Which term denotes the ability to know a word and also use it appropriately?

• A. Graphemes
• B. Vocabulary
• C. Phonics
• D. Literacy

Answer: (B)

Knowing a word and using it appropriately is vocabulary. Vocabulary encompasses both understanding what a word means and being able to retrieve and deploy it correctly in speech and writing. It includes pronunciation, word forms, nuances, and typical collocations, so you can choose the right word for a given context and convey your meaning clearly. In teaching terms, this covers both receptive knowledge (understanding the word when you hear or read it) and productive knowledge (being able to produce the word accurately and in the right register). By contrast, graphemes are the written symbols for sounds, phonics deals with sound–letter relationships, and literacy refers to the broader ability to read and write.