Every so often an article comes along that is so compelling, alive, and downright unpredictable that I feel I have to share it with everyone. Now that we have an article of the month on Magoosh blog, the timing is perfect.
The article is “Utopian For Beginners”, by Joshua Foer (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/12/24/121224fa_fact_foer?currentPage=1). The author leads us through a world that is totally unknown to me: those who create made-up languages and, as the author intriguingly shows us, their toadies, who, literally, hang on their every word. One moment we are stuck inside the head of John Quijada, a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee whose side hobby is creating the world’s most thorough—yet apparently precise—language, Ithkuil. The next, we are following him on tour through the Republic of Kalmikya, a virtually unknown province along the Caspian Sea. Apparently, the denizens there have been so inspired by Ithkuil that they’ve made a cult worshiping the language and, by extension, John Quijada. I know it sounds like the half-baked plot of a science fiction novel, but it’s real, and it gets even more interesting.
As you can tell, this article is anything but dry. Nonetheless, there is plenty of vocabulary and enough abstract talk on the nuts and bolts of language that your reading brain will definitely get a solid workout, without even realizing it.
Below are ten high-frequency GRE vocabulary words I plucked from the first page alone. My recommendation is to make a copy of the article and highlight the words as you read. So you don’t get to distracted, only look the words up once you’ve finished. Once you’ve looked up the words, go back through the article and see if you can remember the definition of the word as you read the word in context.
Scrutinize
Furtiveness
Quixotic
Emanating
Ardor
Polymath
Volition
Lexicon
Ambiguity
Ubiquity
Bonus Assignment
Write a one-page response to the article in which you summarize important parts and include your own opinion on the article. See if you can use twenty-five GRE words. The words do not need to come from the article, but can come from any vocabulary source.
Have fun! 
When I read an article from The New Yorker or on NY Times, after I point due to its length and several transformations incorporated; I kinda lose focus as well as interest. Can you please help me to overcome this shortcoming of mine?
Hi Emma,
It’s tough – reading non-stop. I actually encourage you to take a short break after about 15 minutes reading. Grab a snack, drink something and then come back to the piece. Halfway through take a much longer break. Let the article incubate for a little while. Come back to it later in the day, maybe even the next day. Getting through an article this way allows your brain to digest a few pieces at a time. These articles are dense. Even breaking it up this way will help your reading endurance on the GRE.
Hope that helps get you out of the reading doldrums
!
Hey Chris
I must say you are doing an awesome job. I follow this blog regularly
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Thanks for the kudos!
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Hi Chris,
GRE has always scared me, i delayed taking it for a good year until my friend referred me to your site, and by God it is amazing. I love the work you are doing for others. commendable indeed.
I intend to give my GRE this March, got the courage to do so only after getting hooked to Magoosh.
Thanks a lot for all your help!
Wow, that is sooo awesome to hear
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It is great to hear back that we are doing work here that goes beyond just the instructional aspect of the GRE. I hope our blog continues to inspire you throughout your GRE studies
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Good luck in March, and let me know if you every have any questions!
Hi..I love your Blog
Great! I am happy you are enjoying it
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Hey Chris
Reading ur blogs have given a new dimension to my gre prep.it looks a fantastic opportunity to update ourselves with new gre words.as per ur advice I have purchased Manhattan for maths n counting on barron’s for TC n SE.I had Kaplan n Princeton tl nw.bt had completed only the bookish part tl nw.I intend to finish Manhattan as my maths is still rusty.by god’s grace my appointment dt ws due on 13th march gt postponed bcz of technical issues at the centre.thank u so much for ur guidance.m deeply indebted as I ws directionless.i’ll go thru the article n update u.
Love
Taru
You are welcome
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