Passage Two What’s the best way to learn vocabularyYou don’t need to be a genius to know that vocabulary is crucial to language learning, but the English language learner may well be shocked to learn that to function well in the English language requires a passive vocabulary of between 8,000-9,000 words and an active vocabulary of about 5,000-7,000 words, together with the knowledge of how to use these words in context. Despite this very challenging tasks, a significant number of second language learners succeed in acquiring the target number of words without ever visiting an English-speaking country for an extended period of time, this being the easiest way to become proficient in the language.Considerable research has been done into the most effective strategies for vocabulary enrichment, and time and time again it is found that vocabulary learning is at its most efficient when there is maximum exposure to language, in other words through extensive practice of the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Of these skills it is reading that is the most important.This work should be reinforced with classroom teaching in which the meanings of words are taught, together with a study of word formation, and such things as synonyms and antonyms. Words are best learnt in lexical sets, in other words in “word families”; dictionary exercise are also an important way to promote vocabulary learning.Metacognition, or to put it more simply, “thinking about thinking”, is another technique that enhances vocabulary development, and indeed all forms of learning. It involves the students observing and evaluating their learning strategies, thus enabling them to decide which strategies work best for them. Finally, research also demonstrates that those who approach language learning systematically do better than those who are unsystematic. A systematic approach entails being both organized and independent, keeping extensive records of words and reviewing them often.In order to function well in the English language, __________________.

A. you need a vocabulary of between 13,000-16,000 words.
B. you should be able to use 13,000-16,000 words in their correct context
C. not only do you require a large passive vocabulary, you also need to be able to use these words
D. you need to visit an English-speaking country