Words! Words! Words!
I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
“Show Me” sung by Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady
In the above question, if you change the word blighters to writers, the answer would be a resounding “yes.” Writers love words. We love to know them and we love to use them. We manipulate words on paper and in conversation. They are always spinning in the back of our minds. We've been known to spend hours rummaging around for the one word that has a more explicit meaning that the original word that popped into mind. Words are the building blocks of our trade. No words = no stories.
Here's another valuable use for words. The Free Rice website is combating global hunger through the use of a vocabulary game. Words = food for the poor. I saw this on the news the other night. A teacher was explaining that although her school originally used Free Rice for the upper grades, some of her third and fourth graders have taken a liking to it. The premise is simple; there is a word at the top of the screen and four potential meanings listed below. Just guess the right definition. For each correct answer, ten grains of rice is put in the communal bowl and paid for by a corporate sponsor.
Many of the words on Free Rice don't seem to be grammar school vocabulary. If you have occasionally failed at being Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, you may stumble along the vocabulary path at Free Rice. Click here to try it.
This Thursday we Americans express our gratitude for all the abundance that has been bestowed upon us. Why not spend a few minutes testing your vocabulary and filling the bowl with rice for someone who is not going to sit at a table piled high with turkey, vegetables and pumpkin pie?
Thanksgiving, as celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is an American holiday. We are pleased that this blog is blessed with a number of readers from other nations, who celebrate Thanksgiving at a different time or do not have a similar national holiday. We want you to know that we are thankful for your presence, for your comments and for your friendship.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Terrie
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Will Word for Food
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15 comments:
Enjoyed your post this morning as well as the Free Rice site. Frankly most of the words were not in my vocabulary but since words tend to run along root paths, managed to score 1000 grains before morning fog set in. Passed the address on to family.
Though I believe the hungry will always be with us, it is a good way to spend ones game time especially this time of year, when we are all reminded of our blessings.
Damn, Terrie! The Bag Lady has enough addictions without adding grains of rice to them!! That site is great fun...and gave the Bag Lady's dictionary a bit of a work out (oh, wait, is that cheating?)
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Great link. I only had time to play for a whiel but got up to 500 grains and a vocabualry level of 39 -- whatever that means.
Hey, CiCi, Thanks for the link at Tweakers.
Bag Lady, the dictionary is just fine. After all we do want those corporations to pony up for tons of rice. so the more words you get right . . .
Travis, I don't know what a vocabulary level of 39 means but if you got it then it must mean "Outstanding."
Terrie
I Riced with Gratitude, Terrie. Tx!
Travis - the Bag Lady's vocabulary level was up to 45, which was why she had to pull out the dictionary!! She even tried screwing up just to get down to some easier words - didn't work - even when she was guessing, she got them right! Sheesh!
Great site, though - the Bag Lady has bookmarked it so she can waste even more time but not feel guilty 'cause it's for a good cause!
What a smart group!
In the site's FAQ section, they indicate that top rank is fifty but no one seems to get past 48 so Travis and Bag Lady were doing just fine!
The FAQ's also explain: "Free Rice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. Free Rice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place."
The FAQ'a also have a great selection of bookmarks so you can jump in as the mood strikes.
I am so glad that everyone likes this as much as I do.
Terrie
Ooh, Terrie, a challenge now! Let's see who can get to 50!! The Bag Lady has a REALLY good dictionary...:)
df Bag Lady,
All in a good cause.
Terrie
What a great idea!
I'm going to run right over and check it out!
Interesting... so it self-adjusts. Does that mean you can't compare your score to anyone else's? Or do the "rankings" take that into account?
'Cause I'm shallow, and I want to pretend a big number means I'm smart!
It's a great idea for a great cause.
(Ehrrrm...46)
Crabby,
I have no idea what any of it means other than hungry people get fed.
My question for you is: have you been peeking in Bag Lady's dictionary? ;)
Terrie
Crabby! Bring my dictionary back, I want to play....
No dictionary, just a childhood and adolescence spent guessing at multiple choice tests! I love me some multiple choice!
Yep. the good thing with multiple choice is: you know the answer is right in front of you!
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