Check the part of speech of a word

Knowing whether the word is a noun (singular or plural), a verb, an adjective or an adverb can help you decide on its meaning within the context. E.g.: What are your thoughts when you see an elderly woman wearing a hijab, a Jewish boy with a yarmulke, or a young black man in a colorful dashiki? You can guess that these nouns denote nationally/religiously identifying articles of clothing.

Also, you may already know one form of the word (e.g. the noun contamination) but not the others (e.g. the noun enculturation, the noun culture, or the verb to enculturate), so you should look closely at the root word to give you a clue.

Use your previous knowledge of English

You may have seen the word in a different context. You can use your previous knowledge and the new context to work out the meaning. Or you may know the separate parts of a word, but may be unfamiliar with the word as a whole. You can use this knowledge to help you work out the meaning.

Check if there is a definition

Sometimes there will be a definition, explanation or example of a vaguely understood word, e.g., Diffusion, or cultural borrowing. These can be introduced by a variety of words – is, means, refers to, in other words, and i.e..

Look for any linking words or discourse markers

Linking words or discourse markers – such as however, but, therefore, for example, so that, finally, stated simply – may help to indicate the meaning of a particular word. E.g.: ... the concept of worldview is among the most important elements of the perceptual attributes influencing intercultural communication. Stated simply, worldview is what forms people’s orientation toward such philosophical concepts as deities, the universe, nature, and the like.

Text organisation. Headings and subheadings clearly delineate the logistics of the text. Sections A, B, C, and D identify 4 main constructs of culture.

Answer the following questions:

What are the four major characteristics of culture?

What are the four major constructs of culture?

What is meant by the cognitive patterns of culture?

What is meant by the contextual rules of culture?

You should skim a paragraph or section before choosing the correct answer from the text. Remember that it is more efficient to skim the long piece of text first and get the idea of the whole text. Then you can look through the alternative headings very quickly.

Step 1. Survey the text.The headings will give you some clues to help you quickly understand what each part of the text is about.

Step 2. Skim-read each paragraph.Every paragraph deals with a specific aspect of a topic. The first sentence of a paragraph may tell you what the rest of the paragraph is about. Therefore while trying to identify the main idea of a paragraph, you should read the first sentence and skim the rest of the paragraph.

Scan the text for key words.

This title Culture’s components can help you understand that key words must concern any kinds of constructs, or be connected with effects, of culture.

Follow the three-step strategy to make finding key words easier.

Step 1. Make sureyou know what you are looking for.

Step 2. Scan each paragraph for 4-5 key words. Do not read every word.

Step 3. Select5-10 key words for the whole text.

Write a 10-line abstract of the text basing on the key words. Make sure to mention all characteristics, constructs, cognitive patterns and contextual rules of culture.

Collect specific informationby pointing out groups of synonyms, semantic and thematic groups. Keep it in mind that vocabulary in context includes both single words (usually nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs). and two- or three-word phrases.

Section 2. Grammar workout

Preposition use

It is important that you be familiar with the correct usage of prepositions and practice these prepositions in sentences:

Adjectives/Participles + Prepositions (1)

acceptable to, accustomed to, adequate for, afraid of, aware of, based on, capable of, characteristic of, close to, composed of, contrary to, dependent on, different from, disappointed in/with, eligible for equipped with equal to essential to/for familiar with famous for.

Adjectives/Participles + Prepositions (2)

free of next to related to

independent of opposed to relevant to

inferior to opposite of satisfied with

married to perfect for suitable for

native to possible for surprised at/by

necessary for/to preferable to typical of

Opposite of is used for words or concepts that are completely different, such as "large" and "small." When opposite means "across from," it is not used with of. "The bank is opposite the post office on Cedar Street."

Nouns + Prepositions

approach to exception to origin of

attention to experience with price of

because of expert on probability of

contribution to form of quality of

component of group of reason for

cure for improvement in reliance on

increase in increase in result of

demand for influence on solution to

effect of/on* interest in supply of

example of native of

*effect + of + cause

effect + on + thing or person affected (The effect o/heat on rocks...)

Verbs + Prepositions

account for compete with insist on

adjust to concentrate on interfere with

agree with/on* consist of plan on

attach to contribute to participate in

attribute to cooperate with refer to

begin with deal with rely on

believe in depend on result in

belong to devote to search for

combine with engage in

*agree with is used with people

agree on is used with an issue, plan, etc. (I agreed with Mary on that issue.)

Phrasal Prepositions

according to due to on account of

ahead of except for prior to

along with in favor of regardless of

because of in spite of thanks to

bу means of instead of together with

In, On, and At (1)

Expressions of time

+ century (in the eighteenth century) + decade (in the 1990s)

+ year (in 1975) in

+ season (in the summer)

+ month (in July)

+ parts of the day (in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon)

+ days of the week (on Wednesday) + dates (on October 7)

+ time of day (at 6pm; at noon)

+ night

Expressions of place

+ continent (in Africa)

+ country (in Mexico)

+ state (in Pennsylvania)

+ city (in Los Angeles)

+ building (in the bank)

+ room (in the auditorium)

+ in the world

+ street (on Maxwell Street)

on + floor of a building (on the fourth floor)

+ on Earth

at + address (at 123 Commonwealth Avenue)

In, On, and At, (2)

The prepositions in, on, and at are also used in a number of set expressions:

in a book/magazine/newspaper on a bus/train/etc. at best/worst

in charge (o0 on fire at first/last

in common (with) on the other hand at once

in danger (of) on purpose at the peak (of)

in detail on radio/television at present

in existence on the whole at the moment

in the front/middle/back at birth

in general at death

in practice at random

in the past/future

in a row

in style

in theory

Other Prepositions

By is often used with forms of communication and transportation: by car, by plane, by phone, by express mail (Note: if the noun is plural or is preceded by a determiner, the prepositions in or on must be used: in cars, on a boat, on the telephone, in a taxi).

By is also used with gerunds to show how an action happened:

How did you get an appointment with the President? By calling his secretary.

With is used to indicate the idea of accompaniment or possession:

Melanie came to the party with her friend. He wanted a house with a garage.

Without indicates the opposite relationship:

Melanie came to the party without her friend. He bought a house without a garage.

With also indicates that an instrument was used to perform an action:

He opened the door with a key. Without indicates the opposite relationship:

He opened the door without a key.

By and for are also used in the following expressions:

by chance for example

by far for free