The Least You Should Know About Vocabulary Building : Word Roots

Rating:
Summary: Fast and profoundly effective way to improve your vocabulary
Review: An excellent resource on many of the root words that are found within the English language. Glazier offers a easy systematic approach that will allow you to continue learning words after you've conquered the basic meaning of word roots found in the text. An essential tool for both the teacher and student of English.

Rating:
Summary: The Least You Should Know About This Book
Review: This slim (150 page) reference is a good choice for high school students who wish to build their vocabularies for the SAT or other exams without having to learn any classical languages or use the dictionary too often. "Roots" refers to both prefixes and suffixes, and the languages of origin are not indicated, but each root is cross-referenced, exercises are provided on opposing pages, and there are pre and post study tests. The roots are listed alphabetically for easy reference on the left side page. Pronunciation guidance is given, there are synonyms and definitions, and words with multiple roots are cross-referenced. On the right side, facing page, fill-in-the-blank sentences provide opportunities to distinguish between the words presented on the left. Answers for all exercises are included in the back of the book. The pretests are all multiple-choice, the alphabetically ordered exercises are fill-in-the-blank, and the post-study tests have three parts: multiple choice, root and individual word definition, and correct/incorrect. Answers are provided for all tests. Other features include a guide to understanding etymological listings in dictionaries, notes on changes in root spellings, and a word index. Despite its ponderous title, I would recommend this for students or teachers who are looking for a well-organized guide to vocabulary development.