Memorizing Four-Letter Words

Today, 【CGTN English Intensive Reading and Listening accompanies you on day 1329:

Start with simple words to help remember longer and more difficult words. Here are some unfamiliar four-letter words that I have summarized:

It is best to remember words based on the meanings of example sentences, as this helps with understanding and makes them less likely to be forgotten.

1. reap [riːp]

v. to obtain (results); to harvest; to reap (crops)

you reap what you sow: You get what you give.

But if you don’t pay, you must not reap.

2. rear [rɪə(r)]

adj. back; rear; posterior;

n. tail; buttocks

v. to raise; to cultivate; to breed;

adv. from behind; backwards; at the back

front and rear windows

She reared a family of five on her own.

3. reel [riːl]

n. reel; spool; coil

vi. to stagger; to falter; to feel shocked

a cotton reel

a new reel of film

He reeled out after hearing the news.

I’m still reeling from the shock of hearing of it.

4. rein [reɪn]

n. rein; control; dominance; management

v. to control; to harness; to rein in

We need to rein back public spending.

He is flicking the reins.

5. ripe [raɪp]

adj. ripe; intense; foul-smelling; mature

ripe fruit

This land is ripe for development.

6. rust [rʌst]

n. rust; iron rust;

v. to (make) rust

Iron is apt to rust.

7. sane [seɪn]

adj. mentally sound; wise

No sane person would do that.

That’s a very sane idea.

8. seam [siːm]

n. seam; gap; coal seam

vi. to sew; to join; to cause to crack; to weld; to develop cracks

Her dress had split along the seam.

seam a dress

9. sham [ʃæm]

n. disguise; pretense; impostor; fake

adj. false; pretended

v. to pretend; to feign

The figures are a complete sham.

Is he really sick or is he shamming?

10. shed [ʃed]

n. shed; hut

vt. to get rid of; to dismiss; to let fall; to flow, to drop (tears)

The factory is shedding a large number of jobs.

He shed his clothes onto the floor.

They will shed a few tears at their daughter’s wedding.

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