Question 2 Skills: Synonyms | English Language for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Introduction

Question 2 assesses your capability to grasp both the overt and inferred connotations of terms and expressions within a given text. You'll need to pinpoint the word or phrase in the text that correlates with the underlined words, and elaborate on their contextual significance. Thus, familiarity with synonyms is crucial for this task.
This section provides guidance on: 

• What exactly are synonyms and how they are utilized in context
• How to appropriately utilize synonyms within a specific context

What are synonyms?

• Synonyms are words or phrases that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. For instance, "tiny" is a synonym for "small," and "excellent" is a synonym for "fantastic."
• Enhancing your knowledge of synonyms can assist you in broadening your vocabulary and incorporating more sophisticated words and phrases into your language. This skill is valuable as it enables you to express yourself more precisely. For example, instead of "job," you could use "position," and instead of "sorry," you might opt for "apology."

How to effectively use synonyms in context

• It is crucial to select synonyms that align with the specific context in which they are being used.
  • For instance, consider the word "dying." While its literal meaning refers to something reaching the end of its life, its interpretation can vary based on context.
  • In a sentence like "On the other side, there was a streetlamp with a dying bulb," the word "dying" pertains to the bulb becoming fainter and dimmer.
  • In this scenario, suitable synonyms for "dying" would be "fading" or "dimming," reflecting the gradual decrease in brightness.
• The significance of contextual awareness in defining words or phrases cannot be overstated.