G04 - Vocabulary - U5A - Introduction

When an object breaks down or rots Leaves ...... in the forest and become part of the soil. Composting helps food scraps ....... into rich soil for plants. Plastic takes a very long time to ........ in nature. This word came from French about 200 years ago. It meant "to separate into parts".

• decompose
• verb
• preserve
• adverb

A test that people do to find out how things work The science class did an ...... to see which paper airplane design flew the farthest. Doctors run ....... to test new medicines. My sister did an ........ to see which plant food helps flowers grow best. This word came from Latin about 600 years ago. It meant "to test" or "to try".

• experiment
• noun
• routine
• preposition

When there is a lot of moisture in the air The air feels ...... and sticky on hot summer days. Rainforests are very ....... because of all the water in the air. It's hard to dry clothes outside when the weather is ........ . This word came from Latin about 400 years ago. It meant "moist" or "wet".

• humid
• adjective
• arid
• verb

A fungus that grows on old food Green ...... grew on the old bread in the kitchen. ....... can grow in damp places like bathrooms if they're not cleaned often. Some types of ........ are used to make medicines like penicillin. This word comes from Old English. Over 1000 years ago, it meant "earth" or "soil".

• mold
• noun
• freshness
• adverb

Small, seed-like structures that are made by plants that don't reproduce using flowers Mushrooms release tiny ...... that grow into new mushrooms. Ferns spread their ....... on the underside of their leaves. The wind can carry ........ for long distances to help plants spread. This word came from Greek about 200 years ago. It meant "a sowing" or "seed".

• spore
• noun
• seed
• conjunction

To hold something inside it The box ...... all my favorite toys. Our bodies ....... mostly water. The zoo has a special area to ........ the lions safely. This word came from Latin through French about 600 years ago. It meant "to hold together".

• contain
• verb
• release
• noun

To be in charge of something The remote ...... lets you change TV channels easily. It's important to ....... your anger and not yell at others. Farmers try to ........ pests that might damage their crops. This word came from French about 500 years ago. It meant "to check" or "to verify".

• control
• verb
• chaos
• adverb

The area where something lives We should take care of our ...... by not littering. Fish need a clean water ....... to live in. The classroom ........ should be quiet so students can focus. This word came from French about 600 years ago. It meant "surroundings".

• environment
• noun
• artificial setting
• preposition

To find out more about something Detectives ...... crimes to find out what happened. Scientists ....... how plants grow in space. We need to ........ why the car won't start. This word came from Latin about 500 years ago. It meant "to track" or "to search out".

• investigate
• verb
• ignore
• noun

To cover a wide area Butter ...... easily on warm toast. News can ....... quickly on the internet. Some plants ........ their seeds by attaching them to animal fur. This word comes from Old English. Over 1000 years ago, it meant "to extend" or "to stretch out".

• spread
• verb
• contract
• adverb