Open Court U4L4 Vocabulary

What is the meaning of the word 'flora' in the sentence below?

That part of Venezuela was once covered with flora and was full of life. Now the plant life is dying, and many places are barren and brown.

• Weather patterns in a particular region or period

• Rocks and minerals in a particular region or period

• Plant life in a particular region or period

• Animal life in a particular region or period

Which word means 'unproductive or unable to support life'?

• productive

• fertile

• fruitful

• barren

What does the word 'obstructed' mean?

The dam obstructed the flow of the river and created a huge lake, which they named Lake Guri.

• To block or hinder

• To facilitate or expedite

• To promote or encourage

• To assist or support

What is the synonym of the word 'ramble'?

Before the dam was built, animals could ramble freely over the land to hunt for food.

• wander

• stroll

• meander

• stray

What does the word 'discern' mean?

Scientists could discern if these roles had changed at Lake Guri after the flood.

• Perceive or determine

• Ignore or overlook

• Doubt or question

• Forget or remember

Which word means 'moved smoothly and quietly like a snake'?

• crawled

• galloped

• scurried

• slithered

What is the meaning of the word 'organic'?

Leaf-cutter ants contribute to a healthy ecosystem by putting organic material into the soil.

• Chemically modified and processed

• Derived from living organisms or produced using organic materials

• Synthetic and artificial

• Inorganic and non-living

What does the word 'consumed' mean?

Carnivores only consume meat and therefore receive sun energy by eating herbivores, omnivores, or other carnivores.

• to create or produce something

• to save or preserve something

• to use up or devour something

• to give away or donate something

What is the meaning of the word 'growth' as used in the sentence below?

By digging, ants also help water soak into the ground. Both of these contributions would help new plants grow—if the ants were not also eating new growth.

• progress

• expansion

• increase

• vegetation

What do 'rings' represent in trees?

They started by counting the growth rings from one hundred aspen trees.

• type of tree

• type of ecosystem

• one year per ring

• poisonous and nonpoisonous