[Solution] Exercise 1.1 - Spanish Vocabulary Puzzle
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Author: Anonymous
Find the missing letters in the puzzle and write the complete word in the space provided. Use the images and what you have learned about cognates to help you with some of the words. Finally, write the number of the image next to the correct word.
Puzzle Solution Guide
This exercise contains 8 Spanish vocabulary words with visual clues. Let's analyze each word and understand the spelling patterns and meanings:
Complete Vocabulary Solutions
Word 1: PIZARRÓN (Image 8: Blackboard)
Missing letters: P-I-Z-A-R-R-Ó-N
Meaning: Blackboard/Chalkboard
Analysis: This word features the double 'RR' which produces a rolled R sound, and the accent mark on the final 'Ó'. The word comes from 'pizarra' (slate) with the augmentative suffix '-ón' indicating a large blackboard.
Word 2: CASA (Image 1: House)
Missing letters: C-A-S-A
Meaning: House
Analysis: A fundamental Spanish vocabulary word with clear vowel sounds. Notice how Spanish 'A' maintains the same 'ah' sound in both syllables, unlike English house pronunciation variations.
Word 3: NIÑOS (Image 3: Children)
Missing letters: N-I-Ñ-O-S
Meaning: Children (boys or mixed group)
Analysis: Features the unique Spanish letter 'Ñ' (eñe), pronounced like 'ny' in canyon. The plural masculine form covers boys or mixed groups of children.
Word 4: LÁPIZ (Image 7: Pencil)
Missing letters: L-Á-P-I-Z
Meaning: Pencil
Analysis: Contains an accent mark on the first syllable (LÁ-piz). This is a paroxytone word ending in 'z', which requires an accent on the stressed syllable. Plural form changes 'z' to 'ces': lápices.
Word 5: España (Image 5: Scale/Fish scale)
Missing letters: E-S-C-A-M-A
Meaning: Scale (fish scale, reptile scale)
Analysis: A three-syllable word (es-CA-ma) with stress on the middle syllable. The 'SC' consonant cluster is common in Spanish, as in 'escuela' (school) or 'escuchar' (to listen).
Word 6: DIECIOCHO (Image 4: Number 18)
Missing letters: D-I-E-C-I-O-C-H-O
Meaning: Eighteen
Analysis: A compound number formed by 'diez' (ten) + 'y' (and) + 'ocho' (eight), contracted to 'dieciocho'. Notice how the 'CH' represents a single sound, like in English 'chair'.
Word 7: FOTOGRAFÍA (Image 2: Photography/Picture)
Missing letters: F-O-T-O-G-R-A-F-Í-A
Meaning: Photography/Photograph
Analysis: A perfect cognate with English 'photography'. Notice the accent on the final 'Í' which maintains the stress pattern. This word demonstrates Greek roots (photo = light, graphia = writing).
Word 8: TELÉFONO (Image 6: Telephone)
Missing letters: T-E-L-É-F-O-N-O
Meaning: Telephone
Analysis: Another perfect cognate with accent on the third syllable (te-LÉ-fo-no). Greek roots: 'tele' (distant) + 'phone' (sound). The accent maintains the stress pattern from the original Greek.
Spelling Pattern Analysis
Accent Marks and Stress Patterns
Several words in this puzzle demonstrate Spanish accentuation rules:
- Pizarrón: Accent on final syllable of words ending in 'n'
- Lápiz: Accent on paroxytone words ending in consonant other than 'n' or 's'
- Fotografía: Accent breaks diphthong, maintains stress on 'í'
- Teléfono: Accent on proparoxytone (third-to-last syllable)
Accentuation Practice Exercise
Identify why each word needs an accent mark:
Cognate Recognition in This Puzzle
Perfect Cognates
Words that share identical or near-identical spelling and meaning with English:
- Fotografía ↔ Photography: Greek origins, same meaning
- Teléfono ↔ Telephone: Greek origins, same meaning
Non-Cognate Vocabulary
Words requiring memorization as they don't resemble English:
- Casa: No English cognate (house, home)
- Niños: No English cognate (children, kids)
- Lápiz: No English cognate (pencil)
- Escama: Distant relation to 'scale' but not obvious
Cognate Strategy Application
How to use cognate knowledge in this puzzle:
Vocabulary Categories in This Exercise
School Supplies (Útiles Escolares)
- Pizarrón: Blackboard/Whiteboard
- Lápiz: Pencil
Technology and Communication
- Teléfono: Telephone
- Fotografía: Photography
Family and Numbers
- Niños: Children
- Dieciocho: Eighteen
Home and Nature
- Casa: House
- Escama: Scale
Thematic Vocabulary Expansion
Expand each category with related words:
Pronunciation Guide for Puzzle Words
Syllable Breakdown and Stress
Pizarrón: pi-za-RRÓN (stress on last syllable)
Casa: CA-sa (stress on first syllable)
Niños: NI-ños (stress on first syllable)
Lápiz: LÁ-piz (stress on first syllable)
Escama: es-CA-ma (stress on middle syllable)
Dieciocho: die-ci-O-cho (stress on third syllable)
Fotografía: fo-to-gra-FÍ-a (stress on fourth syllable)
Teléfono: te-LÉ-fo-no (stress on second syllable)
Pronunciation Practice Tips
Key pronunciation elements for each word:
Visual Learning Strategies
Image-Word Association Techniques
This puzzle uses visual cues to reinforce vocabulary learning. Each numbered image corresponds to specific Spanish words, creating multiple pathways for memory formation.
Memory Palace Technique
Create a mental journey through the images: Start with the house (casa), see children (niños) playing, using a pencil (lápiz) on the blackboard (pizarrón), calling on the telephone (teléfono), taking photographs (fotografía), counting to eighteen (dieciocho), and observing fish scales (escama).
Visual Memory Exercise
Create story connections between the images:
Common Spelling Challenges
Frequently Misspelled Elements
- Double letters: Pizarrón (RR), not single R
- Silent H: Dieciocho has CH but H is never silent in this combination
- Accent placement: Lápiz, Fotografía, Teléfono, Pizarrón
- Ñ vs N: Niños requires the tilde over N
Spelling Memory Aids
- Pizarrón: Think "pizza + R + ON" for the double R
- Fotografía: Photo + graph + ía ending
- Dieciocho: Diez (10) + ocho (8) combined
- Teléfono: Tele (far) + fono (sound)
Spelling Practice Exercise
Common errors to avoid in these words:
Cultural Context and Usage
Regional Variations
While these words are universally understood in Spanish-speaking countries, some regional preferences exist:
- Pizarrón: Latin America; Spain often uses "pizarra"
- Teléfono: Universal; "móvil" (Spain) vs "celular" (Latin America) for cell phones
- Fotografía: Formal; "foto" is the common informal version
Modern Usage Evolution
Technology has changed how some words are used:
- Fotografía: Now includes digital photography
- Teléfono: Encompasses smartphones and video calls
- Pizarrón: Often refers to both traditional and digital whiteboards
Cultural Usage Examples
How these words appear in everyday Spanish:
