Word Master Vocabulary-Building Games
Word Master: Great Vocabulary-Building Games to Improve Your Word Power Now (Paperback Edition) by J. G. Barton. Published in 2003.
Poor first impression of this book. The cover design, presentation style and fonts are amateurish, and even the copy is juvenile. “Look no further! In this book you’re holding, you’ve met your match!” But I’d recommend it to crossword-puzzle fans and word lovers in general who want to test their vocabulary.
The book consists entirely of quizzes. For each letter of the alphabet, there are:
- Tough Word Challenges (do you know the definition of these words that begin with the same letter of the alphabet?)
- Verb Power & Adjective Muscle (are these verbs or adjectives? define)
- Select the Right Word (multiple choice on synonyms)
- Complete the Word (A _ g _ _ t _ _ _, meaning ‘like silver’), the most worthwhile section
- Short Words, Long Words, Rare Words (define)
After each set for that letter of the alphabet, there’s the answer key. Interspersed throughout are Quick Games. They’re varied; one asks for the plural forms of words (chrysalis, handful), another for shapes that words signify (unciform, napiform, nubiform).
The book has a British bent, as it was originally published in England, but it’s not inaccessible. There are just a few mistakes, such as in the answer keys on page 43 and page 70 (the definition of ‘hedonism’ was supplied for ‘hagiolatry’).
If you’re not already into words, you’ll likely find this boring and/or difficult. But if you’re the type who enjoys having your vocabulary challenged (Hogen Mogen? epalpebrate?) and don’t need to be motivated by stylish presentation, you’ll learn something new, for sure.
