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
complain (kum-plān) verb page 546
Photograph of a young boy rolling his eyes as he takes out the garbage
To complain means to say that you are unhappy about something. I complained that it was not fair I had to take out the trash by myself.		drift (drift) verb page 548
Photograph of a woman in a raft with oars. She is not using the oars.
To drift means to move along slowly in the air or on water. She drifts down the river, carried along by the current. Synonym: float		droop (drüp) verb page 548
Photograph of a willow tree with drooping branches
To droop means to hang down. The branches of the tree droop to the ground. Synonyms: bend, sink
impressed (im-prest) verb page 548
Photograph of audience clapping
If you are impressed, you are strongly affected by something. The audience is very impressed by the musicians.		proud (prowd) adjective page 546
Photograph of a teenage boy with a blue ribbon, smiling and giving the thumbs up sign
If you are proud, you are feeling happy about yourself. I felt proud when I won the prize. Antonym: ashamed		struggle (stru-gul) verb page 548
Photograph of a teenage boy and a man arm wrestling
To struggle means to try hard. I struggle to beat my uncle at arm wrestling. Synonyms: work, fight
useless (yūs-lus) adjective page 546
Photograph of a broken cell phone
If something is useless, it is of no use. A broken cell phone is useless. Antonym: useful		whisper (whis-pur) verb page 546
Photograph of a child whispering into another child ’s ear
To whisper means to speak very quietly. I whisper the secret to my friend so no one else can hear. Antonym: shout		Practice the Words Make a Key Vocabulary Chart for the Key Words. Compare your chart with a partner’s.
WordSynonymsDefinitionSentence or Picture
complainprotestto say something is wrongI complain about getting up at 5 in the morning.

Key Vocabulary Chart