Friday, 30 January 2015

Words of the day (31/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

OBLITERATE (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To remove all signs of something by destroying or covering it completely.
EXAMPLE :
-   The thief obliterated his traces in that house to be safe from the police.

ABHOR (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To hate something very much.
EXAMPLE:
-      All civilized citizen abhorred torturing.
-      Muslims, like all of us, abhor terrorism.

BLATANT (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
(used in an action which considered bad) done in an obvious and open way without caring if people are shocked.
EXAMPLE :
-   People wouldn’t believe and like us if we keep telling blatant lies.
-      So, as Stefan rightly points out, blatant advertising is NOT tolerated on this forum.

TEDIOUS (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Boring and lasting for a long time.
EXAMPLE:
-      While in a tedious train journey, he can finished reading two novels.

HEED (VERB)
DEFINITION:
to pay attention to advise, a warning, etc.
EXAMPLE:
-      We must heed advise from our counselor so that we can determine our future well- planned.
-      We should heed this admonition as bearing directly on our own responsibility.




Words of the day (30/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

ACCOLADE (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
A comment, prize, etc, that you receive which shows people’s high opinion of something you have done.
EXAMPLE :
-   Encik Ahmad has won accolade from the citizen due to his kindness in helping them by donating half of his money for the development of his city.

BOLSTER (VERB)
DEFINITON:
To support or encourage something/someone ;to make something stronger.
EXAMPLE:
-      His remarks did nothing to bolster my confidence.
-      To bolster up the meteor theory, the Project consultant suggests a one-hour error in time.

CRYPTIC (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Having a hidden meaning that is not easy to understand.
EXAMPLE :
-   Most professional criminals used cryptic message to communicate.
-      It will be like the clue in a cryptic crossword.

EPHEMERAL (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Lasting or used for only a short time; short-live.
EXAMPLE:
-      Most of the food are ephemeral, so it have to be stored in refrigerator for long-lasting.

PLUMMET (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To fall suddenly and quickly from a high level or position.
EXAMPLE:
-      Share have prices plummeted to an all-time low.
-      The reef itself is only 800m across, but its stunning reef walls plummet down to 70m or more.


Words of the day (29/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

INTERSPERSED (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To put things of various points in something.
EXAMPLE :
-   We must able to intersperse in order to improve out critical thinking.
-      The videos are interspersed with split-second frames depicting scenes from the bloody video game, which features hand-to-hand combat.

REDUNDANT (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
No longer needed for job and therefore out of work; Not necessary or wanted.
EXAMPLE:
-      Due to his bad performance in his work, he was redundant by his chief.
-       Language was considered redundant or deficient, a stifling convention in the way of our apprehension of reality.

DOYENNE (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
A women who is the senior member, as in age or ran, a group ,class ,profession etc.
EXAMPLE :
-   Anna is one of the doyenne in that class due to her high position in her profession.
-      They'll just be turning up for a full-on evening's barbed and ferociously funny entertainment from the hilarious doyenne of American comedy.

CONTINGENCY (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
A possible future situation or event.
EXAMPLE:
-      Contingency is there for anything else that might crop up. 

MANOEUVRED (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To move something to a different position using skills.
EXAMPLE:
-      Sam manoeuvred his car immediately to run away with the shinny golds.


Words of the day (28/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

DISCUSIVE (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Passing aimlessly from one subject to another.
EXAMPLE :
- They say there should be equal emphasis on discursive or argumentative writing.

CONTEMPLATED (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To think carefully about something or the posibility of doing something.
EXAMPLE :
-      Amir was contemplated his plan of murdering his best friend who always annoys him.
-      Adolf Mukandi has contemplated suicide rather than be sent home to Zimbabwe.

BULGING (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Sticking out.
EXAMPLE :
-      He had a think face rather than bulging eyes.

APPREHENSION (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Worried or afraid that something unpleasant may happen.
EXAMPLE:
-      Ali apprehension about his SPM results that will be known by next week.
-      At the same time no apprehension of danger seems to have been entertained.

INAUGURATE (VERB)
DEFINITION:
to start, introduce or open something, often at a special formal ceremony; to introduce a new official, leader etc, at a special formal ceremony.
EXAMPLE:
-      Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad inaugurate the opening ceremony of twins tower.
-      Lee Kuang Yew was inaugurate as the leader for the MIC party before 1957.


Words of the day (27/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

ACCUSTOMED (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
If you are accustomed to something, you are used to it and it is not strange for you.
EXAMPLE:
-   He is accustomed your tricks since you have been doing it a year.
-      And to anyone accustomed to the imaginative handling of documents, the internal evidence bears out the claim.

MALICE (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
A wish to hurt other people.
EXAMPLE:
-      Marry malice with Annie because she is prettier than her.
-      Security engineering is about building systems to remain dependable in the face of malice, error or mischance.

INQUISITIVE (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Too interest in finding out about what other people are doing; interested in finding out about many different thing.
EXAMPLE:
-   Girls like inquisitive people who they are admired by gossiping. 
-      To the deeply inquisitive Scots mind, beauty itself is not the whole truth.

NONCHALANTLY (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
Not feeling or showing interest or excitement about something.
EXAMPLE:
-      She reach nonchalantly after discussing with her teacher about her history assignment.
-      He sounded just as nonchalant when asked about the overall shape of his team.

ENDEAR (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To make yourself/someone like by somebody.
EXAMPLE:
-      Elsa endeared herself to John by seducing him.
-      Julia is Australia's hottest export in comedy with true-life tales that endear her to all who listen.

Words of the day (26/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

BROOD (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To worry .Or to think a lot about something that makes you worried or sad.
EXAMPLE :
-  We shouldn’t brood about our SPM results since it’s over.
-      They have now had their second brood of nine who are growing fast.

IMPETUOUS (VERB)
DEFINITION:
Acting or done quickly and without thinking.
EXAMPLE:
-      We shouldn’t impetuous some decisions because it might determine our future.
-      He was an impetuous man, quick in his decisions.

RECKONED (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To think; to have an opinion about something.
EXAMPLE:
-   I reckoned something might happen to Ellen since she was moody from just now.
-      Sounds to us you haven't reckoned on the boredom factor.

SCURRYING (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To run quickly with short steps; to hurry.
EXAMPLE:
-      She was scurrying to punch her card in order to get herself on time in the office.
-      Sora began to scurry back to a safe distance from the edge.

PSYCH (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To prepare yourself in your mind for something difficult.
EXAMPLE:
-      We must psych our mind by doing a lot of exercises before taking the exams.
-      My husband is disabled, and the pain meds and psych meds sometimes leave him forgetful.

Words of the day (25/01/2015)

VOCABULARY

INTERVENE (VERB)
DEFINITION:
to become involved in a situasion in order to improve it.
EXAMPLE:
-  Ahmad intervened in the Spell it right competition to enhance his English skills.
-      To maintain that they must intervene is to betray ignorance of the elementary principles of prophetic interpretation.

FALTER (VERB)
DEFINITON:
To lose confident and determination.
EXAMPLE:
-    Most of the students falter during the exams is because they are less prepared for the exams.
-    Do not falter in the face of any enemy terror.

RAPPORT (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
A friendly relationship in which people understand each other very well.
EXAMPLE:
- We must have a good rapport with our parents.
-    At the personal level, I was able to develop close rapport with the other panelists.

PRECARIOUS (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITON:
Not safe or not certain; dangerous.
EXAMPLE:
-      Don’t play on the hill because it’s precarious.
-      Despite our precarious position in the league at least we have a football club.

INTERROGATE (VERB)
DEFINITION:
To ask someone a lot of questions over a long period of time; especially in an aggressive way.
EXAMPLE:
-      The police was interrogating the accuse about the crime scene that occurred  at the Bukit Bintang.
-      We must interrogate what democracy means to the people.

Weekly novel reviews (The Eleventh Commandment by Jeffrey Archer)


Novel info:

Author: Jeffrey Archer
Connor Fitzgerald has an impressive resume. Military hero. Devoted family man. Servant of his country—as an assassin. Just as he’s about to put his twenty-eight-year career at the CIA behind him, he comes up against the most dangerous enemy he’s ever faced: His own boss, Helen Dexter.
As Director of the CIA, Dexter has always been the one to hold the strings. But when her status is threatened by a greater power, her only hope for survival is to destroy Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, the country braces itself as tensions with a new Russian leader reach the boiling point…and it’s up to Fitzgerald to pull off his most daring mission yet: To save the world. Even if that means risking everything—including his own life—in the process.


Novel Reviews:
Based on the novel The Eleventh Commandment by Jeffrey Archer. The opening chapters feature the action as Connor tracks and kills a Colombian presidential candidate and starts a chain of events that could lead to a new Cold War. He's an American Medal of Honor winner who is committed to his country, but also to his spiritual home, Ireland. Archer even pauses briefly to flesh out Connor's family life and the tensions of living with secrets that his wife and beloved daughter suspect but will never know. This character work pays off as the reader follows Connor through several nations and nearly as many identities. Gradually, Connor is caught in Russia between two power brokers: CIA director Helen Dexter and President Tom Lawrence. Dexter needs her 28-year veteran agent dead or "disappeared" in a Russian prison. But President Lawrence also needs Connor so he can finally rid himself of Dexter's tacit control of U.S. foreign policy. In the end, Connor must rely on old friends and native intelligence if he is to make it to his retirement alive. Fans of political intrigue, James Bond, and Tom Clancy will be drawn inexorably along for the ride.

I have become interested lately in CIA and spy novels. The most interesting event in this novel is that you don't expect a CIA assassin to be a truly honorable man, as was this main character. It was really interesting how the author immediately pulls you into the assassin's mind and gets you right on his side. Even though he was captured in Russia, he was calm to go through the hardship. One of the most important value that i have learnt in this novel is friendship. Jackson, who was Conner best friend sacrificed his life for Connor due to his sentence to death. It was a remarkable event where Jackson would sacrificed his life for Connor because he had helped him escape from the prison during the world war in Vietnam. As a student, what we can learn from the event above is we must find a good friend who will be there for us when we are happy or sorrow. 
I would recommend students to read this novel as it can improve their knowlegde about the politics between America and Russia. Students must know about the currrent issues which are important for them to enhance and develope their critical thinking in which will make them more mature in a community. 

I liked Archer's style of setting up characters throughout the book, resisting the temptation of telling you the characters' entire life story in the first chapter you meet them. I found myself thinking I knew how the story flows but you would unexpect the end of the story which might shock you. So overall it's a good novel.




VOCABULARY :

COMMEMORATED (VERB)
DEFINITION: 
to exist or take place to make people remember a special event.
EXAMPLE:
Both exhibitions commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Thomas Jones.

ACQUAINTANCE (NOUN)
DEFINITION:
a person that you know but is not a close friend; a slight knowledge about someone.
EXAMPLE:
He 's not a casual acquaintance whom you barely know.

INCONCEIVABLE (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION:
impossible or very difficult to believe or imagine.
EXAMPLE:
It seemed inconceivable that someone so loved, so full of life, could just go.











Saturday, 24 January 2015

Words of the day (24/01/2015)

VOCABULARY


  • HEARSAY (NOUN)


MEANING: 
THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD ANOTHER PERSON OR OTHER PEOPLE SAY, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE.
EXAMPLE:
1. We shouldn't believe hearsay from our friends but we should ask it from the authorities. 
2. I believe the judge erred in law by accepting hearsay evidence over factual evidence.


  • ADJOURN (VERB)


MEANING:
TO STOP A MEETING, TRIAL,ETC. FOR A SHORT TIME AND START IT AGAIN LATER.
EXAMPLE:
1.In such a case, the magistrates may agree to adjourn the hearing to allow the matter to be sorted out.
2. Our president has decided to adjourn the program due to the financial problems.


  • DETESTED (NOUN)


MEANING:
TO HATE OR NOT LIKE SOMEONE/SOMETHING AT ALL
EXAMPLE:
1.I 've mentioned elsewhere how much I detest the cutesy style of most anime.
2. I detest John because of his annoying attitude.


  • INNUENDO (NOUN)


MEANING:
A SUBTLE, INSULTING COMMENT OR GESTURE.
EXAMPLE:
1. We all knew the innuendo about the drink problem.
2. Innuendo in the social web sites is not the best way to cope stress.


  • GALLIVANTING (NOUN)


MEANING:
ROAMING ABOUT FOR PLEASURE.
EXAMPLE:
1."She's out there gallivanting, I suppose," Fred snorted.



Friday, 23 January 2015

Weekly novel reviews (Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer)



Novel info:
1945. The vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor’s deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington.
Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel, while his beloved Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father’s office on the night he was killed.
When the General Election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma’s son, who ultimately influences his uncle’s fate.
In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family march onto the page. After Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger?

Novel review:
Based on the novel above, the writer takes the story of Harry Clifton, Giles and Emma Barrington forward. The plots is about revenge and sweeping through time, we can see Harry and Emma pursuing their new lives as they raise their son Sebastian and adopt Jessica, who is the love child of Emma's father, and follow Giles as he faces challenges as a Labour MP.
In this novel, the Cliftons and the Barringtons have to face enemies in the scheming Lady Virginia with eyes on Giles' wealth who troubles theirs lives.
One lesson that i had learnt from the novel above is we must not give up easily. Harry Clifton didn't give up in his life even though he was in a prison before. He started his new life by publishing novels and finally he was a well-known writer in America. He also faced a lot of challenges during his trip to London to sell his novel. Throughout the 3 weeks, he was restless where he had to travel a few big cities in London in order to make his novel one of the best selling novels in London. Finally, he managed to be on the 14 ranks. As a student, we must not always give up because when there is a way there is a will. We must face through all the challenges so that we can achieve what we want to be.
I particularly liked Sebastian because his rebellious but not arrogant, definitely not family disowning, loyal and intelligent, quite a charmer. We should take him as our role model where he is good in his studies. He also has a very good critical thinking where he can solve problems easily by himself. He enrolled in a top college and earned a scholarship to Cambridge.

I would recommend students to read this novel as it can enhance your English skills where the writer use some of the Latin words in this novel. It can improve our comprehensive towards the sentences too. Besides that, students get to learn a lot of lessons from the story. It might also help students improve general knowledge about the history of London and America. So, this novel is filled with action, drama and suspense earns a high rating too form the readers! Overall, its a great novel !

VOCABULARY:

DISGORGING (VERB)
DEFINITION: to eject, yield, or discharge something.
EXAMPLE :
His stomach disgorged all the food that he ate just now due to food poisoning. 

RAMIFICATION (NOUN)
DEFINITION: the act or process of ramifying or branching out.
EXAMPLE :
With future so uncertain, ramification so complex, the natural course of action isstatus quo.

SORDID (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION: something dirty, squalid or morally distasteful. 
EXAMPLE:
A morally objectionable pornographic film is an example of a sordid film.


Words of the day (23/01/2015)

VOCABULARY


  • REGALE (ADJECTIVE)
MEANING : 
VERY IMPRESSIVE; TYPICAL OR SUITABLE FOR A KING AND QUEEN.
EXAMPLE:
1. The king is wearing a regale crown.
2.If that did prove to be the case then we could regale readers with the full story.

  • PROPHECY (NOUN)
MEANING : 
A STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
EXAMPLE:
1. The witch use her power to fulfill his prophecy
2. The prophecy was fulfilled, and Lawrence was sentenced to be burnt alive on a gridiron.
  • AUGUR (VERB)
MEANING : 
TO BE A GOOD/BAD SIGN OF WHAT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
EXAMPLE : 
1.Mounting sales augur a profitable year.
2.The picture below shows the continuous flight augur piles being constructed. 
  • WIDOW (NOUN)
MEANING : 
A WOMEN WHOSE HUSBAND HAS DIED AND WHO HAS NOT MARRIED AGAIN.
EXAMPLE : 
1. She has been widowed for ten years now.
2. Widow Linda Carter, who husband David died last year from mesothelioma, is trying to trace former co-workers.
  • BESOTTED (ADJECTIVE)
MEANING : 
SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE/SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T THINK OR BEHAVE NORMALLY.
EXAMPLE : 
1. Since Aaron was besotted with Yuhana, he started to not concentrate in his studies. 
2. We found him besotted with wine.

Words of the day (22/1/2015)

VOCABULARY


  • FORMIDABLE (ADJECTIVE)
MEANING : 
SOMETHING THAT CAUSES FEAR AND IS DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME.
EXAMPLE:
1. This short book covers a lot of ground, displaying formidable erudition and intellectual agility.
2. It was a huge mistake to make her in pregnant and it is formidable to change everything

  • ENVISAGE (VERB)
MEANING : 
TO THINK OF SOMETHING AS BEING POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE; TO IMAGINE.
EXAMPLE:
1. The government had envisaged that Malaysia will develop its economics during 2020
2. envisage one where low risk offenders get conditional cautions or fines.
  • SURPLUS (NOUN)
MEANING : 
AN AMOUNT THAT IS EXTRA OR MORE THAN YOU NEED
EXAMPLE : 
1. The surplus food will be distributed to the orphanage.
2. Any available surplus places will be made available according to demand
  • INEVITABLE (ADJECTIVE)
MEANING : 
THAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED OR PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING.
 EXAMPLE : 
1. Traffic congested can't be inevitable if there's an accident occurs.
2. It seems Jones was willing to risk the inevitable backlash to go faster.
  • BEQUEATHED 
MEANING : 
TO LEAVE ASSETS FOR OTHERS AFTER YOUR DEATH OR TO GIVE SOMEONE SOMETHING THAT YOU OWN, ESPEACIALLY SOMETHING OF VALUE.
EXAMPLE : 
1. I hereby bequeath to you my shopping cart and all its contents.
2. Grandma bequeathed her house to our family before her last  breath.