4000 Essential English Words 1 (Second Edition) - Overview & Reading Passages

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering vocabulary research, methodology, CEFR levels, and unit reading passages from 4000 Essential English Words 1 (Second Edition).

Which word frequency lists serve as the research basis for the 4000 Essential English Words series?

The BNC/COCA word frequency lists, which can be found on Paul Nation's website.

What proportion of vocabulary in novels and spoken conversation is covered by the 4000 Essential English Words series as a whole?

At least 90% of the words in novels and at least 90% of the words in conversation.

What initial vocabulary size does Book 1 assume a learner already knows?

Book 1 assumes the learner knows around 400 words of English.

What specific list does Book 4 primarily focus on, and how many words does it contain?

Averil Coxhead's Academic Word List (AWL), which contains 570 words.

According to Table 1, what are the word frequency and CEFR levels for Book 1 through Book 6?

Book 1: 1000 level (A2); Book 2: 1000-2000 level (A2); Book 3: 2000-3000 level (B1); Book 4: AWL (B2); Book 5: 3000-4000 level (B2); Book 6: 4000 level (C1).

What are the four major opportunities for learning provided in a well-balanced language course?

Learning through input, learning through output, deliberate learning, and fluency development.

Where is the Amalfi Coast located, and how far is the drive from Rome?

It is located on the Tyrrhenian Sea next to the Mediterranean in southern Italy, and it takes less than four hours to drive there from Rome.

Why is August a popular month to visit the Amalfi Coast, and what is a popular breakfast food there?

August is popular because the weather is warm, and pastries are a popular breakfast food.

In "The Laboratory," what caused the frightening sound that Mia and Liz mistook for an evil monster?

A pretty doll that Mia's father had made for her birthday.

In "The Report," how did Lee gather information and make his model of Mars?

He found space photographs of planets on the web, shaped a small ball, and painted it to match the photos of Mars.

In "The Dog's Bell," why did John place a bell around his dog's neck?

To alert villagers when the dog was approaching so they could avoid being bitten.

What three events and exact distances make up an Ironman Triathlon?

A 3.86-kilometer swim, a 180.25-kilometer bicycle ride, and a 42.2-kilometer run.

What is the minimum age required to enter an Ironman race?

18 years old.

In "The Twins," what important lesson did Alice and Katie learn about their relationship?

It is totally natural for twins to have different interests, and they can remain best friends without being together all the time.

In "The Best Prince," why did King Minos choose his youngest son, Jason, to be king instead of Theseus or Pelias?

Jason's kindness set him apart and allowed him to bring peace, whereas his brothers' fighting would divide the kingdom and cause war.

In the Inuit story "How the Sun and the Moon Were Made," how did the sister discover who grabbed her hair?

She put black dirt in her hair so that the person's hand became black upon releasing it, revealing her brother as the culprit.

What specific tasks are service dogs trained to perform according to Unit 9?

They are trained to open and close doors, push buttons, listen to commands, pull wheelchairs, and bark to get medical help.

In "The First Peacock," how did Argos guard Hera's cow while sleeping?

He was born with 100 eyes, so he only rested a few eyes at a time while the others stayed open.

What did Hera and Zeus do to Argos after Zeus stole the cow?

Hera turned Argos into a peacock and placed his eyes on his tail; Zeus turned him into a group of stars so his image would remain in the sky forever.

According to Unit 11, which European and international countries are recognized as leaders in recycling?

Austria, Germany, Norway, South Korea, and Wales.

In "The Crazy Artist," how did other artists initially react to Frenhofer's new painting style?

They thought it was terrible and full of strange shapes, colors, and symbols with no space for a normal picture.

In "The Taxi Driver," why did the bank founder offer Peter a job?

Peter demonstrated honesty by offering a temporary loan for the $10.25 fare rather than taking advantage of the passenger or accepting an unearned $100.

In "A Magic Book," why did Sarah decide to put a limit on her power to control people?

After using her power to save her basketball coach from walking in front of a bus, she realized it was better to help people than make them suffer.

In "The Big Race," why did the rabbit lose the race to the turtle?

The rabbit slowed down, ate grass, and fell asleep believing there was no risk of losing, allowing the turtle to reach the finish line first.

Who created Kwanzaa, in what year, and what does the name mean in Swahili?

It was created in 1966 by Maulana Kareng, an African studies professor at California State University, and it means "first fruit."

How are the candles arranged on the Kinara during Kwanzaa?

One black candle sits in the middle, three red candles are on one side, and three green candles are on the other side.

Why are books always included among the gifts exchanged on the seventh day of Kwanzaa?

They symbolize the importance of learning about history and tradition.

In "The Race for Water," how did the boy prevent puddles from forming on the hill?

Because it rained on the slope of the hill, the water flowed directly down into the river rather than forming puddles.

In "Shipwrecked," how did Simon Yates survive on the deserted island?

He built a house in a tree, ate a diet of fish, crafted tools from wood and bones, and collected rainwater to drink.

In "The Seven Cities of Gold," why did Coronado briefly think he saw gold on the houses as he left?

The sun was reflecting light on the dirt houses.

In "A Better Reward," who was the actual thief stealing food from restaurant deliveries?

A thin mother dog who was taking food to feed her puppies.

In "A Strong Friendship," how did Tim and Jack combine their abilities to save the snowbound town?

Jack used his intelligence and local knowledge to guide the route, while Tim used his physical strength to break blocking blocks of ice.

What tool did Joe give his volunteers to clean up the park pond in "Joe's Pond"?

He gave everyone a stick with a sharp tip to pick up trash easily.

What is the core moral taught in "Archie and His Donkey"?

You cannot please everyone in society; you should set your own standards and make your own decisions instead of following everyone's advice.

In "The Spider and the Bird," what was the correct answer to the spider's riddle about visiting the coast, desert, and mountains simultaneously?

Hawaii.

In "The Demon's Bridge," how did the young woman fulfill the demon's condition without sacrificing herself?

She threw a piece of bread across the bridge so that her dog would be the first living creature to cross.

According to Unit 30, what is the story behind the idiom "let the cat out of the bag"?

A dishonest trader in England sold a closed bag claiming it held a baby pig, but opening the bag revealed a cat inside, exposing his secret trick.