Prepare to Read

Learn Key Vocabulary

Rate and Study the Words Rate how well you know each word. Then:

  • 1. Pronounce the word. Say it aloud several times. Spell it.

  • 2. Study the example.

  • 3. Tell more about the word.

  • 4. Practice it. Make the word your own.

Rating Scale

  • 1 = I have never seen this word before.

  • 2 = I am not sure of the word’s meaning.

  • 3 = I know this word and can teach the word’s meaning to someone else.

Key Words
active (ak-tiv) adjective page 140
Photograph of a group of children in soccer uniforms playing soccer
Something that is active is likely to move or to show action. Children are active when they run and play games outside.
Base Word: act		dangerous (dān-ju-rus) adjective page 142
Photograph of a bare foot about to step on broken glass
Something that is dangerous is not safe. It is dangerous to walk barefoot near broken glass. You could cut yourself.
Base Word: danger		erupt (i-rupt) verb page 139
Photograph of red-hot lava thrown into air and flowing down the sides of a volcano
To erupt means to break openor shoot out suddenly. When a volcano erupts, lava and ash shoot out.
force (fors) verb page 138 noun page 144
Photograph of a glacier with a huge chunk of ice falling into the sea

  • 1 verb To force means to push. Too much weight forces the ice loose.

  • 2 noun A force is a great power in nature. The force sent ice flying.

layer (lā-ur) noun page 138
Photograph of a slice of four-layer chocolate cake with frosting in between
A layer is a section that is on top of or under another. The cake has many layers, with frosting in between.
Base Word: lay		surface (sur-fus) noun page 138
Photograph of a lake with no waves and a red arrow pointing to the surface
The surface is the outside part of something. The surface of the lake is calm.
volcano (vol-kā-nō) noun page 138
Photograph of a river of red-hot lava flowing down the side of a volcano
A volcano is an opening in Earth from which lava, ash, and steam escape.		warning (wor-ning) noun page 142
Photograph of a railroad crossing sign and another sign that reads “Stop on Red Signal.” A moving train is behind the signs.
A warning is a sign that something bad may happen. The road sign gives us a warning that a rail road crossing is ahead.
Base Word: warn		Practice the Words Make a Word Map for each Key Word. Then compare your maps with a partner’s.
Word Map

Word Map