But another version of this problem is when you know the term, and you know a little bit about the concept, but you really don’t know anything else about what the word means in that context.

For instance, the word “level” is very common, but in computer game play, it means the entire space (or “level”) available to a player while trying to accomplish a given goal (e.g., find the ruby in a complicated maze–that particular maze is the game level). It also refers to the “level of difficulty” of a given game stage or phase.

This is an incredibly useful skill as you read. Often you’ll see words in your text that you can’t quite figure out from context (especially when you’re reading something in a field in which you’re NOT an expert), so this is a great way to learn how to figure out those complex, hidden, subtle meanings.

Can you figure out how to pin down the definitions of these terms? Can you give a succinct definition? (In this sequence, #1 is easy, but #3 is harder.)

1. What is an “object” in computer programming?

2. What is a “model” when used with a bunch of equations to provide some explanatory structure?

3. In a book I just read, the author wrote, “Miles really knew how to jam in all those modes…” What’s a “mode”? (Don’t bother to look for this quote–I’ve modified it so you can’t figure it out that way….)

Can you understand what these terms are all about?

If so, HOW did you figure out the meanings? Tell us in the comments!

Search on!