Word List
-
adj. If something is aesthetic, then it is concerned with a love of beauty.The dresses were noteworthy for their aesthetic design.
-
adj. If someone is arrogant, they think that they are more important than others.He is very arrogant. Even though he's not the boss, he tells everyone what to do.
-
n. A bias is a person's likelihood to like one thing more than another thing.The mothers had a natural bias for their own child's picture.
-
n. A canyon is a narrow valley with steep walls through which a river often flows.The canyon was so deep that the ground inside was covered in shadow.
-
n. A creek is a stream or small river.Only small fish lived in the shallow waters of the creek.
-
n. A drill is a tool with a point that spins in order to make a hole.The carpenter used the drill to make several holes in the wood.
-
n. An executive is the top manager of a business.After twenty years at the company, he finally became the executive.
-
n. Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness.After three days with little sleep, she was feeling a lot of fatigue.
-
n. An incline is a sharp rise in something, especially a hill or mountain.This mountain has one of the steepest inclines in the world.
-
adj. If something is nasty, then it is not nice or pleasant.The rotten apple left a nasty taste inside her mouth.
-
v. To perceive something means to be aware of it.He was talking loudly, so he did not perceive that the music had stopped.
-
n. A primate is a type of mammal that includes monkeys, apes, and humans.Primates use their hands for such tasks as swinging from branches.
-
adj. If something is primitive, then it is simple, basic, and not very developed.The computers of the 1980s are primitive compared to those of today.
-
n. A stereotype is a general but often incorrect idea about a person or thing.There's a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals. But they are rather clean.
-
adj. If something is sticky, then it is covered with a substance that things stick to.Place the sticky part of the tape against the paper, so it will cling to the wall.
-
n. A termite is an insect that lives in groups and feeds on wood.The wood we found was full of termites.
-
adv. If we say that thereby something happens, we mean it is a result of something else.He didn't score a goal, thereby ending his chance at setting a record.
-
n. A trail is a path for travelling by foot through a wild area.A narrow trail cut through the field and over the hills.
-
n. A twig is a short and thin branch from a tree or bush.They started the fire with a handful of dry twigs.
-
n. Welfare is the health and happiness of a person or group.Having plenty of clean water is necessary for the welfare of people.
Exercise
A ‣ Circle the answer that best fits the question.
- Which of the following might be eaten by a termite?
- a. A log
- b. A brick
- c. A cake
- d. A feather
- Who would most likely use a drill?
- a. A captain
- b. A carpenter
- c. A cowboy
- d. A lifeguard
- What job would an executive do?
- a. Clean floors
- b. Manage workers
- c. Teach science
- d. Prepare food
- What would best describe something that smells nasty?
- a. Sweet
- b. Steamy
- c. Stinky
- d. Pleasant
- How would you describe someone who could NOT perceive sound?
- a. Deaf
- b. Blind
- c. Quiet
- d. Mute
B ‣ Write the word from the word bank that best fits each sentence.
- trail
- fatigue
- stereotype
- aesthetic
- twig
- welfare
- canyon
- primitive
- creek
- termites
The path leading out of the 1_____ was very steep.
When they reached the top, they had to rest because of their 2_____.
He had a(n) 3_____ about ancient cultures.
He thought that all their customs and ideas were 4_____.
The 5_____ led travelers to the top of the mountain.
I was astonished by the 6_____ view.
A line of 7_____ stretched from the mound across the forest floor.
They were all going to eat a(n) 8_____ that had fallen off a tree.
People thought that the water from the 9_____ cured illnesses.
They drank it because they hoped it would beneficial to their 10_____.
C ‣ Circle the one that is similar in meaning to the given word.
- perceive
- a. notice
- b. share
- c. copy
- d. gain
- welfare
- a. welcome
- b blanket
- c. health
- d. sale
- bias
- a. herb
- b. sock
- c. box
- d. favoritism
- arrogant
- a. proud
- b. bright
- c. loose
- d. loud
- creek
- a. button
- b. truck
- c. stream
- d. arrow
- nasty
- a. slow
- b. small
- c. smooth
- d. mean
- executive
- a. group
- b. boss
- c. monster
- d. finger
- trail
- a. path
- b. moment
- c. song
- d. mirror
- incline
- a. rise
- b. cotton
- c. shoulder
- d. soldier
- thereby
- a. growth
- b. section
- c. dream
- d. so
D ‣ Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.
- The kids gathered short, thin branches for their school art project. _____
- The glue was covered with a substance that made things stick to it. _____
- Early rocket development was simple and basic compared to what we have in the 21st century. _____
- Monkeys, apes, and humans are some of the few animals with opposable thumbs. _____
- After walking 12 kilometers, I was filled with a sense of extreme tiredness. _____
The Man and the Monkey
While flying over a jungle, a wealthy executive's private plane crashed. Some of the crew were hurt, so the pilot decided to stay with them and wait for help. The arrogant executive, though, didn't care about the welfare of the pilot and crew. Rather, he thought he could walk out of the jungle and find a town to stay in.
He followed a trail through a canyon and along a creek. The jungle was actually very stunning. If the arrogant executive had stopped to look around, he might have perceived the jungle's beauty. But he was in a nasty mood and had no care for the aesthetic value of the jungle. He continued to walk up the steep incline of the jungle's hills.
Soon, he was lost. Several days passed, and fatigue and hunger weakened him. He was very tired and afraid.
Just then, a monkey came out of the trees. It was carrying a twig covered in honey. It walked up to a mound where termites lived. He then used the twig like a drill to make a hole in the mound. Then very carefully, it removed the twig from the hole. The sticky twig was covered with termites.
Instead of eating the bugs, the monkey offered them to the executive, but he didn't want what the monkey offered. He shouted at the monkey, "Get away from me, you stupid primate!"
The executive's stereotype of the monkey was wrong. The monkey was not stupid. It knew how to find food, whereas the executive did not. He refused the help of the monkey, thereby leaving himself to starve.
When the executive was finally found, he was very skinny and sick. He had not eaten for a very long time. Because he held a bias against the primitive ways of the monkey, he had gone hungry and almost died. The executive didn't understand that it was his arrogant attitude that had caused all of his problems.
Reading Comprehension
Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.
- _____ The executive only cared about the welfare of his pilot and crew.
__________ - _____ The executive followed a trail through a canyon and along a creek.
__________ - _____ The executive was in a nasty mood, so he did not see the aesthetic value of the jungle.
__________ - _____ The executive walked up the small incline of the jungle's hills.
__________ - _____ The executive's stereotype of the primate was correct.
__________
Part B: Answer the questions.
- What is the passage about?
- a. Types of primates
- b. Plane crash survivors
- c. Useful survival techniques
- d. The consequences of arrogance
- What did the monkey use like it was a drill?
_____ - What did the executive never perceive about his arrogant attitude?
_____
Leave a comment
Load more