|
Students learning English as a second language are sometimes given a word by their teacher and asked to
give an (1) (EXPLAIN) as to what that word means; in other words, to provide a
(2) (DEFINE). The (3) (ASSUME) is that if you know a word, you
can define it. (4) (LOGIC), that might make sense, but in reality it is not always
(5) (REASON) to assume that. There are words and phrases that even native speakers
use in conversation without much (6) (THINK) which can lead to
(7) (CONFUSE) when you ask a native speaker to define them. Take the
(8) (CONCEIVE) of 'zeitgeist', for example, which has entered English from German.
It's (9) (DOUBT) much easier to use than it is to define. With a word like 'zeitgeist',
it may be more (10) (SENSE) to test the student's understanding in ways other than
asking them to define it.
|
