Vocabulary words for seniors: Vocabulary Words for Seniors 8/29/12 – Vocabulary List

Top 100 Vocabulary Words That Adults Should Know

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Educators often use words with meanings that students may not fully understand.  Rather than looking foolish and asking for an explanation, students may go through years of schooling and not truly grasp the meaning of important terminology.

After consulting with a past English teacher, my sister, Lesley Hamilton, and a future English teacher, my daughter, Terra Rothpletz, we came up with a list of 100 words that are dispersed by educators but not necessarily understood by students.  Rather than list the definitions here, I thought it might be better to just include the link so that you could test yourself.  Look at the following words and see how well you do.  To find out the definitions, just click on the word. 

1. Acquiesce
2. Acronym
3. Ambiguity
4. Analogy
5. Anachronism
6. Andragogy
7. Antithesis
8. Antonym
9. Articulate
10. Assonance
11. Benchmarking
12. Brainstorming
13. Circumspect
14. Clandestine
15. Cognition
16. Collaborate
17. Colloquial
18. Connotation
19. Contrived
20. Conundrum
21. Correlation
22. Criterion
23. Cumulative
24. Curriculum
25. Deference
26. Developmental
27. Dialect
28. Diction
29. Didactic
30. Dissertation
31. Divergent
32. Egregious
33. Eloquence
34. Emergent
35. Empathy
36. Enigma
37. Epitome
38. Epiphany
39. Epitaph
40. Erudite
41. Existential
42. Exponential
43. Formative
44. Holistic
45. Homonym
46. Hubris
47. Hyperbole
48. Incongruous
49. Infamy
50. Initiation
51. Innate
52. Intellectual
53. Interactive
54. Irony
55. Jargon
56. Juxtaposition
57. Malapropism
58. Magnanimous
59. Mentor
60. Metaphor
61. Meticulous
62. Mnemonic
63. Monologue
64. Motif
65. Myriad
66. Nemesis
67. Nominal
68. Norms
69. Obfuscate
70. Obtuse
71. Onomatopoeia
72. Ostentatious
73. Oxymoron
74. Paradox
75. Paraphrase
76. Pedantic
77. Pedagogy
78. Perusal
79. Phonemes
80. Phonological
81. Plagiarism
82. Plethora
83. Posthumously
84. Preposition
85. Pretentious
86. Pseudonym
87. References
88. Reflection
89. Rubric
90. Sardonic
91. Satire
92. Simile
93. Soliloquy
94. Superfluous
95. Syntax
96. Thesis
97. Validity
98. Vernacular
99. Virtual
100. Vocational

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Tags: Dictionaries, Dr. Diane Hamilton, English as a foreign or second language, Languages, Lesley Hamilton, Spelling, Student, teacher, Terminology, Terra Rothpletz, Vocabulary, Vocabulary Lists, Word

Academic Vocabulary Words For Students in 12th Grade

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Academic vocabulary words for twelfth graders are used in many subjects and even in everyday situations, but are be difficult to define; their definitions can change based on context. But they add nuance to writing and speaking. They often help shape tone, mood, or point of view. For example, skip or trudge would convey different feelings and emotions than walk. Having a large and broad academic vocabulary is critical to reading comprehension.

Use these words when conversing with your 12th grader. Hearing new words used in the proper context is one of the best ways for kids to learn and remember new words. When your child knows these words, it will add polish and precison to their work. Knowing these words help your child be succeed in school, and it will help them be prepared for college admissions tests.

Four Ways to Maintain Intelligence in Older Ages

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How to train the brain and increase cognitive function *, tells our permanent expert

The human ability to think is preserved thanks to the brain. Or rather, the formation of neural connections in it. They may break down with age. However, with the help of special exercises, you can train your brain so that the connections always remain strong. nine0013

Moreover, exercises can be both intellectual and physical, that is, with the help of special exercises. Expert “KP”, a specialist in the field of care for the elderly Alexei Sidnev talks about them in more detail.

MEMORY TRAINING

If you train your memory regularly, you will noticeably improve your ability to remember very soon. This can be done, for example, by memorizing verses, which is not only useful, but also brings aesthetic pleasure. Another way is a presentation of a heard or written text. nine0013

It is also effective to retell past events and news. It is important to describe what happened after some time, for example, the next day. And, of course, the study of foreign languages ​​perfectly trains the memory.

However, it is also necessary to train short-term memory. A good way is concentration. Games that require memorization, for example, words, images or their sequence, will help here.

The ability of a person to think is preserved thanks to the brain. nine0025 Photo: Oleg RUKAVITSYN

TRAINING FOR LOGICAL THINKING

Puzzles, riddles and tasks are excellent helpers in the development of logical thinking. Playing chess and cards, solving crossword puzzles, sudoku – all this also contributes to the establishment of neural connections in the brain.

REACTION AND SPATIAL PERCEPTION TRAINING

Speed ​​games, where there is a need for quick decision making, dancing or yoga, help to keep the reaction and spatial perception. Paradoxically, computer games are not only a fun pastime for young people, but also a useful activity for older people, which also helps to train reaction and spatial perception. nine0013

Of course, it may be difficult for the older generation to master new technology on their own, but it is quite possible to spend some time with the grandchildren at the game console.

Communicate more! And not only with doctors…
Photo: Aleksey BULATOV

SPEECH TRAINING

Patter, pronunciation of long complex words, foreign phrases (when learning languages) contribute to the training of the speech of older people. And reading books is not only pleasure and relaxation, but also a good opportunity to maintain vocabulary at the proper level, and even expand it. nine0013

It should be added that without physical activity (regular walks, yoga, gymnastics for the elderly, etc.), normal functioning of the body is impossible. And without a healthy body, in turn, it is impossible to talk about the full-fledged work of cognitive functions. For the same reason, older people should follow:

* their diet: that is, eat properly and fully.

* sleep – sleep at least eight hours a day.

* taking medications – avoid taking several, sometimes incompatible, medications at the same time. nine0013

Due attention should be paid to the development of fine motor skills. All this allows you to maintain cognitive functions at the proper level.

* Cognitive functions – higher cognitive functions of the brain, thinking, memory, vocabulary, ability for abstract thinking, creative processing of information, stock of knowledge, intellect.

Source: Komsomolskaya Pravda

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If youth knew, if old age could

Many non-specialists share the view that there is a broad age range that follows puberty and extends into aging, in which the level of adult intelligence remains stable—does not decline or rise. nine0013

Another common notion is that the decrease occurs over the years, but very slowly, for a long time remaining invisible to the person himself and to those around him. From the standpoint of modern science, both of these points of view are equally erroneous.

The human intellect is heterogeneous, it has different aspects, different mechanisms. The simplest example is given by the concept of the English psychologist Raymond Cattell, who proposed to distinguish between two types of intelligence: mobile and crystallized. The first one is more responsible for the assimilation of new information, the analysis of unusual situations, and the solution of unfamiliar tasks. The second is connected with the use of accumulated experience in familiar, typical situations. At the same time, as the scientist emphasizes, we are talking about two related, but fundamentally different processes. Fluid intelligence (eg, short-term memory) peaks in early adulthood and then gradually declines, while crystallized intelligence (eg, vocabulary) peaks in middle age and beyond. However, this picture seems to be simplified today: recent data show that short-term memory itself is also heterogeneous and the peak of memory for names falls on the age of 22, and the peak of memory for faces is reached no earlier than 30 years. nine0013

It can be assumed that different age peaks for different aspects of intelligence, or, as they are also called, different cognitive functions, are associated with the fact that they are based on specific mechanisms. Their detailed study is an important task for science, since understanding the dynamics of age-related cognitive changes would allow, for example, optimizing the system of continuous education or methods for assessing cognitive health in older people in order to provide timely and more effective assistance. nine0013

Very interesting in this respect are the results of a study by Joshua Hartshorne of Harvard University and Laura Jermyn of the Center for Human Genetic Research in Boston (Massachusetts, USA). A number of experiments conducted by American scientists made it possible to take a fresh look at the problem of the optimal operation of various aspects of the intellect.

What data is collected

The first step in their work was the analysis of normative data obtained using two standard sets of tests: the third edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), a widely used assessment of mental abilities, and the third edition of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS -III), affecting various aspects of short-term and long-term memory. You can get acquainted with all types of tasks that were used to assess intelligence and memory in the table. nine0013

Some of these tests exist in two versions – with repetition immediately after presentation and with delayed reproduction. In total, two scales include 30 tests. nine0013

The analyzed sample was 3675 people, without cognitive problems, aged 16-89 (300 participants in each of the following age categories: 16-17, 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30- 34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 225 participants aged 80 and 84; 150 participants aged 85-89).

What are the results

Behavioral analysis yielded very interesting results. The diagram clearly shows that Behavioral Analysis yielded very interesting results. The diagram clearly shows that the flowering of certain aspects of intelligence occurs at different times (see diagram). nine0013

18-19 years old. A distinctive feature of this age is the speed of information processing. Teenagers, compared to other age groups, spend significantly less time on understanding the perceived information and react to it faster. However, after 20 years, the processing speed begins to gradually decrease.

20-35 years old. Young people between the ages of 20 and 30 are unmatched in their ability to retain information in short-term memory. A name heard, a face seen, a text read with numbers or other exact data – all this has a place in temporary storage before being forgotten after some time or, if necessary, reinforced and transferred to permanent memory. At no other age is a person able to keep such volumes of data in the memory buffer. Unfortunately, after the age of 35, it becomes more difficult to store new information in short-term memory. nine0013

35-45 years old. An important advantage of this age is the ability to focus on the work being done, control of attention, which allows you to partly compensate for the decrease in the speed of information processing and the reduction in the amount of working memory. .

40-60 years old. The older a person becomes, the weaker his mobile intellect, the slower the speed of information processing, but the more effectively he compensates for this decline with a wealth of experience, a large amount of knowledge, a better understanding of the situation. One of the features of this period is the ability to recognize the internal emotional state of others by external signs, as they say, to see, to read in the eyes. nine0013

60-70 years old. Vocabulary reaches its maximum in this age range.

By the way, for greater persuasiveness, the researchers decided not to limit themselves to the data at their disposal and significantly supplemented them. To ensure maximum coverage, it was decided to use the Internet. The tasks required for scientific analysis were posted on the TestMyBrain.org and GamesWithWords.org websites (they can still be completed independently by anyone who speaks English). People of different ages performed them with pleasure and willingly shared them on social networks. As a result, a large number of volunteers around the world were tested, and scientists received additional information. nine0013

Comparison of results collected in the laboratory and on the Internet showed that online data can be as reliable as data collected in the laboratory using traditional methods. The results were in general agreement. The result was the same order of age peaks for different cognitions: performance on processing speed tasks was highest in the youngest users, working memory peaked at about 30 years of age, and vocabulary increased gradually and peaked closer to older age. The peak of facial emotion recognition ability was much broader than the peaks for any other task, and was consistently maintained at a high level between the ages of 40 and 60. nine0013

However, the study did not end there either. Scientists came up with another interesting and important idea. They decided to compare the results of studies for different years. To do this, we reanalyzed the results for 26,850 participants who took a vocabulary test from 1974 to 2012. To track changes over time, the data was split into three periods with roughly equal numbers of participants: 1974–1987. (9,155 people), 1988–1997 (8,440 people) and 1998–2012 (9,255 people). So it was found that over time, the peak of the maximum vocabulary shifts closer to old age, which suggests that in each subsequent generation, intellectual functions last longer. Scientists attribute these changes to the fact that physical labor is gradually being replaced by mental labor and an increasing number of people get access to secondary and higher education, broaden their horizons, which has a positive effect on their cognitive reserve. nine0013

What conclusions are drawn

An analysis of the results of the conducted experiments showed that age-related changes in cognitive abilities are much more heterogeneous and complex than is commonly thought.

The scientists recommend abandoning incorrect stereotypes and recognizing that there is no age at which people reach their full flowering in the performance of all cognitive tasks, or, in other words, are superior to other age groups in all aspects of intelligence development. Moreover, at no age can one reach the peak in the development of at least most of the intellectual abilities. nine0013

“Youth”, indeed, intellectually “can” something that “old age” cannot. A young brain processes information faster and absorbs it better.