(Titanic) Vocabulary Lesson & Exit Ticket

Searching for the Titanic

 Vocabulary Lesson

Bioluminescence: (adjective) (bahy-oh-loo-muh-NES-uhns) is the production and giving off of light by a living organism. Bioluminescent is the adjective used to describe such an organism. Fireflies are bioluminescent insects.

Demise: (noun) is a synonym for “death.” Demise can also refer to the ending of something, if that ending is like a death. Some say that online shopping may one day bring about the demise of the shopping mall.

Glean: (verb) As it is used in the article, glean means “to gather information or find something out bit by bit,” as in “From the bits of conversation that she overheard, Angela gleaned that the Andersons’ missing dog had been found safe and sound.”

Opulent: (adjective) Someone or something that is opulent has or shows great wealth, and is fancy or luxurious in an over-the-top or showy way.

Someone who lives in a mansion with their own private movie theater, bowling alley, and swimming pool—when they are not traveling around the world in their private jet—leads an opulent lifestyle. 

Plume: (noun) A plume is a feather or group of feathers on a bird. Peacocks are known for their spectacular green and blue plumes.

Plume can also mean “a tall, thin column of steam, smoke, or water that is rising into the air.” If someone is burning a fire in their fireplace, you’ll see a plume of smoke coming out of the chimney.

Poignant: (adjective) Something that is poignant causes strong feelings of sadness, regret, or reflection. A poignant piece of music is moving and touches you deeply. Looking at an old photo of you and your best friend who recently moved away might be a poignant experience. 

Prevail: (verb) To prevail is to win or triumph over someone or something. The crowd at a tennis match might cheer if the underdog prevails over the reigning champion. 

Exit Ticket

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses the word plumes correctly?

• I like watching the plumes of steam rise from my mug of hot chocolate.

• After the storm, the street was littered with fallen plumes.

Multiple Choice

How might someone react to a poignant scene in a movie?

• by falling asleep

• by crying

Multiple Choice

Which might be responsible for an arcade’s demise?

• It has all the most popular games.

• Its prices are too high—no one can afford to go.

Multiple Choice

Fill in the black by choosing the best answer below:

In the dark ocean depths, the scientist saw a flashing blue light coming from ________ jellyfish.

• opulent

• poignant

• bioluminescent

Multiple Choice

Fill in the black by choosing the best answer below:

With so many strong spellers, it’s hard to know who will _________in this year’s spelling bee.

• glean

• poignant

• prevail

Multiple Choice

Fill in the black by choosing the best answer below:

The _________throne was covered in luxurious velvet and sparkling gemstones.

• poignant

• opulent

• glean

Multiple Choice

Fill in the black by choosing the best answer below:

After years of observing the squirrels in his neighborhood, Oscar has ___________ quite a bit of knowledge about the animals.

• prevailed

• bioluminescent

• gleaned