Vocabulary Precision
Misleading words
Some words mean something quite different from what they seem to say.
1 Observe
Guess the meaning of each word first. Then read the real one.
- Peruse To read something carefully and in detail.
- Bemused Puzzled or confused; not the same as amused.
- Nonplussed So surprised that you don't know how to react.
2 Discover
Some words trick us. Bemused looks like 'amused', but it means puzzled. Peruse sounds quick and casual, but traditionally it means to read carefully. When a word looks familiar, it is still worth checking.
Dictionaries now note newer meanings for some of these words; teachers may expect the traditional one.
3 Apply
Before signing the rent agreement in Kochi, Vikram ____ every clause.
Diya looked bemused by the strange question. She felt:
When the teacher announced a surprise test, Rohan was nonplussed. In its traditional meaning, he was:
4 Create
Write a sentence that uses 'bemused' to mean puzzled.
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Example: Fatima was bemused when the bus to Chennai left from the wrong platform.
5 Explore
Open the misleading-word cards and test your guesses.