READING THEME 5 Vocabulary
Story 21: Interrupted Journey
basking: If an animal is basking, it is exposing itself to warmth in the sun.
sleek: Something that is sleek is smooth.
vital: Something that is vital is necessary for life.
damage: If you damage something, you harm or injure it.
analyzing: A scientist who is analyzing something is studying it closely to figure out how it works or what is is made of.
Story 22: The Power of W.O.W!
somberly: When you act somberly, you speak and act in a serious way.
stammers: A person who stammers, speaks with difficulty often stopping or repeating himself or herself.
monopolize: People who monopolize something control it and prevent others from using it.
deflated: If someone feels deflated, he or she has lost confidence about something.
enraptured: A person who is enraptured is delighted and thrilled with something.
enterprising: People who are enterprising do new and difficult things in order to achieve their goals.
cumbersome: Something that is cumbersome is large, heavy and difficult to handle.
Story 23: Any Small Goodness
gouges: If someone gouges something, he or she makes a deep cut or dent in it.
desolate: A person who feels desolate feels lonely and sad.
bustles: When someone bustles he or she moves in a busy, energetic way.
fervor: A person who speaks with fervor, speaks with great emotion and strong belief.
immaculate: Something that is immaculate is extremely clean and tidy.
assuage: To assuage guilt is to make it less painful and troubling.
Story 24: Chester Cricket’s Pigeon Ride
excursions: Excursions are short journeys or outings.
giddy: If you feel giddy, you feel happy in a silly, dizzy way.
pinnacle: The pinnacle of a building is a tall, pointed piece at the top.
gleeful: A person who is gleeful is excited and happy, sometimes as a result of someone else’s mistake.
panic: Panic is a strong feeling of fear and anxiety that makes a person act unreasonably or without thinking carefully.
turbulent: Something that is turbulent, such as air or water, has strong currents which change direction suddenly.
precious: If something is precious to you, it has value and special meaning to you.
Story 25: The Compassion Campaign
loathe: If you loathe something, you hate it.
bland: Something that is bland is dull and unexciting.
mentor: A mentor is a trusted person who gives a person helpful advice.
dilapidated: A dilapidated building looks worn out and run down.
coordination: Coordination involves organizing the different parts of something so that they work well together.
altruism: Altruism is being concerned about others before worrying about oneself.
sensibility: A sensibility is a special awareness in a certain area, for example, a person can have an artistic sensibility or a musical sensibility.
advocacy: Advocacy is giving support to a person, idea or cause.
mistreated: If something is mistreated, it is used in a way that harms or hurts it.
compassionate: A compassionate person is kindhearted and understanding.
