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
government (gu-vurn-munt) noun page 404
Photograph of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
The people who control the country according to certain laws are the government. Washington, DC, is the center of the U.S. government.		law (law) noun page 404
Photograph of a police officer directing traffic
The law is a country’s rules. A police officer reminds people to follow the law.		leader (lē-dur) noun page 406
Photograph of hikers, the first one carrying a map
A leader is a person in charge of others. The leader of our hiking club decides which trail we will take.
opinion (u-pin-yun) noun page 405
Photograph of girls in a fitting room, two looking at the third's outfit
An opinion is a belief or a view about a topic. My friends share their opinions about fashion.		protest (prō-test) verb page 409 noun page 410
Photograph of protesters with signs about cuts in school spending
1 verb To protest means to make a statement against an idea. The students protested against school spending cuts. 2 noun A protest is a display of strong feelings.		public (pu-blik) noun page 412
Photograph of people in a public park
When you are in public, you are in an area that is open to others. Even though we held our family gathering in public, the setting felt private.
responsibility (ri-spont-su-bi-lu-tē) noun page 404
Photograph of a teenage boy walking a dog on a leash
A responsibility is something you should do because it is right. It is my responsibility to walk the dog every day.		system (sis-tum) noun page 408
Photograph of women working at an assembly line
A system is a way of doing things. An assembly line is a factory system that usually saves time and money.		Practice the Words Work with a partner to complete an Expanded Meaning Map for each Key Word.
Illustration of an Expanded Meaning Map used for Key Words
Expanded Meaning Map