Unfamiliar Vocabulary

The archeologist carefully removed the tome from its ancient resting and proceeded to read the pages related to marriage in ancient Greece. What does the word tome probably mean?

• pen

• weapon

• book

• jewel

The Navajo . language is an unwritten language of extreme complexity with no alphabet or symbols, and is spoken only on the lands of the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest. During World War II a Navajo code was created for the U.S. Navy. This code was virtually indecipherable to anyone except the Navajo speaking persons. What does the word indecipherable most likely mean?

• almost understandable

• unable to decode

• symbols

• part of the language

Lakes occupy less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they help sustain life For instance lakes give us fish to eat irrigate life. For instance, lakes give us fish to eat, irrigate crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word sustain probably mean?

• support

• destroy

• prolong

• obstruct

The ancient Greeks pioneered many of the kinds of writing we consider standard today. They wrote speeches, plays, poems, books about science and learning, long histories of the things that happened to them. What does the word pioneered probably mean?

• complicated

• developed

• destroyed

• explored

Fifty-five mostly prominent, male delegates attended the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. About seventy-five percent of the delegates had served in Congress and others were important people in their home states. These men are often referred to as the Framers of the Constitution. What does the word prominent probably mean?

• unimportant

• unknown

• common

• important

Bats that eat fruit and nectar spread seeds and help flowers grow. Without bats many important plants would not thrive. What does the word thrive probably mean?

• flourish

• die

• wither

• deteriorate

Today I had to deal with one mishap after another. I couldn’t find my car keys, I dropped a bowl of soup at lunchtime, and my computer crashed twice.
In this sentence "mishap" means...

• unlucky accident
• event
• unexpected question
• plan

Some animals have impressive longevity. For example, the giant land tortoise can live several hundred years.
In this sentence "longevity" means...

• appearance
• length of life
• habits
• habitats

Today was a day of turmoil at work. The phones were constantly ringing, people were running back and forth, and several offices were being painted.
In this sentence "turmoil" means

• discussion
• harmony
• confusion
• organization

Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly developed senses that enable them to function in the dark.
In this sentence "nocturnal" means...

• awake at night
• fat
• ocean living
• angry