I want to talk about a website I think is a very worthy website. I found it through somebody else’s blog, but I don’t remember whose, so I’m sorry I can’t provide a link to give credit where credit is due.
This website is called freerice.com. It is a website that is at once a game and a donation site for combatting world hunger. Here’s how it works: On the main page you will see a vocabulary question with four choices like this:
liable means:
traumatic
slightly open
insubstantial
responsible
What you do is you click on the correct definition. If you get it right, it gives you another word and puts twenty grains of rice into your “bowl” at the side of the screen. As you get words right you can watch your bowl of rice fill up. These grains of rice aren’t completely virtual. They represent real grains of rice that you are “earning” as you answer vocabulary questions. For every question you get right, the site proclaims in a banner across the top, they will donate 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to help end world hunger.
This is a very fun and addictive website. Ok, let me clarify. It is fun and addictive if you’re the kind of person who likes geeky and intellectual games, or if you’re easily amused (like I am). The website keeps track of your right answers versus wrong answers and gives you harder or easier words based on how you do. It also gives you a vocabulary score. On the FAQ page it says there are 55 levels in all, but that it is rare for people to get above level 48. I have gotten to level 43 and at that level it was words I’d never heard of or seen before. If you want to know more I suggest reading their FAQ page.
Anyone think they can beat me? Can you beat level 43? If so, let me know in comments. It also might be fun to put in comments the most interesting word you ran across.
I had to play until I beat you but dang, staying there or getting past it is hard!