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

adjust (u-just) verb page 36
Photograph of a teenage girl standing by herself with a group of other teenagers sitting together in the background.
To adjust means to change in order to become comfortable with something. I hope I can adjust to my new school.		appreciate (u-prē-shē-āt) verb page 36
Photograph of a boy and his mom smiling at each other. The mom holds a boquet of flowers.
To appreciate means to care about something or someone. The boy shows he appreciates his mom by giving her flowers. Synonyms: enjoy, like		culture (kul-chur) noun page 32
Photograph of a crowd cheering at a baseball game.
The ideas and way of life for a group of people make up their culture. Baseball and jazz are both part of American culture.
different (di-fu-runt) adjective page 32
Photograph of a patch of yellow tulips except one, which is red.
Something that is different is not the same. The red flower is different from the others. Antonym: alike		opportunity (ah-pur-tü-nu-tē) noun page 33
Photograph of a “help wanted” sign in the window of a restaurant.
An opportunity is a good chance to do something. The sign tells about a job opportunity at the restaurant.		relative (re-lu-tiv) noun page 34
Photograph of a teenage girl and her mother.
A family member is a relative. The mother and daughter are relatives. Synonym: family
understand (un-dur-stand) verb page 36
Photograph of a male math teacher explaining an advanced math problem written on the chalkboard.
To understand something is to know it well. This teacher understands the math problem and explains it to his students. Past tense: understood		value (val-yū) noun page 35
Photograph of two Japanese adult men bowing to each other.
A value is something that people care about. Respect is an important value in Japan. Synonym: ideal		Practice the Words Work with a partner. Make a Word Web of Examples for each Key Word.
Illustration of a word web showing “school,” “weather,” “job,” and “home” as things you “adjust to.”
Word Web of Examples