I might study

for the GMAT

and get an MBA.
lesson description
Prepare yourself for higher education with
these new verbs and actions, vocabulary,
and key phrases that are used in academia
and professional education.
The bonus section on Test Taking will
help you prepare for exams and curb test
anxiety so that you can do your best.

objectives
U
 se academic language and idioms
to discuss educational endeavors
and goals
Demystify the meanings of common
acronyms, abbreviations, homophones,
and heteronyms
Sharpen your reading comprehension
skills while obtaining knowledge that
will help you raise your test scores
Lesson ID: #0437

page 1

Photo: flickr.com/photos/jurvetson

vocabulary
class
college
community
college
doctorate
engineering
entrance exam
exam scores
grade point
average (GPA)
graduate
high school
law school
masters
mathematics
medical school
Ph.D.

Lesson ID: #0437

placement test
proctor
professor
reading
resident
scholarship
stipend
student
teachers assistant
transcripts
undergraduate
university
writing

actions

key phrases

to apply to college
to get a degree
to graduate
to register for classes
to study
to take a test/exam

Are you going back to school?

I am studying to get a degree in business.
I got a scholarship to study medicine.
I have to apply for a masters program.
What are your dreams?
What are you studying?
What is your Ph.D. in?

page 2

your turn
Choose the correct homophone for each sentence and write
it in the blank.
There/Their/Theyre

heel/heal

fare/fair

Dear/Deer

eye/I

Hour/Our

brake/break

by/buy

for/four

mail/male

1. Start every correspondence using the word __________.

6. It will take __________ hours to drive there.

2. Do you really want to __________ that diamond ring?

7. Youd better get ready. __________ going to be here in

Its expensive!

ten minutes!

3. When I was at the beach, I got some sand in my ___________.

8. Im not working right now. Im on a __________.

4. The __________ of my shoe fell off!

9. If you dont want to call her, send her a note by ___________.

5. The taxi __________ is $45 from the airport to the city.

10. __________ cookies are the best in town!

conversation
Read the following conversation
out loud five times.
David: I cant believe I lost the ticket.
Tom: I cant believe theyre shutting us
down -- their best branch.
David: What are we going to do now?
Like our poster says: push, push,
push.
Melissa: They took all the posters.
Tom: I still think Im going to go back to
college. I was good at school, except for writing, math, literature,
and geometry.
Melissa: But youre a great designer. I bet
you could get a scholarship.
Raven: Im going to study for the GMAT
and get my MBA. David, where
did you get yours?

Lesson ID: #0437

Bonus Feature: Watch the English Highway video to follow along! (Lesson ID: #0377)

David: Oh, the University of Loserville.

Ive got to do something to save
us all, but Im at my wits end.
Team, Im the captain of the ship

and Ive driven us straight into the

rocks. Ive let you down. Will you
ever forgive me?

page 3

acronyms, abbreviations,
homophones, and heteronyms
An acronym is a word formed by taking the first letter of each
word in a set of words and putting them together. (tip 1)

bass

For example: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus ->

SCUBA (as in scuba diving).

a stringed instrument
a type of fish

BASE
BASS

close

to shut
nearby

CLOZE
CLOHSS

An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase. (tip 2)

excuse

For example: department -> dept.

to let someone off

justifying explanation

EX-kyewz
ex-KYEWSS

object

Homophones are words that sound exactly the same yet have different meanings and are often spelled in a different way. (tip 3)

a thing
to protest

OB-ject
ob-JECT

produce

vegetables
bring forth

PRO-duce
pro-DUCE

resume

to restart
ree-ZOOM
employment document REH-zoo-may

wind

to coil up

For example: The words meet and meat sound exactly the
same, but have entirely different meanings.

heteronym

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and are often pronounced differently.

definition

moving air

pronunciation

rhymes with
"find"
pinned

For example: the word tear means to rip something, like a piece
of paper. Its pronounced differently than tear, the droplet that
comes out of your eye when you cry.

tip 1
ASAP
ATM
CIA
MBA
PIN
GMAT

as soon as possible
automatic teller machine
Central Intelligence Agency
Master of Business Administration
personal identification number
Graduate Management Admission Test

tip 2
approx.
dept.
est.
etc.
govt.
inc.

tip 3
approximately
department
established
et cetera
government
incorporated

Lesson ID: #0437

bear & bare

brake & break
buy & by
dear & deer
eye & I
fare & fair

for & four

heel & heal
hour & our
mail & male
there & their & theyre

page 4

your turn
Choose the correct definition of the heteronym being used in the sentences below.
1. The man in the music group played the bass.
a. stringed instrument
b. fish
c. game
2. The judge will excuse the criminal for his crime.
a. justify an explanation
b. put in jail
c. let off

9. I will resume working in the morning.

a. personal document
b. restart
c. stop
10. Will you please close the door before you leave?
a. shut
b. open
c. nearby

3. The wind was blowing very hard.

a. coil up
b. moving air
c. trumpet player
4. My rsum has all my work experience on it.
a. personal employment document
b. restart
c. briefcase
5. The meeting is going to produce great results.
a. undermine
b. bring forth
c. vegetables
6. The market is not far from here, its close.
a. nearby
b. far away
c. closed
7. That crystal chandelier is a very beautiful object.
a. protest
b. thing
c. person
8. I am going to tear that letter in half!
a. write
b. rip
c. cry

Lesson ID: #0437

page 5

test taking
If you happen to be one of those people who wants to better
your education or broaden your scope of knowledge, you must
be prepared for the admissions tests of the learning institutions
to which you will apply.
Here are some tips that will work as a guide for your pretest
preparation:
Understand the scope of the test; what does the test cover?
Study the topics covered in the test.
Review and practice answering sample test questions.
Get plenty of rest the night before the test.
Eat a healthy meal before the test.
Show up prepared. Bring any necessary items to the test:
pencil, identification, calculator, scratch paper, etc.
Watch your time closely if it is a timed test.
Stay focused and relaxed during the test.
Keep your eyes on your own paper.
Turn in your completed exam and wait for the results.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/menlophoto

Good luck on your tests! And remember, practice makes perfect,

so be sure to practice, practice, practice!

Lesson ID: #0437

page 6

your turn
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions below.
The Keys to Successful Test Taking
Taking tests can make you nervous, irritable, and frightened. Here
are some tips that will help you to pass your tests with flying
colors! It is important to understand what the test will cover, so
it is vital that you become familiar with the material you need to
study. Take a sample test, as this will help to lessen your fear of
the unknown and help you to feel more comfortable with the
test-taking process. Be sure to get a lot of rest before the test so
you are alert and at your best mentally. Eat a healthy meal. Your
brain needs fuel to run itself! Come prepared: bring pens, pencils,
calculator, scratch paper, etc. Theres nothing worse than breaking
your only pencil during a test! Stay focused and try to relax. Nervousness can be distracting and can cause you to perform badly,
especially on timed tests. Keep your eyes on your own test paper,
or the teacher might think youre cheating! And, most importantly: practice, practice, practice!
1. Taking tests can make you:
a. nervous
b. irritable
c. frightened
d. all of the above

4. When you come prepared for a test, you should:

a. know who is giving it
b. know how many people will be there
c. bring test-related supplies like pencils and paper
d. wear nice clothing

2. Taking a sample test will help you feel more:

a. understood
b. beautiful
c. comfortable
d. delightful

5. Nervousness while taking a test can be:

a. distracting
b. helpful
c. creative
d. wonderful

3. Getting a good nights rest will:

a. make you tired
b. keep you mentally alert
c. get you a nice car
d. help you get a good job

6. When taking a test, keep your eyes on:

a. the person sitting next to you
b. your neighbors test paper
c. your own test paper
d. none of the above

Lesson ID: #0437

page 7

answer key

your turn - exercise 1

your turn - exercise 2

1. Dear
2. buy
3. eye
4. heel
5. fare
6. four
7. Theyre
8. break
9. mail
10. Our

1. a
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. a
7. b
8. b
9. b
10. a

your turn - exercise 3

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

d
c
b
c
a
c

Lesson ID: #0437

page 8