Vocabulary tactics for CUET English
The method and the traps for every kind of CUET vocabulary question on one page: synonyms, antonyms, the correct word, idioms, phrasal verbs, one-word substitution, confusable words and spelling, and match the following. Read it the night before; the chapter lessons have the worked examples.
This is the short version of the eight vocabulary lessons. Most vocabulary questions take under half a minute when you know the word, which leaves time for the reading passages.
What is the method for each kind of question?
| Question | Method |
|---|---|
| Synonym | Say the meaning before reading the options; strike the antonym and the look-alike |
| Antonym | Meaning first, then turn it round; strike the synonym before anything else |
| The correct word | Three tests: the meaning the sentence needs, the grammar after the blank, the word English puts there |
| Idiom | The literal meaning is almost always the trap; picture it, then check the sentence's tone |
| Phrasal verb | Ask what the particle adds; try every particle; the sentence picks the meaning |
| One-word substitution | Split the options into word parts; choose the most exact word |
| Confusable word | Part of speech first, then the memory trick; look at spellings, do not say them |
| Match the following | Fix your surest pair, strike options, fix a second, check the rest |
Which clues does a sentence give?
- But, although, yet, however: the blank is the opposite of something nearby.
- Because, so, therefore, since: the blank causes or follows from something.
- A colon, "that is", "which means": the blank is defined outright.
- The word after the blank: accused of, blamed for, charged with, refrain from, dependent on, opposed to.
Which word parts are worth knowing?
bene- good · mal- bad · mis- wrong or hatred · phil- love · omni- all · chron- time · ver- true · loqu- speak · -cide killing · -cracy rule · -logy study · -phile lover · in- ... -ible cannot be.
A word part points the way; test the word it suggests in the sentence before you mark it.
Which wrong options come up again and again?
- The antonym in a synonym question, and the synonym in an antonym question.
- The look-alike: eminent and imminent, elicit and illicit, extinguish and distinguish.
- The other meaning of a word, when the sentence uses a different one.
- A word that fits the sentence but does not mean what the word in capitals means.
- The literal meaning of an idiom or a phrasal verb.
- The partner word in one-word substitution: emigrant and immigrant, biennial and biannual.
- False negatives: inflammable means easily set on fire; invaluable means extremely valuable.
- A phrase translated from Hindi: take a decision, do a mistake.
Which pairs are asked most often?
principal, principle · stationary, stationery · complement, compliment · affect, effect · advice, advise · desert, dessert · lose, loose · beside, besides · continual, continuous · adapt, adopt · economic, economical · formally, formerly.
Which collocations should you know?
make a mistake, a promise, peace · do homework, your duty · take a breath, steps, place · have fun, a narrow escape · pay attention, a visit · catch a cold, fire · commit a crime · heavy rain · strong tea · lose your temper · play havoc.