It was night and the storm was raging. The big ship was tossed like a cork in the ocean. When the captain noticed that they were almost ashore, he saw a lighthouse, shining its beacon in the middle of the darkness. The captain steered the ship away from the rocks and guided it safely to land.
What does the word beacon mean?

Yesterday we went to an amusement park. The first ride we went on was an extreme roller coaster. The recording at the beginning reminded us to stay seated during the entire duration of the ride.
What does duration mean?

Last spring, our principal had long brown hair. At the beginning of this school year, I saw her welcoming students back to school and I was shocked to see how much she had changed. Not only was her hair now blond, but it was cut in a drastic way. I almost didn't recognize her. 
What does drastic mean?

My dad just found out that the company that he worked for was closing down and that he would lose his job. I knew this would definitely add to my dad's stress level. Even though my dad would look for work right away, just the thought of losing his job was a burden for him.
What does the word burden mean?

My friend Olivia practices her violin for hours every single day. She plays in the honor orchestra and her ambition is to go to London, England to play in the Philharmonic Orchestra when she gets older. 
What does the word ambition mean?

My parents used to set my bedtime at 8:30. Since I'm getting older and have ore homework, as well as more after school activities, sometimes it's hard to fit everything in. I decided to go to my parents and try to negotiate a later bedtime.

After m family moved out of the big city, my dad started working on his dream of farming. He planted rows of strawberries in the rich brown soil on our land. He felt confident that he would be able to cultivate the strawberries and make a good profit. 
What does cultivate mean?

Every time I ask my mom to do something, she tells me that she will be there to help me in "five minutes." I have learned over the years that her five minutes is not a literal five minutes, but that she'll be there as as soon as she can.
What does the word literal mean?

I heard my mom and dad in the kitchen yesterday morning. It was Saturday, so I decided to try to sleep in. Unfortunately, the distinct smell of pancakes came drifting up to my room and made me hungry. I got out of bed and headed downstairs for breakfast. 
What does the word distinct mean?