive is to 9. instruct is to teach as support is to 10.peaches and pears are to fruit as reading and writing are to E. Comprehension Read the following article and answer the questions below in complete sentences. An essential skills success story Essential skills help people to carry out different tasks, provide a starting point for learning other skills and help them adjust to change. There are nine essential skills:  reading  document use  numeracy  writing  oral communication  working with others  thinking 7   computer use  continuous learning Here is one worker's story of how upgrading her essential skills contributed to improvements in job performance and career choices. Anne McKenna's story While I was working on a production line at a canning factory, I found my key to success. Essential skills training opened new doors for me and my career. I left high school after Grade 10 and went to work on a production line at a local canning company. After a few years, I applied for a job in quality control. The manager let me try it out to see if I could do it. Based on my experience and the fact that I'm a quick learner, I got the job. But in order to keep it, I had to work on my essential skills. Fortunately, the company sponsored a continuous learning program. I earned my high school diploma through the General Educational Development (GED) program. Like many people who have been out of school for a long time, I was scared of going back to the books. Even so, I knew that I was ready and once I got started, I really enjoyed it. After graduating, I focused on improving the skills that were important in my job. I took a night course at a local college to improve my reading, numeracy and oral communication skills and earned a certificate from the American Society for Quality. I felt more confident and better prepared when talking to union representatives and Head Office. Having improved some of my essential skills, I had a good understanding of what I was good at. I have always loved history and was fascinated by stories about the old building where I worked. I began working with a local writer and historian to find out more about the building and put my writing skills to work. We eventually finished a manuscript which many of my co-workers enjoyed reading. Today, I have a new job with a major food company. I'm here because I got over my fear and opened doors for myself by investing in essential skills training. I look forward to the future and know my life will always be full of learning. Questions 1. Name three things that essential skills can help people with. 8  2. After her upgrading, Anne worked on a project she found very interesting. What was the project? 3. What kind of company does Anne work for now? 4. What two programs did Anne McKenna complete? 5. Why did the manager give Anne the job in quality control? 9  Lesson 9 -------------------------- Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 2 Business n. 1. the act of manufacturing, buying or selling goods and services 2. a person, partnership or company that operates to make money  1. As purchasing manager for a large retail store, Danuta prefers to do business with Canadian companies. 2. My father is selling our meat packing business to a larger company. Also n. businessperson, businessman, businesswoman; adj. businesslike Comment v. to give an opinion, observation or explanation about something  Please read the rough copy of the newsletter and comment on the things you like or do not like about it. Also n. comment, commentary Competition n. 1. a business or person trying to achieve the same goal as you 2. the act of trying to do better than someone else 3. a contest  1. To win first place, you must run faster than your competition. 2. Competition among the children in a family is quite common. 3. Rahmah won the sales competition because she sold more chocolate bars than any of the other students. Also n. competitor; v. compete; adj. competitive; adv. Competitively Contact v. to write, call or meet with someone  To avoid having your hydro service cut off, 11  please contact the collections office before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Also n. contact facsimile n. an exact copy of a document sent or received (fax) electronically  Please send a facsimile of the conference schedule to the office in Moncton. Also v. fax Form n. 1. a sheet of paper that has questions and gives spaces to fill in the answers 2. the shape of something 1. The application form must be completed and attached to your cover letter. 2. The garden was in the form of a star. v. to create or give shape to Several employees decided to form a choir and perform at the company party. Obtain v. to get something by asking or making an effort  I had to obtain a building permit from the city to build a deck in our yard. Also adj. obtainable Option n. a choice between two or more things  A graduating high school student has the option of entering the workplace or attending a post-secondary school. Also v. opt; adj. optional; adv. Optionally Quote n. 1. the stated price of a product or service 2. a repetition of someone's exact words  1. The company provided a quote for the total cost of installing the pool. 2. In his article, the journalist included a quote from the mayor’s speech. Also n. quotation Receive v. 1. to get something, such as a letter, a phone call, 11  information or visitors 2. to pick up electronic signals and convert them to sound or pictures  1. You will receive a notice in the mail about the next meeting. 2. Her satellite radio receives signals from around the world. Also n. receiver, recipient, reception, receipt; adj. receivable Match meanings Match the phrases in Column A with those in Column B to make complete sentences. Put the correct letters on the lines provided. Use each phrase once. Column A 1. To obtain a goal is to 2. To engage in competition is to 3. To make contact is to 4. To review something is to 5. A form is 6. An option is 7. A facsimile refers to 8. To quote a price is to 9. Transmittal describes 10.To reply is to Column B 1. look it over carefully. 2. state what the total cost of a product will be. 3. an image that is sent through the phone lines. 4. respond to someone who has asked you something. 5. sending a document from one person to another. 6. a choice between tow things. 7. achieve it, usually through hard work and persistence. 8. try to win or do better than others. 12  9. communicate with someone. 10.a sheet of paper that asks for details about someone or something. B. Using the right word Read the text and fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words listed below. Use each word once.  Quote  Competition  Option  Facsimile  Review  Contact  Recycle  Business  Reply  Urgent I have an (1) matter that requires your immediate attention. It is no longer an (2) to throw out our plastic waste products. We need to (3) the plastic for environmental and financial reasons. I have made (4) with a (5), the Renewal Company, which processes and reuses plastic cheaper than its (6). I received a (7) on how much it would cost us. Please (8) the enclosed (9) so I can (10) to the Renewal Company as soon as possible. Total /10 C. Relating meanings A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as another word. Match the vocabulary word with its synonym.  Business  Comment  Facisimile  Option  Review 1. Copy 13  2. Examine again 3. Give an opinion 4. Choice 5. Company An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Match the vocabulary word with its antonym.  Obtain  Receive  Urgent  Reply  Contact 1. Ask 2. Lose 3. Unimportant 4. Avoid 5. Send D. Analysing and comparing words The letters “re” can be used as a prefix to mean “again.” 1. Refocus means to pay attention to something again. 2. Reinvest means to spend time or money on something again. 3. Reconnect means to connect something again. 4. Review means to look at something again. 5. Recycle means to use or process something again. Choose the correct word to fill in the blanks. Use each word once.  Refocus  Reinvest  Reconnect  Review  Recycle 1. The sponsor has been asked to in the project because the public fundraising campaign fell short. 14  2. Before a test, it is important to your notes. 3. The sound of laughter caused the tired man to on the speaker. 4. Trees can be saved if people paper. 5. When your telephone bill has been paid in full, we will your service. E. Comprehension Read the fax transmittal form below and answer the questions that follow in complete sentences. Magic forms Inc. Facsimile transmittal To: Bob Davis From: Georges Hanna Company: A Paper Company Date: February 14, 2009 Fax number: 514.333.3333 Total no. of page including cover sheet: 2 Phone number: 514.444.4444 Subject: Quote obtained from your competition  __Urgent  __Please review  __Please comment  __Please reply  __Please recycle Good Morning Bob, We received a very good quote for paper from your competition yesterday. As we have been happy doing business with your company, we thought that we would give you the option of competing with this quote. Please contact us as soon as possible. George 16633 Prairie Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3P 8R5 www.magicforms.ca Phone: 514-555-5555 Fax: 514-555-5556 15 Questions 1. How many pages are being sent in this fax? From whom did George receive a quote? If George wanted an immediate response, how would he request it on the fax transmittal form? Who is the facsimile being sent to? 2. What box should George have check marked? 16 17