Mnemonics or mnemonic devices are memory tricks to help us remember things like vocabulary words. However, many mnemonics are pretty cheesy — often involving the kind of jokes some people call “groaners.” For instance…
To abase is “to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade.”
Here’s the mnemonic:
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Yesterday, ETS announced a big change to the way GRE scores will be reported to admissions panels. Starting in July of this year, GRE test takers will be able to choose which test scores they send to their graduate institutions. You can now choose to send only your best GRE scores using the ScoreSelect option.
This is big news for GRE test takers, and we wanted to give you the full scoop on this new feature. We had a chance to talk to ETS officials yesterday and we got all the details on this new ScoreSelect option. Here are our top 3 thoughts on ScoreSelect.
1. Retakes will not be seen by admissions panels
The most obvious impact of this new policy is the ability for students to omit poor scores from their graduate school applications. This should allow students to breathe easy when retaking the GRE.
Our students often ask us if retaking the exam will reflect negatively on their ability or otherwise hurt their application. While retakes (one or two) were never frowned upon by admissions panels, ScoreSelect takes things a bit further by making sure multiple retakes don’t even appear on a score report to be considered. This featured provides a strong added incentive to take the GRE more than once. We hope that this feature will help lower student anxiety on GRE test day. Now, a bad score won’t haunt you forever. In fact, it won’t haunt you at all!
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This hilarious graphic has been making the rounds on Facebook:
The Credible Hulk! This, of course, is a play on the Incredible Hulk. But what does incredible really mean?
Today, we often use incredible to mean “amazing, awesome!” However, the actual meaning of incredible is not believable. For instance:
No one would have questioned the employee’s sick day if he hadn’t told such _________ story about an exotic illness that sent him to the hospital near-death at 8:30 a.m., and yet was cured completely by evening.
Select two answers.
an incredible(Note: When you see six answer choices and square checkboxes, that’s a clue that this is a GRE Sentence Equivalence problem, to which there will always be two correct answers.)
Of course, one of the answers to this question is incredible. But what about the other one?
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Take a sneak peek into Manhattan Prep’s 500 Essential Words and 500 Advanced Words GRE flashcard sets!
Why does propitiate mean conciliate, appease, but propitious means lucky? You’ll have to ask some superstitious Romans (or just read our flashcards). Check it out:
Want to adopt 1,000 new flashcards? Visit our store here.
By Stacey Koprince
In recent articles, we’ve discussed how to analyze practice problems when we’re studying, and we’ve also talked about how to read RC passages. (If you haven’t already read those articles, you may want to do so before you continue with this article.)
Today, we’re going to do a question from the Language Power passage that we reviewed in a previous article, and we’re going to analyze that question using the “how to analyze a problem” process. If you haven’t already read this passage (or if it has been a while since you read it), go take a look at the Language Power article first (linked above). Give yourself roughly 3 minutes to read through the passage and take notes, then read the rest of that article.
Okay, finally, you can get started on this article! Below is the full text of the passage followed by the question.
“Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her new book Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the simple lingual act of declaring power does not help a powerless person gain influence, well-considered linguistic techniques and maneuvers do. McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate effectively. Many surveys have shown that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability in the workplace or an academic environment.
“McGinty divides speech into two categories: “language from the center” and “language from the edge”. In McGinty’s words, “Language from the center makes a speaker sound like a leader.” McGinty suggests that language from the center is not only for those in high positions of power, but also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the following characteristics: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions are supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from those they perceive to be experts.
“Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring. It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using language from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.
“What distinguishes McGinty’s discussion of effective communication is her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this contrasts with most workplace communication theory, which focuses on communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings, avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty, however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication skill “is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how speech shapes situation” and “an understanding of how speech styles and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your authority, and enhance your credibility and impact.”
And here’s the problem; give yourself about 1 minute to answer it. (more…)
