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
carefully (kair-foo-lē) adverb page 182
Photograph of a pair of hands cupped, holding an egg
To act carefully means to act with care. You should carry an egg carefully so it does not break. Base Word: care		collapse (ku-laps) verb page 180
Photograph of a building in the process of collapsing
To collapse means to fall down. The old building collapsed. Synonym: crumble		confused (kun-fyūzd) adjective page 183
Photograph of two boys with ingredients. One boy looks at the recipe book and is scratching his head.
To be confused means to be unsure or not clear. They are confused by the instructions of this recipe. Base Word: confuse
earthquake (urth-kwāk) noun page 180
Photograph of a road broken apart by an earthquake

An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the Earth. Strong earthquakes cause damage to roads and buildings. Word Parts: earth, quake		equipment (i-kwip-munt) noun page 180
Photograph of a an imaging machine and a table for patients to lie on
Tools or machines for a certain use are equipment. Hospitals have equipment for treating people who are sick or hurt.		frightened (frī-tund) adjective page 183
Photograph of two young adults in a movie house hiding their faces with their hands
To be frightened is to be afraid or scared. When I’m frightened at the movies, I cover my face with my hands. Base Word: fright
prepare (pri-pair) verb page 182
Photograph of a chef's hands cutting carrots with a knife
To prepare means to get ready. Dad is preparing vegetables for dinner tonight.		shelter (shel-tur) noun page 188
Photograph of a person on a city street walking with an umbrella
A shelter is a place where people can safely stay. An umbrella provides shelter from the rain.		Practice the Words Work with a partner to complete an Expanded Meaning Map for each Key Word. Illustration of an expanded meaning map to write in: an ellipse with three rectangles connected to it.
Expanded Meaning Map