很少有人会否认词汇对于雅思口语的重要性，但同样很少有人能在实际考试中把词汇的重要性表现出来 — 不少考生在备考雅思口语的过程中，就会陷入这样的一个怪圈之中。本文，朗阁海外考试研究中心口语组的导师力图在四个方面论证词汇使用的极端重要性，这四方面同时也可被看作是雅思口语词汇的四种用途：

　　同义词/近义词的转换，以及同义词链的掌握

　　词性的自由变换，特别是动词、名词、形容词/副词之间的来回变动

　　词组的使用范围远大于 单个单词，尤其是动词词组和形容词词组

　　形象化、生动化及趣味性的词汇应进入我们的备考词典

　　能做到以上四点的考生，就单凭词汇上的一枝独秀，也能在口语考试中赢得考官的青睐。下面我们通过真题实例来进行逐一分析。

　　词汇妙用法一：同义词/近义词 &同义词链

　　【真题实例】 Can you tell me something about your student life?

　　【答题思路】虽然这是一个简单到不能再简单的问题，但我们也不能放弃妙用词汇的一次机会。从积极的意义上讲，学生生活一定是exciting, interesting, colorful, impressive, stimulating, fascinating的代名词。问题是：我们是否能在自己的回答中把这么多的同义词/近义词加以利用。

　　【参考答案】 Well, my student life has so many interesting and exciting things to talk about. First, I have made a lot of wonderful friends at school, and we share many hobbies, duties and personal opinions. Then, there are a variety of colorful events on campus – almost every student joins a club, takes part in a social activity, or becomes a member of some organization. These events are not only fascinating for young people who like to explore the world, but are also stimulating in terms of developing our thinking skills and lifestyles.

　　该回答从两个层面描述学校生活的精彩：一是结识了很多好朋友;二是有各种各样的校园活动。其间点缀的六个同义词/近义词组成了一条既结实、又丰富的同义词链。

　　词汇妙用法二：三大词性之间的“零换乘”

　　【真题实例】 How can a company encourage its employees?

　　【答题思路】 公司鼓励员工的方式有很多，《剑六》中专门有一篇阅读文章，叫Motivating Employees under Adverse Conditions，有兴趣的考生可以参考一下。其实光动词encourage和motivate，就含有不少词性变换的生机：encourage → encouragement → encouraging; motivate → motivation → motivational。能把这两串词汇用好，就已经非常令人刮目相看了。

　　【参考答案】 For employees to really perform well, a company should think about how to encourage them at the workplace. For example, encouragement can come in the form of a big reward for those high achievers, so that they are motivated to work harder in the future. Also, even a public letter of recognition and praise is very encouraging. Sometimes, this kind of motivation can go a longer way than financial incentives. Finally, promoting a good worker to a higher position with greater responsibilities is an effective motivational exercise.

　　三种不同的鼓励员工的方法在这里被一一道明：是丰厚的物质奖励(a big reward);第二是公开的表扬信(a public letter of recognition and praise);第三是职位的晋升(promoting to a higher position)。其间展示的是encourage和motivate这两大动词及其名词、形容词之间毫无障碍的自由切换。