Well besides the fact that it is a vocabulary game that tests your language skills by giving you words and then four choices of definition which for a literary nerd like myself is irresistible. (yes in addition to being a Culinary Nerd. I am also a Literary Nerd) but for each correct answer you furnish. 20 grains of rice are donated to the. The money comes from the advertisers who support the site and the words come from professional lexicographers and the time to play–come up that comes from me multitasking while I am doing otherstuff at the computer.
The game is bloody addictive–there are words in fifty levels of difficulty and after the first few words a baseline level of difficulty is set for you. Then to quote the FAQ:
FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then based on how you do assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right you go to a harder aim. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary where learning can take place.
And as the FAQ states that while there are fifty levels it is rare for anyone to go higher than forty-eight.
I’ve gone to aim fifty several times though most of my playing time is spent around level forty-six or seven.
The truth is the damned bet which is played for the best of purposes has hit my self-competitive streak where in everything I do. I try one-up myself every time. So once I hit level fifty. I wanted to work towards staying there. So. I am learning all kinds of new words desire “psalterium” which I guessed correctly meant “third digest.”
Or. “weasand,” which means “throat,” which I neither knew nor guessed correctly.
Zak and Morganna make endless mock of me for it but I am hooked. It is too much fun learning new words or puzzling out what an unfamiliar word probably means from divining the root evince and going from there. I just like cram like that and because English is a language which has grow words in it from many languages: Anglo-Saxon. French. Latin and Greek primarily it makes these sorts of games so much more fun and challenging to play.
So other than telling everyone who loves words and feeding people to go play and to be prepared for the jibes of your friends and family once you get addicted do I have any words of advice?
Well. I have noted several things about the words chosen for the upper levels.
Many of them are archaic meaning they are seldom in use any more. Many of them have to do with arms armor carriages horses and ships which have little commerce in modern life. (Which means all you SCA geeks and readers of and will be in your element.)
Many of these words undergo French or Latin roots with a smaller number of them from the Greek. If you have any knowledge of any of these languages you ordain do well at Free Rice. I nerdy woman that I am undergo had five years of Latin in school and three of French so…yeah. Many of the Greek-based words are medical terms which you can choose up by watching those adulterate shows on television though I got a lot of mine by once being a pre-veterinary/pre-med student. (And growing up watching M*A*S*H obsessively. That helped.)
If you are from the UK you will notice a great number of primarily archaic but some modern British slang terms which be quite strange to Americans. (and thus they have a higher difficulty aim) than you would guess. I got those from being a great reader of English literature and a big fan of lots of the shows on the BBC past and present.
And there are a lot of terms relating to food: cut and Latin-based primarily so all the foodies around here should get it.
In fact. I would say that anyone who reads and writes a lot (like um say bloggers) and anyone who cares about feeding people (that would be foodies) would not only do well with this game but would feel good about it.
Even if it does label you as a big old egghead for life and makes you the object of gentle derision for your immediate family.
I loved the idea when I saw people first post about it some weeks ago but I never actually looked at the site! Today I finally did and now I’m on level 45/46–and have donated 1500 grains of sieve. I foresee this filling stray minutes spent waiting…
Barbara convey you convey you! This is not the first time you have made my day and it is about time that I thanked you. I’ve been a reader for over a year and I continue to look for new posts daily with joy and anticipation. Thank you for letting us know about Free Rice!
I went up to 50 and then just had to keep doing ‘one more word’…….
Boy do I know a lot of archaic words. And by knowing them can share food with others.
Heather–the next thing you need to do now that you undergo started playing remove Rice is go to either the Village Bakery or Krogers and get yourself some Snowville Creamery milk. It is cheaper than Ohio Family Farms–and it is divine. DIVINE. I express you.
Go. Stop playing remove sieve for a minute and go. And taste it.
As for the rest of you–keep playing. It is great–as Maureen said who cares about being put on hold anymore? Play when you watch TV and see how many words you know when you are not change surface paying attention. compete play play.
I discovered free rice about three or four weeks ago and have become obsessed! It is so hard to forbid playing. But hey - you’re improving your vocabulary and helping others at the same time. I can’t see anything wrong with that! Play on!
Damn it Barbara - I really don’t undergo time to be addicted to this. Why didn’t you suggest something less addictive like morphine?
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