Many studies show that reading slightly difficult text is one of the best ways to learn new words--probably because you see the words used in context. Encountering lots of unfamiliar words can slow you down as a reader, though. The story "Rikki-tikki-tavi," which you will read later in the lesson, includes the words listed below. Click each of the tabs below the chart to learn and to practice recalling the meaning of each word. If you can recognize and define these ten words as you read, you will understand the story much more quickly and deeply the first time you read it.
- cantonment
- scuttle
- verandah
- cultivate
- downy
- fledgling
- gait
- providence
- sluice
- tuft
Make a Guess
Pick and Choose
Match Meanings
First, see if you already know some of the words in this lesson's list. Read each of the words below and guess at what it means. (Say the meaning to yourself, or write it down.) Then click the word to check your answer.
| cantonment | temporary housing for military families |
| scuttle | to move quickly along the ground |
| verandah | a large porch that surrounds a house |
| cultivate | to improve or develop something |
| downy | feathery, soft |
| fledgling | a baby bird |
| gait | the way someone walks |
| providence | a caring force--like fate but kinder |
| sluice | a channel that water flows through |
| tuft | a small bunch or clump |
How is each of these words used in the context of a story? Read each passage below. Then select the word that belongs in the blank. Click the Lookup button if you're not sure what any word means.
The army wife looked around the small house and decided she was pleased with their _____________.
- tuft
- cantonment
- sluice
- gait
a small bunch or clump
temporary or assigned housing
a channel that water flows through
the way someone walks
Nice Job!
Alice screamed when she saw the mouse _____________ across her kitchen floor.
- scuttle
- gait
- sluice
- cultivate
to dash quickly
the way someone walks
a channel that water flows through
to improve or develop something
Nice Job!
In his spare time, Mark likes to __________ the rose bushes in his garden.
- sluice
- tuft
- scuttle
- cultivate
a channel that water flows through
a small bunch or clump
to dash quickly
to improve or develop something
Nice Job!
If you really want to enjoy the sunrise, you should watch it from the _____________.
- sluice
- verandah
- fledgling
- gait
a channel that water flows through
large porch
baby bird
the way someone walks
Nice Job!
Andrew couldn’t grow a beard yet, but he was proud of the ________ fluff on his chin.
- downy
- fledgling
- providence
- tuft
feathery, soft
baby bird
a caring force
a small bunch or clump
Nice Job!
The pirate had a strange _________, dragging his wooden leg behind him.
- scuttle
- verandah
- tuft
- gait
to dash quickly
large porch
a small bunch or clump
the way someone walks
Nice Job!
She pushed a ________ of hair out of her eyes.
- downy
- tuft
- providence
- cantonment
feathery, soft
a small bunch or clump
a caring force
temporary or assigned housing
Nice Job!
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
Think you have these words figured out? Use the flashcard activity below to review the vocabulary you have just learned. Click the flashcard to reveal the word that matches the description provided.
assigned housing
cantonment
move hurriedly
scuttle
wide porch
verandah
to make something grow or develop
cultivate
the feel of a fluffy chick
downy
grows up in a nest
fledgling
such as swagger or stalk
gait
better than fate
providence
has water flowing through it
sluice
Summary
Correct:
Incorrect:
