Table Of ContentVocabulary booster
for the cat
A Winning Approach
From an IIM Alumnus
Sidharth Balakrishna
Chandigarh Delhi Chennai
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The aim of this publication is to supply information taken from sources believed to be valid and
reliable. This is not an attempt to render any type of professional advice or analysis, nor is it to be
treated as such. While much care has been taken to ensure the veracity and accuracy of the information
presented within, neither the publisher nor its authors bear any responsibility for any damage arising
from inadvertent omissions, negligence or inaccuracies (typographical or factual) that may have found
their way into this book.
Copyright © 2012 Dorling Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd
Licensees of Pearson Education in South Asia
No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the publisher’s
prior written consent.
This eBook may or may not include all assets that were part of the print version. The publisher reserves
the right to remove any material present in this eBook at any time.
ISBN 9788131772508
eISBN 9788131799031
Head Office: A-8(A), Sector 62, Knowledge Boulevard, 7th Floor, NOIDA 201 309, India
Registered Office: 11 Local Shopping Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017, India
To
My Wife Surabhi
and to Jayshree Athai
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Contents
Preface vii
About the Author ix
1. Is Vocabulary Important? 1–3
2. Vocabulary: How you can Prepare? 5–9
3. Types of Questions in MBA Entrance Examinations 11–16
4. Vocabulary Through Roots-I 17–19
5. Vocabulary Through Roots-II 21–22
6. List of Roots for Words 23–24
7. Improving Vocabulary Through Knowing the Stories Behind Words-I 25–28
8. Improving Vocabulary Through Knowing the Stories Behind Words-II 29–31
9. Improving your Vocabulary Through the Knowledge of Idioms and Phrases:
Stories Behind the Use of Some Idioms and Phrases 33–37
10. List of Common Idioms and Phrases 39–42
11. Words from Foreign Languages Used in English 43–54
12. Practice Exercises-Based on Vocabulary Questions
from MBA Entrance Examinations 55–65
13. Word List with the Roots of Words and their Origins 67–284
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Preface
The phenomenal success of my previous books with Pearson, An Introduction to CAT: Tips from an
IIM Alumnus, Reading Comprehension for the CAT: A Winning Approach by an IIM Alumnus and
Case Studies in Marketing, provided me the inspiration for this book, my fourth overall.
In addition, I was also inspired by my students who often asked me to recommend a good book for
vocabulary. While other books covering this topic do exist, there are few that are targeted specifically
for vocabulary as it appears in the entrance exams of the various Business Schools, such as the CAT,
XAT, FMS, NMAT, MAT etc.
This book thus aims to cover all aspects of vocabulary for such entrance examinations and is
broad in its coverage. Not only does it provide tips to enhance your vocabulary, but it also outlines the
approach of knowing the roots of words and stories behind their origins. The chapters covering these
aspects aim to make vocabulary interesting, since they narrate interesting stories from mythology and
humourous anecdotes pertaining to the usage of certain words.
This book also covers idioms and phrases used in the language and words derived from
foreign languages but commonly used in English that also appear in the various B-School entrance
examinations.
I would like to appreciate my wife, Surabhi, for all her love and patience over the years that we
have been married. I also hope that I might finally teach my sister Aditi something after so many years
of trying! In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Jayshree Athai and my cousin
Sneha for the wonderful stay that Surabhi and I had in Australia; so much so that it gave me the time
to conceive this book in my mind while on vacation!
Gratitude is also due to the team at Rediff.com, MBAUniverse, shiksha.com etc., for whom I have
written several articles in the past.
I would also like to acknowledge the team at Pearson Education: Mr Asad Shabir, Mr Showick
Thorpe and Mr Raza Khan who helped make this book a reality.
Sidharth BalakriShna
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About the Author
Sidharth Balakrishna is an alumnus of IIM Calcutta and has been employed
with the world’s top marketing management consultancy and energy firms.
Besides his regular corporate job, he has written a number of books and
articles for various reputed publications and has taken several guest lectures
and seminars across the country.
His books include the following, all published by Pearson Education: An
Introduction to CAT: Tips from an IIM Alumnus, Reading Comprehension for
the CAT: A Winning Approach by an IIM Alumnus, Case Studies in Marketing
(part of the Pearson Casebook series)
Sidharth is a Faculty associated with some of the top Management Institutes in the country. He is
also a Career Counselling Expert with the Hindustan Times and Rediff.com and has been a member of
the interview panel to select MBA students at various top business schools. He has also taught at MBA
preparation institutes such as MBAGuru, T.I.M.E., Career Launcher, IMS etc., for several years.
Sidharth has written for The Hindu Business Line, The Hindustan Times, The Times of India,
Rediff.com, Pagalguy.com, MBA Universe, Just Careers, Management Compass, Indian Management
(the journal of the All India Management Association), Shiksha.com etc.
Some of his papers and articles, on oil and gas have been presented to top government officials
and have helped shape the industry structure in India.
Sidharth has been extensively interviewed and featured in the press, including in The Hindustan
Times, The Times of India, Outlook, India Today besides others.
Travelling and reading about nature and history are his passions. Sidharth has also been a National-
level Table Tennis player, and has been ranked as the No. 1 player in his age-group in Delhi. He can
be contacted at [email protected].
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