Building vocabulary
How much do you understand? The text below is part of a newspaper article. Words that are among the most common 1,000 words have been taken away.
You probably understand more here than when the simple words were left out in example 1. Generally speaking, the most common words carry less meaning. Think of very short messages like an old-fashioned telegram or an SMS. You leave out as much as you can without losing content.
_____ _____ _____ inexplicable _____ _____ crisis _____ Canada. _____ _____ roots _____ _____ _____, _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ foreshadowed, _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ dignity _____ _____ minority _____ _____ survived _____ _____ faith _____ _____ pride, _____ _____ _____ difficult _____ dangerous.
Canadian _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ violently _____ _____ _____ _____ _____. _____ _____ _____ _____ jeopardy. _____ _____ concerned _____ _____ _____ crisis _____ _____ foresee _____ _____ _____ serious upheaval, _____ _____ _____ final showdown.
