Finally, decide the true meaning of a word according to the context of your reading when you are consulting an English dictionary. An English word may contain several meanings in one entry. You must learn to judge the context you are reading to help you choose the appropriate meaning or definition. The meaning you choose must fit to the context you’re reading. Otherwise, you may complain that you look up the meaning in the dictionary hard, but you don’t understand the sentences you’re reading. An additional tip to help you decide appropriate meaning is to distinguish part of speech. You must know the new word is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb because sometimes the meaning of a noun can be different from the meaning of a verb. Using English dictionary also provides you chances not only to practice reading, but also to distinguish similar meanings of different words. This means it increases your knowledge of synonyms and antonyms. As your English level is upgraded along with your study, consulting English dictionary is necessary.

Passage Reading

In an open-air market in Turkey, a tourist is admiring the beautiful oriental rugs on display. She finds one she likes and asks the price. “One thousand dollars,” the vendor says. She knows she shouldn’t pay the full price, so she says “six hundred.” “Nice hundred,” the vendor counters. The woman throws up her hands in mock frustration and walks away. The vendor goes after her. Not long afterwards both vendor and buyer agree on eight hundred dollars. Never accept the first offer. You’ll need to make a counter-offer when the vendor announces the price.

Explanation

When looking up your dictionary, you may agree that “counter” is a very interesting word since different speech parts means differently. For instance, when “counter” is used as a noun, it means a table or desk such as information counter. It also means an instrument used to count numbers like a photo copier counter which counts how many copies you’ve made from the machine. However, when “counter” is used as a verb, it means to say something in order to prove someone is wrong. In other words, it means you disagree with someone or something so that you fight back. After finishing this passage, you know the woman (the buyer) does not agree with the price offered by the vendor. To decide the correct meaning of “counter” in this reading, you must decide what speech part it is – a noun or verb?
　

She knows she shouldn’t pay the full price, so she says “six hundred.” “Nice hundred,” the vendor counters.
　

If you analyze the sentence structure, the short dialogue can be rewritten like this way:

She knows she shouldn’t pay the full price, so she says “six hundred.” The vendor counters, “Nice hundred.”
　

So it’s easy for you to identify that counter is used as a verb in this context. Now can you decide its proper meaning?

Exercise

( c ) What does “counter” mean in this context?

	a. an instrument to count number
	b. a table where you are served or pay at shop, hotel, or bank
	c. to bargain
	d. to prevent something bad from happening

Passage Reading

If you do some bargaining, you’ll be able to get some good buys. What? You don’t know how to bargain? You’re afraid to? Relax. In my capacity as Times travel editor, yours truly has been making trips abroad since 1995, and bargaining is one thing I’ve learned how to do. In this week’s column I’m going to give you some tips on how to perform this most enjoyable activity.
　

Explanation

Three words in this short passage may impede your comprehension. What does the writer mean about the expression “yours truly”? In the previous phrase, the writer indicates that he is the travel editor of Times (in my capacity as Times travel editor). Therefore, we can deduce that yours truly refers to the writer himself. Yours truly is the closing complimentary in a business letter to establish a goodwill relationship with customers. Your truly in this context also implies that the writer’s popularity of his magazine articles on travel since many readers write to him.

Second, the writer’s articles on travel appear in a special column on the magazine. Column in this context means a space in a magazine or newspaper devoted to special reports on a topic. In Chinese, we call it 專欄. However, column has several meanings.

Exercise

( c ) In this context, what does “column” mean?

	a. a tall strong stone pillar
	b. one section of a page like left or right column
	c. reports on special topic in magazine or newspaper
	d. a long moving line of people

Third, tip also has several meanings. Referring to the whole passage, can you deduce its correct meaning in this context?

Exercise

( c ) In this context, what does “tips” mean?

	a. the pointed end of something
	b. a small amount of money you give to someone who serves you
	c. a helpful advice to solve a problem
	d. to succeed