I am writing this after reading Prekchha Jha’s article titled Keep it simple, which was published in the School Times on April 19, 2007.

I beg to differ with you. However, I had also never given much importance to the use of so-called ‘high-flown words’. I also used to simplicity, till one day I realised that it pays to have a strong vocabulary.

I had to sit for my English exam for which I had prepared thoroughly. In the examination hall, I started answering the question paper from the grammar portion. This portion went superbly. The paragraph-writing also went fine.

Then I got stuck in the passage reading and answering section. I read the passage thrice, but I could not understand what I was reading. I managed to make some sense of the passage but not what it was saying exactly as many so-called ‘high standard words’ had been used in the passage.

I panicked as I could not understand the passage properly and spoiled my exam as a result.

Similarly, once I went through a chess book titled My System. I got the moves but not the explanation and concept behind those moves.

As I am National Junior Chess Champion, it is essential for me to upgrade the standard

of my game. And that book would have helped me a lot if I had rich vocabulary.

Now, I am looking forwar to the so-called ‘high flown words’ to enrich my vocabulary.