Ex Vs Im

Prefixes Ex and Im convey opposite meaning. Explode mean bursting outside, where as implode mean bursting inside. You might wonder what is burning inside then. If you have ever seen bursting (or bringing down) of buildings in discovery channel, you would know about it. Buildings are brought down in such a way that spewing of debris is controlled.

I can also think of other examples on top of my head is export vs. import. Sometimes, it ex and imp prefixes in words might not be obvious, such as in expose and impose. Some words need not have the ``ex'' or ``imp'' counterparts. Important is one such example.

GRE Pain -- Part I

I sympathize with your affliction -- Studying for GRE is big pain in the rear. But it's your desire to study more, which has left you to be tormented. But no matter how rough the path is, reaching the destination in flying colors is well worth it. You are bound to loose your gregarious affiliation. Note that you are affiliated with Anna University; but it need not afflict you with pain.


One thing to be kept in mind while using affliction is that it rhymes and spells close to infliction. Another baffling thing is that they are used in similar context, but have different meaning. You inflict pain on others. Affliction on the other hand is associated with you. Okay! let's go back to the point.

Studying GRE is irksome. Especially, the verbal section has an uncanny knack to irate you. No matter how harrowing it is, you are left with no choice. Schools use this a criteria to judge your application. However, do not get distressed or crestfallen if you score low in your practice test. Your low score may lacerate your heart. But do not let it incinerate your ambitions. Lacerate and Incinerate also are used in similar context -- Lacerate means to tear; incinerate means to burn to ashes. Before it gets harry -- yes, same as harry met sally, let's stop here.

Synonym -- irk, harry, afflict, irate, lacerate (tear is the meaning), torment, plague, scourge.

Example. Spam e-mails are scourge of the Internet.
My success is plagued by your failure. You mean close to me.

Do not Conceal, but Reveal yourself

We all have secrets. We are secretive about our career, life, love and health. We all operate in a surreptitious manner; for instance, you may clandestinely have an affair with the girl next door, where as, I, on the other hand, could furtively glance at her without your or her husband's knowledge.

In the end, anything can kept covert, but not integrity, love, affection and emotions -- and of course the next door girl's pregnancy :-). Disclosing about your emotions to a trusted friend, family member, or also an abettor can help reduce stress, especially at the time of trials and tribulations. Hence do not refrain from divulging your misgivings too. A study has found that revealing your apprehensions to strangers is not a bad idea; it is them who can look at it from an unbaised or unequivocal standpoint, and offer invaluable thoughts.

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Ok -- the theme as you would have figured is secret.

Similarity chain: secret - furtive - surreptitious - clandestine - cloak - hidden - disguise
Dissimilarity chain: reveal, disclose, divulge, expose, impart, communicate

Introduction

This is a blog for prospective GRE test takers. This blog would be a reflection of my experience and possible suggestions. I recommend anyone who is interested in subscribing to the posts via an automated feed reader such as google.com/reader.

Here are the tips for usage:

(i) Each post would have a label -- Verbal, Writing, Quants denoting its type
(ii) Every important word would be in bold format -- such as ``megalomaniac''
(iii) I shall try to maintain a common theme for each post. In other words, I won't be talking about geometry and algebra in the same post. Similarly, I would thread similar or opposite meaning words into sentences. In order to show the contrast, I shall use two different font colors, i.e., good and bad.
(iv) This is not a blackboard; you are encouraged to post comments and ask relevant and irrelevant questions. Remember the only stupid question is one that is not asked.
(v) Please place request if you need to go over some topics in particular. Also check in the links on the side. I shall populate them appropriately as we move along.
(vi) I shall also ask to take some sample quiz as we move along. This can be from a book or a link provided below.
(vii) Please refrain from spamming --- this blog is not for abuse

Introduce yourself if you like by commenting to this post. Thanks! Best of luck!