Meaning of Unknown Words

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."

What does the word firestorm mean?

• an intense, destructive fire

• fire that rains from burning clouds in the sky

• a tool for fighting fires

• a goat that battles fires

What does the word "portable" mean?

• tending to be carried

• tending to take place at the ocean

• to make something that can be carried

• to carry inside

Mr. Holmes inspected the crime scene for clues.

Based on the word's morphology, what does "inspect" mean?

• the study of clues

• the study of vision

• to not look

• to look inside

The movie star's large and beautiful home was palatial.

What does palatial mean?

• ugly

• tiny

• for dogs

• like a palace

The video game was supposed to be a diversion. I was just going to play for a few minutes. You know, waste a little time. Instead, I played for hours. When I say "hours," I’m not just exaggerating the amount of time I spent playing. I spent so much time playing it that, over my Thanksgiving break, I slept only four hours and missed Thanksgiving dinner. I did, however, beat the game. When it was over, my accomplishment had earned me little more than a headache and a bad case of insomnia. I felt foolish, so I immediately started playing another game. Read the following sentence from the passage. The video game was supposed to be a diversion. What does the word diversion mean?

• lifestyle

• disguise

• distraction

• contest

When Wei Yei got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she became melodramatic, and sobbed and demanded to see a doctor.

What does melodramatic mean?

• quiet

• overly emotional

• angry

• not angry enough

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."

What does the word combustible mean?

• eaten by goats

• from the Pacific coast

• healthy and green

• easily burned

should look both ways before crossing the street.

Based on the context clues, what does the word pedestrian mean?

• crosswalks

• walkers

• stoplights

• parrots

If we use the red napkins, my mom will be happy but my dad will be discontent.

What does discontent mean?

• from another continent

• not happy

• from a different country

• not from the same country

Diane was lethargic; she didn't have the energy to get out of bed.

• allergic

• lively, alert

• drowsy, sluggish

• in bed