Even though the textbook's chapter on electricity confused everyone, Dr. Patel's _____ explanation using water pipes made the idea easy to grasp.	lucid — clear and easy to understand (Clue: Contrast: a confusing textbook versus an explanation that was easy to grasp.)
During the long, silent exam, Lucas had to _____ a sneeze by pressing a finger under his nose so that he would not disturb anyone.	stifle — hold back or stop from happening (Clue: Cause and effect: not wanting to disturb anyone, he holds the sneeze back.)
Before the chess tournament, Amina studied her opponent's past games and worked out a _____ for defending against his favorite opening moves.	strategy — a careful plan for reaching a goal (Clue: Description: studying games and working out a defense describes a careful plan to win.)
When asked whether she would ever quit the swim team, Rosa's answer was _____: she slapped the table and declared, "Absolutely not, never!"	emphatic — said with force to show importance (Clue: Description: slapping the table and declaring loudly shows a forceful answer.)
Jake's first draft jumped randomly from topic to topic, but after he reorganized his notes, his second draft was _____ and easy to follow.	coherent — logical and clearly connected (Clue: Contrast: random jumps versus easy to follow shows clearly connected ideas.)
It took the zookeepers nearly an hour to _____ the frightened, thrashing alligator so the veterinarian could safely examine its injured foot.	subdue — bring under control; overcome (Clue: Cause and effect: a thrashing animal must be brought under control before it can be treated.)
Because the class ordered far more pizza than the students could possibly eat, the _____ was donated to the shelter down the street.	surplus — an amount more than what is needed (Clue: Cause and effect: ordering more than needed leaves an extra amount to give away.)
After winning their first three games easily, the soccer players became _____ and stopped practicing hard, so they were shocked when they lost the championship.	complacent — too satisfied with oneself to keep trying hard (Clue: Cause and effect: easy wins made them too satisfied to work, which led to a loss.)
Dalia had sworn to study all evening, yet she knew she might _____ to temptation once her friends started texting about the new episode.	succumb — give in to a force or pressure (Clue: Contrast: she swore to study, "yet" she might give in to temptation.)
Although the rest of the class was excited about the field trip, Kevin seemed completely _____, shrugging and saying he did not care where they went.	apathetic — showing no interest or concern (Clue: Contrast: an excited class versus shrugging and not caring shows a total lack of interest.)
The new coach's _____ manner, with constant shouting and cutting insults, rubbed the players the wrong way until several considered leaving the team.	abrasive — harsh and rough in manner or texture (Clue: Examples: shouting and insults that "rub" people the wrong way describe a rough, harsh manner.)
When the fire alarm went off during the school play, the auditorium fell into _____, with parents shouting, children crying, and actors running offstage.	turmoil — a state of great confusion or disorder (Clue: Examples: shouting, crying, and running show a state of wild confusion.)
The squirrels kept stealing birdseed, so Grandma hung the feeder from a thin, slippery wire to _____ their plans to raid it.	thwart — stop someone from doing what they planned (Clue: Cause and effect: the slippery wire is meant to stop the squirrels' planned raids.)
As thunder rumbled closer, the horses grew more and more _____, stamping their hooves and pacing nervously around the barn.	agitated — nervous, upset, and unable to stay calm (Clue: Examples: stamping and nervous pacing show the horses are upset and restless.)
Usually quiet in class, Priyanka became _____ when the topic turned to space travel, waving her hands and talking excitedly about Mars.	animated — full of life and excitement (Clue: Contrast: usually quiet, she is suddenly waving her hands and talking excitedly.)
By whispering doubts to teammates before every game, Brody began to _____ the captain's authority until nobody listened to her instructions anymore.	undermine — weaken gradually or secretly (Clue: Cause and effect: secret whispering slowly weakened her authority until no one listened.)
Grandpa always said that honesty was the greatest _____ a person could have, more valuable than talent, wealth, or good looks.	virtue — a good quality in a person's character (Clue: Description: honesty, valued above talent and wealth, is a good quality of character.)
Even at age ten, Nia was remarkably _____, explaining her recycling plan so clearly and persuasively that the adults at the town meeting applauded.	articulate — able to express ideas clearly in words (Clue: Description: explaining ideas clearly and persuasively shows skill in expressing herself.)
Unlike the students who doodled during the lecture, Marco was _____, taking careful notes and asking thoughtful questions at the end.	attentive — carefully listening, watching, and noticing (Clue: Contrast: doodling students versus Marco's careful notes and questions.)
At first the whole class adored the new hamster, but their excitement began to _____ as the weeks passed and cleaning the cage became a chore.	wane — gradually become smaller or weaker (Clue: Contrast: at first they adored it, "but" excitement shrinks as weeks pass.)
Knowing how proud their mother was of her prize roses, the twins dreaded her _____ after their soccer ball flattened every bloom in the garden.	wrath — extreme anger (Clue: Cause and effect: ruining a beloved garden would bring on extreme anger.)
When nobody laughed at the principal's joke, a long, _____ silence filled the room, and students shifted uncomfortably in their seats.	awkward — uncomfortable or clumsy (Clue: Description: shifting uncomfortably shows the silence was embarrassing and uneasy.)
The sculptor could _____ a heavy chisel so skillfully that he carved delicate flower petals into the marble without a single crack.	wield — hold and use a tool or power with skill (Clue: Description: using a heavy tool with great skill describes handling it well.)
The normally friendly dog became _____ whenever the mail carrier approached, growling, barking, and lunging at the fence.	belligerent — eager to fight or argue (Clue: Contrast: normally friendly, but growling and lunging shows eagerness to fight.)
The deep-sea anglerfish looks truly _____, with a glowing lure dangling from its head and needle-like teeth that seem too long for its mouth.	bizarre — very strange or unusual (Clue: Examples: a glowing lure and oversized teeth show a very strange appearance.)
When the principal allowed one class to have a pajama day, it set a _____, and soon every other class demanded the same privilege.	precedent — an earlier example that guides later decisions (Clue: Cause and effect: one allowed event becomes the example that others point to later.)
Engineers designed the new bridge to _____ hurricane winds of over 150 miles per hour without swaying or cracking.	withstand — hold up against force and survive undamaged (Clue: Description: facing huge winds without cracking means resisting force without damage.)
On his very first day, the _____ new player announced that he was the best on the team and that the captain should hand him the ball.	brash — overly bold and self-confident, often rude (Clue: Description: boasting and making demands on day one shows rude overconfidence.)
When Lily asked the librarian for help, he gave a _____ two-word answer and turned back to his computer without even looking up.	brusque — short and rude in speech or manner (Clue: Description: a two-word answer and turning away shows short, rude speech.)
Dr. Haddad, a longtime _____ of later school start times, argued at every board meeting that extra sleep improves students' grades.	proponent — a person who supports an idea (Clue: Description: someone who argues for an idea at every meeting supports it.)
Worried about plastic in the ocean, the eco club began to _____ a ban on plastic straws, writing letters and giving speeches to the school board.	advocate — publicly support or speak in favor of (Clue: Examples: letters and speeches in favor of a ban show publicly supporting it.)
Unlike a cold that goes away in a week, Ryan's _____ back pain has bothered him almost every day for over three years.	chronic — lasting a long time or returning often (Clue: Contrast: unlike a short cold, the pain has lasted for years.)
Jordan's excitement about the trip was so _____ that within minutes the entire bus was cheering and singing along with him.	contagious — able to spread from person to person (Clue: Cause and effect: his excitement spread to everyone on the bus.)
Seeing the finish line just ahead, the cyclist pedaled harder to _____, passing two other riders in the final hundred meters.	accelerate — speed up (Clue: Cause and effect: pedaling harder and passing riders shows gaining speed.)
Invited to her best friend's birthday party and the regional chess final on the same afternoon, Keiko was in a real _____ about which to attend.	quandary — a state of not knowing what to do (Clue: Description: two good choices at the same time leave her unsure what to do.)
Unlike her classmates, who jotted down only a few words, Ines took _____ notes, filling twelve pages during the one-hour lecture.	copious — large in amount; plentiful (Clue: Contrast: a few words versus twelve pages shows a large amount.)
The students planned a _____ mission to decorate their teacher's classroom, whispering in hallways and meeting only after she had left the building.	covert — secret or hidden (Clue: Description: whispering and meeting when she is gone shows the mission is kept hidden.)
The doctor warned Tomas that playing basketball on his sprained ankle would only _____ the injury and keep him off the court even longer.	aggravate — make a problem or injury worse (Clue: Cause and effect: playing on a sprain makes it worse, keeping him out longer.)
Only the most _____ students believed the rumor that the school would replace all homework with video games starting Monday.	credulous — too ready to believe things (Clue: Description: believing an obviously unlikely rumor shows being too quick to believe.)
After years of careful experiments, the young researchers believed they stood at the _____ of a major discovery that would soon change medicine.	threshold — a doorway; the point where something begins (Clue: Description: being about to make a discovery means standing at its starting point.)
After students pointed out that the dress code was unfair to athletes, the principal agreed to _____ it by adding an exception for game days.	amend — change something to improve or correct it (Clue: Cause and effect: an unfair rule is improved by adding an exception.)
When the new neighbor brought cookies, Raj's _____ uncle assumed she must want something in return, refusing to believe anyone would be kind for no reason.	cynical — believing people act only out of selfishness (Clue: Description: assuming kindness hides a selfish motive shows distrust of people.)
The _____ old farmhouse had a sagging roof, broken windows, and stairs so rotten that visitors were warned not to climb them.	decrepit — old and in very poor condition (Clue: Examples: a sagging roof, broken windows, and rotten stairs show old, worn-out condition.)
For three straight years, Claire had lost the state tennis final to the same player, so beating her _____ this year felt like the greatest victory of her life.	nemesis — a long-time opponent who is hard to beat (Clue: Description: the opponent who beat her year after year is her long-time foe.)
The proud chef would always _____ offers to sell his secret recipe, laughing at even the largest sums that food companies proposed.	spurn — reject with scorn (Clue: Description: laughing at every offer shows rejecting it with scorn.)
On stage the singer was loud and flashy, but at home she was quiet and _____, preferring to read alone rather than attract attention.	demure — quiet, shy, and modest (Clue: Contrast: loud on stage versus quiet at home and avoiding attention shows modest shyness.)
Inspectors found the old zoo's conditions _____: cages were filthy, water bowls were empty, and several animals were clearly underfed.	deplorable — very bad and deserving strong disapproval (Clue: Examples: filth, empty bowls, and hungry animals show conditions deserving strong disapproval.)
Realizing he had given the customer the wrong change, the cashier hurried after her to _____ the mistake before she left the parking lot.	rectify — fix a mistake; set something right (Clue: Cause and effect: noticing his error, he hurries to correct it.)
Many people hold the _____ that bats are blind, but in fact most bats can see quite well and also use echoes to find their way.	notion — an idea or belief (Clue: Contrast: a common belief is corrected by "in fact," so the blank is a belief.)
The _____ dog waited by the front door every afternoon until its owner came home from school, never missing a single day.	devoted — very loving and loyal (Clue: Description: waiting faithfully every single day shows loving loyalty.)
Because Olivia had promised to keep her friend's news private, she was _____ when others asked, politely changing the subject without revealing anything.	discreet — careful not to draw attention or reveal secrets (Clue: Description: politely keeping news private shows care in not revealing secrets.)
Although she had explained the fire drill rules yesterday, Ms. Brooks decided to _____ them this morning because several students still seemed confused.	reiterate — say again, often for emphasis (Clue: Cause and effect: confusion after yesterday's explanation leads her to say the rules again.)
When Hana's hamster escaped the night before the class pet show, she was _____, crying and searching every corner of the house until midnight.	distraught — extremely upset and worried (Clue: Examples: crying and searching until midnight show extreme distress.)
Performing a solo at the national music festival was the _____ of Andre's years as a young violinist; no later concert ever matched it.	pinnacle — the highest point (Clue: Description: an achievement that nothing later ever matched is the highest point.)
Since the scientists had found only a single fossil tooth, they could only _____ about how large the ancient shark had grown.	speculate — guess without having all the facts (Clue: Cause and effect: with only one tooth, they must guess without the full facts.)
Instead of making small changes to the failing garden, Mr. Ito took _____ action, ripping out every plant and replacing all of the soil.	drastic — extreme and having a strong effect (Clue: Contrast: small changes versus ripping out everything shows extreme action.)
Out of thousands of young swimmers who tried out, only the twenty fastest were chosen for the _____ training program in Colorado.	elite — among the best of a group (Clue: Description: the twenty fastest out of thousands are the very best of the group.)
The historians recorded interviews with the town's oldest residents to preserve their memories for _____, so that people living a century from now could hear them.	posterity — all future generations of people (Clue: Restatement: "people living a century from now" restates future generations.)
The high tide rolled in so powerfully that it managed to _____ every sandcastle on the beach, leaving no trace of the morning's work.	obliterate — destroy completely (Clue: Description: leaving no trace at all means complete destruction.)
Having moved schools three times herself, Gabriela was especially _____ toward new students, because she knew exactly how lonely the first week could feel.	empathetic — able to understand and share others' feelings (Clue: Cause and effect: her own experience lets her share new students' feelings.)
Though copying answers from the leaked test would have been easy, Kwame made the _____ choice and told his teacher what he had found.	ethical — morally right and fair (Clue: Contrast: easy cheating versus telling the teacher, the morally right choice.)
The sudden hailstorm managed to _____ heavy damage on the orchard, denting parked cars and stripping nearly every apple from the trees.	inflict — cause something harmful or unpleasant (Clue: Examples: dented cars and stripped trees show the harm the storm caused.)
When Dev said the field trip was the best day of the year, nearly everyone nodded, because his _____ was shared by the whole class.	sentiment — a feeling or opinion (Clue: Description: a view the whole class nods along to is a shared feeling or opinion.)
From the muddy paw prints across the kitchen floor and the empty food bowl, it was _____ that the dog had somehow gotten inside.	evident — plain to see; obvious (Clue: Examples: paw prints and an empty bowl make the conclusion plain to see.)
The coach warned that _____ training, such as running twenty miles every day, could cause injuries rather than make the players stronger.	excessive — more than is reasonable or needed (Clue: Examples: running twenty miles daily shows training far beyond what is reasonable.)
When the two younger kids began arguing over the swing, the playground monitor decided to _____ and help them agree on taking turns.	intervene — step in to change or stop something (Clue: Cause and effect: an argument leads the monitor to step in and settle it.)
Switching to a new school, a new city, and a new language all in one month caused a major _____ in eleven-year-old Luca's life.	upheaval — a sudden, major change or disturbance (Clue: Examples: a new school, city, and language at once describe a sudden major change.)
Unlike the vague hint she gave yesterday, Ms. Romero's directions today were _____: write exactly two pages, double-spaced, citing three library books.	explicit — stated clearly and in detail (Clue: Contrast: a vague hint versus exact, detailed directions.)
To reduce noise in the cafeteria, the principal decided to _____ a new rule requiring silent lunches every Friday, which students did not welcome.	impose — force a rule or burden on others (Clue: Description: the principal forces an unwelcome rule on the students.)
Although many people trust calculators completely, the math teacher reminded the class that machines are _____ too, since one mistyped number produces a wrong answer.	fallible — capable of making mistakes (Clue: Contrast: trusted completely, yet able to give wrong answers, so capable of error.)
The hikers learned that eating certain wild berries could be _____, so the guide warned them never to taste anything they could not identify.	fatal — causing death or disaster (Clue: Cause and effect: the deadly danger explains the guide's strict warning.)
After writing three award-winning novels, the author's _____ in the literary world grew so much that young writers traveled across the country to hear her speak.	stature — importance or reputation earned by achievement (Clue: Cause and effect: awards raised her reputation so much that admirers traveled to hear her.)
Staying up until three in the morning before the test was a mistake, since lack of sleep can _____ a person's memory and ability to concentrate.	impair — weaken or damage (Clue: Cause and effect: lack of sleep weakens memory and focus.)
The kittens had been born in the woods and never handled by people, so they were completely _____, hissing and fleeing from anyone who approached.	feral — wild, especially after once being tame (Clue: Description: never handled by humans and fleeing people shows the kittens are wild.)
Although many readers believed Sherlock Holmes was a real detective and mailed letters to his London address, he is entirely _____, created by author Arthur Conan Doyle.	fictitious — made up; not real (Clue: Contrast: believed to be real, but created by an author, so he is made up.)
When Kai forgot the words to his speech halfway through, he had to _____, making up new lines on the spot that the audience never suspected.	improvise — make or do something without planning (Clue: Description: making up lines on the spot means creating without planning.)
The computer technician's explanation was so full of _____ like "bandwidth throttling" and "DNS cache" that Grandma could not understand a single sentence.	jargon — special words used by a particular group (Clue: Examples: technical terms outsiders cannot follow show a group's special vocabulary.)
Having grown up speaking both Korean and English at home, Min-jun was _____ in both languages and switched between them without any hesitation.	fluent — able to speak or write easily and smoothly (Clue: Cause and effect: lifelong use of both languages lets him speak them easily.)
Left behind when all his friends went away to camp, Felix sat _____ on the porch steps, staring at the empty street for hours.	forlorn — sad and lonely (Clue: Description: being left behind and staring at an empty street shows sad loneliness.)
Jealous of her success, a rival baker tried to _____ Mrs. Okoye by spreading false rumors that her shop used spoiled ingredients.	slander — say false things that damage someone's reputation (Clue: Description: spreading false rumors to hurt her reputation is the meaning.)
In a beehive's strict _____, the queen sits at the top, worker bees rank below her, and every insect knows its exact place.	hierarchy — a system ranking people or things by level (Clue: Description: ranks from the queen at the top downward form a system of levels.)
Hoping no one would notice, Bella stole a _____ look at her phone under the desk while the teacher's back was turned.	furtive — secretive; trying not to be noticed (Clue: Description: hoping not to be noticed while the teacher looks away shows sneakiness.)
The team had won every award for good sportsmanship, so the players worried that one teammate's angry outburst would _____ their spotless reputation.	tarnish — dull the shine of; damage a reputation (Clue: Cause and effect: one outburst could damage a spotless reputation.)
The _____ shopkeeper always greeted customers with a warm smile, asked about their families, and slipped free candy to the children.	genial — friendly and cheerful (Clue: Examples: warm smiles, kind questions, and free candy show a friendly, cheerful nature.)
Aunt Rita's _____ holiday sweater, covered in blinking lights, glitter, and plastic jewels, made everyone at the quiet dinner squint and giggle.	gaudy — too bright or showy, in poor taste (Clue: Examples: blinking lights, glitter, and jewels describe something too showy.)
Reading a whole chapter book by herself marked a major _____ for six-year-old Zoe, who had struggled with reading all year.	milestone — an important event or stage in progress (Clue: Description: a major achievement in her reading progress is an important stage.)
Signs along the fence warned hikers not to _____ on the farmer's land, since walking through his fields without permission damaged the crops.	trespass — enter someone's property without permission (Clue: Restatement: "walking through his fields without permission" defines the word.)
The Halloween mask was truly _____, with a twisted nose, one bulging eye, and a mouth stretched crookedly across its face.	grotesque — ugly or distorted in a strange way (Clue: Examples: a twisted nose, bulging eye, and crooked mouth describe distorted ugliness.)
After the _____ six-hour hike through desert heat, the scouts collapsed in their tents and slept until noon the next day.	grueling — extremely tiring and demanding (Clue: Cause and effect: collapsing and sleeping until noon shows the hike was exhausting.)
Poison ivy rash was a common _____ among the campers that summer, causing itching so severe that many of them could not sleep.	affliction — something that causes pain or suffering (Clue: Description: a rash causing unbearable itching is a source of suffering.)
While digging in the school garden, the second-graders were thrilled to _____ an old glass bottle that had been buried there for a century.	unearth — dig up or discover something hidden (Clue: Description: digging up something buried long ago is the meaning.)
The _____ goalie slipped in the mud, lost his glove, and then watched a ball bounce off his own teammate into the net, all in one minute.	hapless — unlucky (Clue: Examples: a string of mishaps in one minute shows bad luck.)
Instead of sorting the donated books by subject, the volunteers had tossed them onto the shelves in a _____ way, so finding any title took ages.	haphazard — lacking order or plan; random (Clue: Contrast: instead of sorting, they tossed books without any order.)
Whenever his older sisters argued, Max could not resist the urge to _____, offering unwanted advice that only made both of them angrier.	meddle — interfere in other people's business (Clue: Description: offering unwanted advice in others' arguments is interfering.)
Captain Lewis kept a detailed _____ of the expedition, writing down each day's weather, discoveries, and miles traveled in the order they happened.	chronicle — a record of events in time order (Clue: Description: a day-by-day account in order of events is a record of history.)
The movers groaned as they carried the _____ oak piano up three flights of stairs, stopping every few steps to catch their breath.	hefty — large and heavy (Clue: Description: groaning movers who must keep resting show the piano is large and heavy.)
Rather than using poison, the school chose a _____ way to remove the raccoons, catching them gently in cages and releasing them in the forest.	humane — kind and gentle, avoiding cruelty (Clue: Contrast: poison versus gentle catch-and-release shows a kind way that avoids cruelty.)
After Liam was caught driving the golf cart recklessly around the campground, the manager decided to _____ his permission to use it for the rest of the summer.	revoke — officially cancel or take back (Clue: Cause and effect: reckless driving leads the manager to take back his permission.)
Since no one has ever visited a planet beyond our solar system, the science teacher asked a _____ question: what would you pack if you could travel to one?	hypothetical — imagined or supposed, not actually real (Clue: Description: a "what if you could" question about something that has never happened is imagined.)
Building ship models inside glass bottles requires incredible _____, since every tiny mast and sail must be placed with tweezers through the narrow neck.	dexterity — skill in using the hands (Clue: Description: placing tiny parts with tweezers requires skillful hands.)
Nora happily eats broccoli and spinach, but she has always seemed to _____ Brussels sprouts, gagging at even the smell of them cooking.	abhor — hate strongly (Clue: Contrast: happy with other vegetables but gagging at sprouts shows strong hatred.)
Marie Curie's scientific career was truly _____: she became the first person ever to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.	illustrious — famous and admired for great achievements (Clue: Description: winning two Nobel Prizes shows fame earned by great achievements.)
Because she had received the measles vaccine as a baby, Fatima was _____ to the disease and did not get sick when it spread through the camp.	immune — protected from a disease or effect (Clue: Cause and effect: the vaccine protected her, so she did not get sick.)
Scientists still cannot explain how monarch butterflies find the same Mexican forest each winter without ever having been there, so their navigation remains nature's most baffling _____.	enigma — a mystery; something hard to understand (Clue: Description: something scientists still cannot explain is a baffling mystery.)
Photographs of beaches buried under plastic trash are enough to _____ anyone who cares about sea turtles and other ocean life.	appall — shock and disgust greatly (Clue: Cause and effect: images of trash-covered beaches would shock and disgust nature lovers.)
The downtown intersection was _____ for its traffic jams; everyone knew it as the worst spot in the county, and drivers avoided it at rush hour.	infamous — well known for something bad (Clue: Description: being widely known as the worst spot shows fame for something bad.)
No one ever teaches baby sea turtles to crawl toward the ocean; this _____ instinct guides them from the moment they hatch.	innate — present from birth; natural (Clue: Description: never taught and present at hatching shows it exists from birth.)
To _____ his small weekly allowance, Ahmed began mowing neighbors' lawns, which nearly doubled the money he had each month.	augment — make larger by adding to (Clue: Cause and effect: extra work nearly doubled his money, so it grew larger.)
When nearly half the students in the district caught the same stomach virus within one week, health officials called the rapid spread a local _____.	epidemic — a fast spread of disease among many people (Clue: Description: a virus spreading to half the district in a week is a widespread outbreak.)
The growing teenager's appetite seemed _____; even after three bowls of cereal and two bananas, he raided the fridge for more.	insatiable — impossible to satisfy (Clue: Description: still hunting for food after so much shows hunger that cannot be satisfied.)
The ancient clock was so _____, with hundreds of tiny gears fitting together, that only one repairman in the city knew how to fix it.	intricate — having many small, complicated parts (Clue: Description: hundreds of tiny gears show many small, complicated parts.)
Before the school newspaper went to print, the advisor would _____ any article containing rude language, blacking out words she considered inappropriate.	censor — remove parts considered unacceptable (Clue: Description: blacking out words judged inappropriate is removing unacceptable content.)
The chess club had not lost a single match in four years, so other schools thought of them as _____ until a rookie team finally beat them.	invincible — too strong to be defeated (Clue: Description: four years without a loss makes them seem impossible to defeat.)
When the pop star's car pulled up, the waiting fans broke into a _____, screaming, jumping, and pushing toward the barriers to catch a glimpse.	frenzy — a state of wild excitement (Clue: Examples: screaming, jumping, and pushing show wild, uncontrolled excitement.)
Because half the team was sick with the flu, the coach decided to _____ the tournament until the following weekend.	defer — put off until later (Clue: Cause and effect: sick players lead the coach to put the tournament off until later.)
During the debate about recycling, Simone kept bringing up her favorite movies, points that were _____ to the topic and wasted everyone's time.	irrelevant — not connected to the topic (Clue: Description: movies brought up in a recycling debate have nothing to do with the topic.)
Whenever Tasha skipped lunch, she became _____ by the afternoon, snapping at her friends over the smallest things.	irritable — easily annoyed (Clue: Cause and effect: skipping lunch leads her to snap over tiny things, so she is easily annoyed.)
Unable to win by strength alone, the small fox in the fable relied on _____, fooling the mighty lion with flattery and a clever lie.	guile — clever trickery used to get what you want (Clue: Contrast: not strength, but fooling the lion, shows clever trickery.)
The tour guide warned the hikers never to _____ from the marked trail, because the surrounding cliffs were unstable and visitors could easily get lost.	deviate — turn away from the usual course or plan (Clue: Description: leaving the marked trail means straying from the planned path.)
Having ridden every roller coaster in the country, Victor had become so _____ that even the newest, fastest ride failed to excite him.	jaded — bored or unexcited from too much experience (Clue: Cause and effect: too many rides left him unexcited, even by the newest one.)
Instead of spending her whole budget on the first costume she saw, Esme made a _____ choice, comparing prices at three stores before buying.	judicious — showing good judgment and sense (Clue: Contrast: hasty spending versus comparing prices shows sensible judgment.)
Low scores on her first two tests did not _____ Ayana; instead, they motivated her to study harder, and she earned an A on the final.	discourage — make someone less eager or confident to try (Clue: Contrast: "instead, they motivated her" is the opposite of making her lose heart.)
The young filmmaker paid _____ to her favorite director by recreating his most famous scene, shot for shot, in her own movie.	homage — public honor or respect shown to someone (Clue: Description: recreating a scene to honor a director shows respect for him.)
After weeks of exciting rehearsals, the band's actual concert was disappointingly _____; the players seemed bored, and the audience barely clapped.	lackluster — dull, with no energy or sparkle (Clue: Contrast: exciting rehearsals versus a bored, barely applauded concert shows dullness.)
On the hottest afternoon of the summer, the lions lay _____ in the shade, barely lifting their heads even when the zookeeper brought their food.	languid — slow, relaxed, and lacking energy (Clue: Description: lying still in the heat and barely moving shows slow, relaxed lack of energy.)
Confused by the strange symbols on the old map, the travelers asked a local fisherman to _____ them about what each mark meant.	enlighten — give someone knowledge or understanding (Clue: Cause and effect: their confusion leads them to seek an explanation that gives understanding.)
Neither the art club nor the robotics team would give up the Friday room booking, so after an hour of arguing the two groups remained at a complete _____.	impasse — a situation where no progress is possible (Clue: Description: neither side giving in after an hour means no progress is possible.)
Unlike last year's strict babysitter, the new one was so _____ about rules that the kids stayed up past midnight eating ice cream.	lax — not strict or careful enough (Clue: Contrast: a strict babysitter versus midnight ice cream shows a lack of strictness.)
Seeing litter dumped all over the freshly cleaned park was enough to _____ the volunteers, who had spent the whole weekend picking up trash there.	enrage — make extremely angry (Clue: Cause and effect: ruining their hard work would make the volunteers furious.)
Because warm clay is so _____, the young potters could press, stretch, and mold it into bowls before it was hardened in the kiln.	malleable — easily shaped or changed (Clue: Description: pressing, stretching, and molding show the clay is easily shaped.)
Unlike her brother, who searched randomly, Aisha was _____ in looking for the lost key, checking each room one by one from top to bottom.	methodical — careful and orderly, following a plan (Clue: Contrast: random searching versus room-by-room checking shows an orderly approach.)
Centuries ago, sailors on long voyages often suffered from scurvy, a _____ caused by a lack of vitamin C that made their gums bleed.	malady — a disease or illness (Clue: Description: scurvy, caused by missing vitamins and causing bleeding, is a disease.)
Sledding down the steepest hill in town never failed to _____ the twins, who shrieked with joy all the way to the bottom.	exhilarate — make very happy and excited (Clue: Cause and effect: shrieking with joy shows the ride thrilled them.)
The writing on the single grain of rice was so _____ that museum visitors needed a magnifying glass to read the words.	minuscule — extremely small (Clue: Cause and effect: needing a magnifying glass shows the writing is extremely small.)
For the small town, the opening of its first public library was truly _____; residents still describe that day as the moment everything began to change.	momentous — very important, with big effects (Clue: Description: "the moment everything began to change" signals an event of huge importance.)
Noticing that the opposing goalie always leaned left, Priya decided to _____ that weakness by aiming every penalty kick at the right corner.	exploit — to take full or unfair advantage of (Clue: Cause and effect: she spots a weakness and takes advantage of it.)
The class had been gloomy all week, but the comedian's assembly show filled the auditorium with _____, and students were still giggling at lunch.	mirth — amusement shown through laughter (Clue: Contrast: gloom gives way to giggling, so the word means laughing fun.)
The drive across the plains was _____: mile after mile of flat wheat fields looked exactly the same, and Marco fell asleep before noon.	monotonous — dull because it never changes (Clue: Description: endless identical fields show boring sameness.)
Usually cheerful, Ava became _____ after her best friend moved away, sulking in her room and refusing to talk at dinner.	morose — gloomy and sullen (Clue: Contrast: "usually cheerful" versus sulking silently points to sullen gloom.)
When the teacher called on him without warning, Diego began to _____, stammering and flipping through pages because he had not read the chapter.	flounder — to struggle clumsily or in confusion (Clue: Description: stammering and flipping pages show clumsy, confused struggling.)
After hours of hiking across the hot, dusty canyon, the travelers finally reached a hidden _____ where cool spring water bubbled up beneath shady palm trees.	oasis — a green spot with water in a desert (Clue: Description: water and palms in a dry, hot place describe this spot.)
Lena admired Omar's chess skill, and Omar admired Lena's just as much; their respect was _____, so they enjoyed practicing together.	mutual — shared equally by two or more people (Clue: Description: each admires the other equally, so the feeling is shared.)
Coach reminded the team that after a victory they should shake hands politely rather than _____ about the score in front of the disappointed players.	gloat — to brag about your success or others' failure (Clue: Contrast: polite handshakes versus bragging in front of the losers.)
Looking through his old kindergarten drawings, Jamal felt _____, wishing he could return to those carefree days of finger painting and naps.	nostalgic — longing fondly for the past (Clue: Description: wishing to return to earlier days shows longing for the past.)
Chemistry students must work under the vent hood because some experiments give off _____ gases that can make people dizzy or sick.	noxious — harmful or poisonous, especially to breathe (Clue: Cause and effect: gases that make people sick are harmful to breathe.)
The moment the new video game went on sale, the company's website crashed under a sudden _____ of millions of eager buyers all trying to order at once.	onslaught — a fierce, overwhelming rush or attack (Clue: Description: millions rushing at once describe an overwhelming surge.)
Before letting her go on the overnight trip, Mia's parents would _____ her for twenty minutes: where exactly she was going, who would be there, and when she would return.	interrogate — to question someone closely and thoroughly (Clue: Examples: the list of pointed questions shows close, thorough questioning.)
At first scientists dismissed the idea that continents drift as _____, but evidence eventually showed that the bizarre-sounding theory was actually true.	outlandish — very strange or bizarre (Clue: Contrast: dismissed as too weird to believe, yet it proved true.)
Unlike her shy brother, who rarely shares his views, Nadia is _____, never hesitating to tell the student council exactly what she thinks.	outspoken — openly and boldly stating opinions (Clue: Contrast: unlike her shy brother, she speaks her mind boldly.)
Because the other wolves drove him away from the pack, the old gray wolf lived as a lonely _____, hunting by himself at the forest's edge.	outcast — a person rejected by a group (Clue: Cause and effect: being driven away from the group makes him a rejected loner.)
Without enough water during the long drought, the farmer feared his young tomato plants would _____ before the autumn rains finally arrived.	perish — to die or be destroyed (Clue: Cause and effect: no water in a drought leads plants to die.)
Our group project went badly because one member was so _____ that she insisted on making every decision and never let the rest of us speak.	overbearing — bossy and controlling (Clue: Description: making every decision and silencing others shows bossiness.)
After weeks of washing cars every weekend, the club raised a _____ fifteen dollars, hardly enough to buy even one new soccer ball.	paltry — pitifully small or meager (Clue: Description: "hardly enough" for weeks of work shows a pitifully small amount.)
The theater club had to _____ dozens of old costumes for the play, so members spent weeks searching thrift stores and asking neighbors for donations.	procure — to get something, often with effort (Clue: Description: weeks of searching and asking show getting something with effort.)
Hoping to convince the principal to add a vegetarian lunch option, Aisha circulated a _____ and collected signatures from three hundred students.	petition — a formal written request signed by many (Clue: Description: a document passed around for signatures to ask for a change.)
Having skipped his nap, the little boy grew _____ by dinnertime, complaining that his milk was too cold and his peas were touching his potatoes.	peevish — easily annoyed and whiny (Clue: Examples: petty complaints show cranky irritation.)
Although the weather forecast predicted sunshine, Grandpa remained _____, packing three umbrellas because he was sure the picnic would be rained out.	pessimistic — expecting the worst to happen (Clue: Contrast: despite a sunny forecast, he expects the worst.)
Rowers use long oars to _____ their narrow boat through the water, pulling together in rhythm so it glides forward quickly.	propel — to push or drive forward (Clue: Description: oars driving the boat forward show pushing it ahead.)
The medieval pilgrims were so _____ that they walked hundreds of miles to visit a holy shrine, praying at every church along the way.	pious — deeply religious (Clue: Description: a long holy journey and constant prayer show deep religious faith.)
The new team captain promised to keep the traditions started by her _____, who had led the squad for three seasons before graduating.	predecessor — someone who held a position before another (Clue: Description: the person who led the squad before her held the role earlier.)
The student council wrote a new dress code, but it could not take effect until a majority of the class voted to _____ it officially.	ratify — to formally approve or confirm (Clue: Cause and effect: a vote is needed to make the code official, so formally approve.)
Late at night, the lonely puppy let out a _____ whimper from its crate, a sound so sorrowful that Ella got up to comfort it.	plaintive — sounding sad and mournful (Clue: Description: "so sorrowful" describes a sad-sounding cry.)
Unlike the dry desert, where food is scarce, the rainforest offers _____ fruit, so monkeys rarely have to travel far for a meal.	plentiful — existing in large amounts (Clue: Contrast: scarce desert food versus easy meals in the rainforest.)
The novel's _____ is simple: a girl discovers that her grandmother's old radio picks up broadcasts from the future, and the whole plot grows from that idea.	premise — the basic idea a story or argument rests on (Clue: Description: the starting idea the whole plot grows from.)
After the exhausting three-day tournament, the coach gave the players a week off to rest and _____ before practice started again.	recuperate — to recover after illness or exhaustion (Clue: Cause and effect: exhaustion leads to needing rest to regain strength.)
Mozart was a _____ child, composing his first pieces of music at age five, when most children are just learning their letters.	precocious — showing adult abilities very early in life (Clue: Contrast: composing at five while others learn letters shows unusually early talent.)
Although the forest contains maples, birches, and oaks, pine is the _____ tree, making up nearly three-quarters of all the trunks.	predominant — strongest or most common (Clue: Description: nearly three-quarters of the trees means it is the most common.)
The town hoped to _____ its run-down park by planting new flowers, repairing the old fountain, and adding a colorful playground.	rejuvenate — to make fresh or lively again (Clue: Examples: repairs and new plantings bring the worn-out park back to life.)
Hiro felt a slight _____ about copying his friend's homework, an uneasy twinge of guilt that made him close the notebook and do the work himself.	qualm — an uneasy feeling of doubt or guilt (Clue: Restatement: "an uneasy twinge of guilt" restates the missing word.)
Only swimmers who post fast times in the _____ heats on Friday morning will advance to the championship final on Saturday night.	preliminary — coming before the main event (Clue: Description: early heats that lead to the final come before the main event.)
Smartphones are now so _____ among teenagers that it is hard to find a student in our school who does not carry one.	prevalent — widespread; very common (Clue: Cause and effect: almost everyone has one, so they are widespread.)
To become a monk at the mountain temple, Tenzin had to _____ all of his possessions, giving away his books, his clothes, and even his bicycle.	renounce — to formally give up a claim or belief (Clue: Examples: giving away everything he owns shows formally giving it up.)
The _____ governess sat perfectly straight, her hair pinned in a tight bun, and she frowned whenever the children forgot to say please.	prim — stiffly proper and neat (Clue: Description: stiff posture, tight bun, and strict manners show fussy properness.)
After the other debate team argued that homework should be banned, Kwame stood to give his _____, explaining point by point why their evidence was weak.	rebuttal — an argument answering and opposing another (Clue: Description: answering the other side point by point is a counterargument.)
Sofia began to _____ her older brother because their parents always gave him the front seat, even when it was clearly her turn.	resent — to feel bitter about unfair treatment (Clue: Cause and effect: repeated unfair treatment causes bitter feelings.)
Agatha Christie was a remarkably _____ writer, publishing more than sixty mystery novels in addition to dozens of short stories and plays.	prolific — producing a great amount of work (Clue: Examples: sixty novels plus many stories and plays show huge output.)
The kindergartners were so _____ after the sugary party snacks that they raced around the classroom, shrieking and knocking over chairs.	rambunctious — wild, noisy, and full of energy (Clue: Description: racing, shrieking, and knocking things over show wild, noisy energy.)
The week of scorching heat was finally interrupted by a cool, rainy afternoon, a brief _____ before temperatures climbed again the next day.	reprieve — a short break from something unpleasant (Clue: Description: a short pause before the heat returns is a temporary break.)
After learning that his facts were wrong, the reporter had to _____ his statement and print an apology in the next morning's newspaper.	retract — to take back or pull back (Clue: Cause and effect: wrong facts force him to take back what he said.)
Once the invasive vine arrived on the island, its growth was _____, smothering native plants faster than volunteers could pull it up.	rampant — spreading wildly and out of control (Clue: Description: spreading faster than anyone can stop it shows uncontrolled growth.)
The _____ cheering of the fans in the gym was so harsh and deafening that Nora could not hear the referee's whistle at all.	raucous — loud and harsh-sounding (Clue: Description: harsh and deafening describes loud, grating noise.)
While the other runners sprinted to the finish line, Felix chose to _____ across it, smiling lazily and waving to the crowd as if on a holiday walk.	saunter — to walk in a slow, relaxed way (Clue: Contrast: others sprint while he walks slowly and casually.)
Mr. Castillo never raised his voice; a single look of _____ over his glasses was enough to make a chattering student fall silent and apologize.	reproach — a look or word showing disapproval (Clue: Cause and effect: the look makes a student apologize, so it shows disapproval.)
Unlike his obedient sister, Theo was _____, ignoring the camp's lights-out rule and sneaking down to the dock to look at the stars.	rebellious — resisting authority or rules (Clue: Contrast: an obedient sister versus breaking rules shows defiance.)
The new principal was _____ to student ideas, listening carefully to every suggestion and even adopting the plan for a school garden.	receptive — open and willing to accept new ideas (Clue: Examples: listening to and adopting suggestions shows willingness to accept them.)
Workers had to _____ the thick rope tying the hot-air balloon to the ground, and the moment the line was cut, the balloon rose into the sky.	sever — to cut off or break apart completely (Clue: Restatement: "the line was cut" restates cutting it completely.)
The sounds of _____ drifted from the town square all night, as people danced, sang, and set off fireworks to celebrate the harvest festival.	revelry — lively, noisy celebration (Clue: Examples: dancing, singing, and fireworks describe lively merrymaking.)
The _____ artist lived alone on a remote island, refused every interview, and had not attended a public event in over twenty years.	reclusive — avoiding other people; living alone (Clue: Description: living alone and avoiding all public contact shows shunning people.)
Whenever it was his turn to clean the hamster cage, Owen tried to _____ the job by suddenly claiming he had a stomachache.	shirk — to avoid a duty or task (Clue: Description: faking illness to escape a chore is avoiding a duty.)
The editor crossed out the phrase "tiny little" in Ana's essay, explaining that using both words was _____ because they mean the same thing.	redundant — unnecessary because it repeats something (Clue: Cause and effect: both words mean the same, so one is needless repetition.)
In her velvet cape and jeweled crown, the actress playing the queen looked truly _____ as she swept grandly across the stage.	regal — fit for a king or queen (Clue: Description: cape, crown, and a queen's role suggest royal dignity.)
A silly argument over who would sit in the front seat caused a _____ between the cousins, and they refused to speak to each other for weeks.	rift — a break in a friendship; a split (Clue: Cause and effect: an argument leads to weeks of silence, a break in the relationship.)
Astronauts train in giant swimming pools that _____ the weightlessness of space, letting them practice repairs while floating as they would in orbit.	simulate — to imitate how something looks or works (Clue: Description: pools copy space conditions so astronauts can practice.)
Ms. Okafor reminded us that our essays about ocean life should include only _____ details, so Jamal deleted his paragraph about his favorite pizza.	relevant — closely connected to the topic (Clue: Contrast: the off-topic pizza paragraph is cut, so details must connect to the topic.)
For her science report, Chloe used only _____ sources, such as university websites and well-known encyclopedias, instead of random blogs.	reputable — well thought of and trusted (Clue: Contrast: trusted, well-known sources versus random blogs.)
When grease in the pan caught fire, Dad grabbed a metal lid to _____ the flames, cutting off their air until they went out.	smother — to cover something so it gets no air (Clue: Cause and effect: covering the fire and cutting off air puts it out.)
When the robotics team found their robot's wires had been deliberately cut the night before the contest, they suspected _____ by a jealous rival.	sabotage — deliberate damage done to ruin plans (Clue: Description: deliberate damage by a rival meant to ruin their chances.)
Most visitors find the corpse flower's smell _____, like rotting meat, yet the stink attracts the flies that help the plant make seeds.	repulsive — causing strong disgust (Clue: Description: smelling like rotting meat is disgusting.)
On the last afternoon before summer vacation, the students were so _____ that they tapped their pencils, bounced their knees, and stared out the windows.	restless — unable to stay still or relax (Clue: Examples: tapping, bouncing, and staring show an inability to stay still.)
To pay for the class trip, the eighth graders went door to door to _____ donations from local businesses and neighbors.	solicit — to ask for something, such as money or help (Clue: Description: going door to door to ask people for money.)
Although the whole team had missed easy shots, the players made the rookie the _____, blaming him alone for the embarrassing defeat.	scapegoat — someone unfairly blamed for others' mistakes (Clue: Contrast: everyone made mistakes, but he alone took the blame.)
The _____ walrus, shaped like a giant barrel and weighing nearly two tons, flopped heavily onto the ice.	rotund — round and plump (Clue: Description: barrel-shaped and two tons points to a round, plump body.)
During the silent moment at the ceremony, Luis tried hard to _____ a sneeze, pinching his nose so the sound would not escape.	suppress — to hold back or keep from showing (Clue: Description: pinching his nose to stop a sneeze is holding it back.)
Isabel's Japanese was still _____ after one month of lessons; she could say hello and count to ten, but she could not yet hold a real conversation.	rudimentary — basic; at the simplest early stage (Clue: Examples: only greetings and counting show a beginner's level.)
The hikers needed sturdy boots for the _____ trail, which climbed over jagged rocks, fallen logs, and steep, uneven ground.	rugged — rough and uneven; tough (Clue: Description: jagged rocks and uneven ground describe rough land.)
The northern lights were an amazing _____, painting the night sky with waves of green and purple that left the whole campground staring upward.	spectacle — an impressive or unusual sight (Clue: Description: a dazzling sky show everyone stares at is an impressive sight.)
The runner started the race at a blistering speed, but she could not _____ that pace, and by the third lap she had slowed to a jog.	sustain — to keep something going over time (Clue: Contrast: a fast start that fades shows she could not keep it going.)
The team had only _____ time to prepare for the quiz bowl, just one short practice the night before, so they were nervous going in.	scant — barely enough; very little (Clue: Description: one short practice shows barely enough time.)
The famous chef gave a _____ sniff at the frozen pizza, as if the very idea of eating something so cheap were beneath her.	scornful — showing that you look down on something (Clue: Description: acting as if it were beneath her shows contempt.)
Marathon runners need great _____, since they must keep moving for more than twenty-six miles without stopping to rest.	stamina — the energy to keep going a long time (Clue: Cause and effect: going a long way without rest requires lasting energy.)
The older kids liked to _____ the new student about his accent, mimicking the way he spoke until the teacher stepped in.	taunt — to tease someone in a mean way (Clue: Description: mean mimicking is insulting teasing.)
The family rented a _____ cabin deep in the woods, miles from the nearest neighbor and reachable only by a narrow dirt road.	secluded — hidden away from other people (Clue: Description: miles from anyone and hard to reach shows being tucked away.)
The smoke alarm let out a _____ beep so high and sharp that the dog howled and ran under the bed.	shrill — high-pitched and piercing (Clue: Description: a high, sharp sound that hurts the dog's ears.)
At the end of the assembly, the art club will _____ its new mural by pulling down the giant sheet that has hidden it for weeks.	unveil — to reveal or show for the first time (Clue: Description: removing a cover to show something for the first time.)
The counselor hoped to remove the _____ around getting tutoring, reminding students that asking for help is nothing to be embarrassed about.	stigma — a mark of shame or disgrace (Clue: Cause and effect: "nothing to be embarrassed about" points to a feeling of disgrace.)
Because the soccer final and the science fair were _____, both starting at exactly noon on Saturday, Rafael had to choose which one to attend.	simultaneous — happening at the same time (Clue: Description: both starting at exactly noon means they happen at once.)
Engineers gave the new train a _____ design, with a glossy, rounded nose that lets it slice through the air at high speeds.	sleek — smooth, shiny, and streamlined (Clue: Description: a glossy, rounded shape built for speed is streamlined.)
The honor council's job is to _____ the school's code of honesty, making sure every student follows it rather than letting it be ignored.	uphold — to support and keep a rule or tradition (Clue: Contrast: keeping the code followed rather than ignored means defending it.)
Although the team was losing badly, the fans remained _____, cheering, chanting, and waving banners until the final whistle.	spirited — full of energy and enthusiasm (Clue: Contrast: the team is losing, yet the fans stay energetic and enthusiastic.)
When he discovered muddy footprints on his clean carpet, Mr. Patel went on a ten-minute _____, angrily listing every rule the children had broken.	tirade — a long, angry speech (Clue: Description: ten minutes of angry listing is a long, furious speech.)
Everyone laughed at Aiden's claim that the old map showed a hidden creek, but the surveyors' discovery of the stream would later _____ him completely.	vindicate — to prove someone right or innocent (Clue: Contrast: mocked at first, he is later proven right.)
The hike up the volcano was so _____ that even the fittest members of the group had to stop every few minutes to catch their breath.	strenuous — needing great effort or energy (Clue: Cause and effect: even fit hikers needing rest shows great physical effort.)
The space agency has _____ cleanliness rules for its labs: workers must wear full-body suits, and even a single speck of dust can halt the work.	stringent — very strict and exact (Clue: Examples: full suits and zero tolerance for dust show extremely strict rules.)
To show their gratitude, the students planted a garden named for their beloved retired librarian, a fitting _____ to her forty years of service.	tribute — something done or given to show respect (Clue: Cause and effect: gratitude leads to a gift that honors her.)
Left alone in the dark hallway, the frightened kitten began to _____ softly, making tiny crying sounds until its owner came home.	whimper — to make soft, weak crying sounds (Clue: Description: soft, tiny crying sounds describe the action.)
In a wolf pack, the younger wolves act _____ toward the leader, lowering their heads and tails to show that they accept its authority.	submissive — too ready to obey others (Clue: Description: lowering heads to accept authority shows giving in to the leader.)
The palace banquet was _____, with golden plates, silk tablecloths, and dozens of rich dishes that the guests could never finish.	sumptuous — rich, splendid, and costly-looking (Clue: Examples: gold, silk, and endless rich food show lavish splendor.)
When Tara placed the earthworm on the dry paper, it began to _____, twisting and curling its body as it searched for damp soil.	writhe — to twist and squirm (Clue: Description: twisting and curling describes squirming.)
When the school canceled recess for the entire month, there was growing _____ among the students, who complained loudly and started petitions in every grade.	unrest — a state of anger and disturbance (Clue: Cause and effect: canceled recess leads to widespread anger and protest.)
Fresh leather is _____ and easy to fold, but leather left out in the hot sun turns stiff and cracks.	supple — bending easily; flexible (Clue: Contrast: stiff and cracked versus soft and easy to bend.)
The usually friendly bus driver was _____ that morning, grunting instead of saying hello and snapping at anyone who asked a question.	surly — rude and bad-tempered (Clue: Contrast: usually friendly, now grunting and snapping.)
Before the field trip, Ms. Ruiz had to _____ the class sternly, reminding them that anyone who wandered off would spend the day on the bus.	admonish — to warn or scold firmly (Clue: Description: a stern reminder of consequences is a firm warning.)
Because their skin is so thin and delicate, babies are especially _____ to sunburn and should be kept in the shade.	susceptible — easily affected or harmed (Clue: Cause and effect: delicate skin makes babies easily harmed by the sun.)
With no home and no job, the old _____ in the folk tale drifted from village to village, trading songs for bread and a place to sleep.	vagabond — a person who wanders with no home (Clue: Description: homeless and drifting from place to place.)
Since there were only thirty minutes for presentations, Mr. Lee decided to _____ exactly five minutes to each of the six groups.	allot — to give out shares for a purpose (Clue: Description: dividing the time into equal shares for each group.)
After months of planning, the garden club finally saw _____ results: rows of real tomatoes and peppers that members could pick and hold.	tangible — able to be touched; real (Clue: Description: things you can pick and hold are touchable and real.)
Because the bus broke down on the highway, half the class was _____ and missed the first ten minutes of the morning quiz.	tardy — arriving after the expected time (Clue: Cause and effect: the bus broke down, so students arrived late.)
The rivalry between the two bakeries had grown into a bitter _____ that lasted three generations, with each family refusing even to shop on the other's street.	vendetta — a long, bitter feud (Clue: Description: bitter rivalry lasting generations is a long-running feud.)
By saving a little from every birthday and allowance, Keisha was able to _____ over a thousand dollars by the time she turned thirteen.	amass — to gather a large amount over time (Clue: Cause and effect: steady saving over years builds a large pile.)
Unlike scorching deserts and freezing poles, the island has a _____ climate, with gentle summers and winters that are rarely cold.	temperate — mild in climate; not extreme (Clue: Contrast: neither scorching nor freezing, so mild.)
When Zoe asked her brother how his game went, his reply was _____, just a single grumbled "Fine" before he shut his bedroom door.	terse — using very few words, often rudely (Clue: Description: a single grumbled word is a short, curt answer.)
Before selling Grandpa's coin collection, the family hired an expert to _____ it so they would know how much each coin was really worth.	appraise — to judge the value or quality of (Clue: Cause and effect: wanting to know the coins' worth leads to an expert valuing them.)
During the snowball fight, Mateo and his friends hid behind the hedge and set up a sneaky _____, leaping out to surprise their cousins with a barrage of snowballs.	ambush — a surprise attack from a hidden spot (Clue: Description: hiding and then leaping out is a surprise attack.)
Pet owners should keep chocolate out of reach, because it contains a chemical that is _____ to dogs and can make them very sick.	toxic — poisonous (Clue: Cause and effect: a chemical that makes dogs sick is poisonous.)
Ms. Fong urged us to avoid _____ openings like "Once upon a time" and instead begin our stories with something fresh and surprising.	trite — used so often it seems dull (Clue: Contrast: fresh and surprising versus a worn-out, familiar opening.)
Desperate to adopt the shivering puppy, the twins dropped to their knees to _____ their mother, pleading over and over until she finally agreed.	beseech — to beg someone urgently (Clue: Description: kneeling and pleading over and over is begging urgently.)
Through the fog on the old castle stairs, the tourists thought they glimpsed a pale, floating _____, but it turned out to be a curtain blowing in the draft.	apparition — a ghostly figure (Clue: Description: a pale, floating figure in a castle suggests a ghost.)
After a week of camping without showers or a mirror, Noah came home looking _____, with tangled hair, a scruffy face, and wrinkled clothes.	unkempt — messy and not cared for (Clue: Examples: tangled hair and wrinkled clothes describe an untidy look.)
Hitting a patch of ice, the runaway shopping cart began to _____ wildly across the parking lot, lurching left and right before crashing into a snowbank.	careen — to rush along while swerving out of control (Clue: Description: lurching wildly out of control describes the motion.)
Although the hailstorm dented every car in the lot, Grandma's little garden somehow came through _____, without a single broken stem.	unscathed — not hurt or harmed at all (Clue: Contrast: everything else is damaged, yet the garden is untouched.)
The museum staff moved the fragile, two-thousand-year-old vase with the _____ care, wearing soft gloves and taking a full hour to cross a single room.	utmost — greatest; highest possible (Clue: Description: gloves and extreme slowness show the greatest possible care.)
Among the most valuable items the archaeologists uncovered was a carved clay pot, an ancient _____ that revealed how early farmers stored their grain.	artifact — an object made by people long ago (Clue: Description: a human-made object from the past studied by archaeologists.)
Grandpa would gently _____ us for forgetting to close the gate, shaking his head and sighing, "How many times must I remind you?"	chide — to scold mildly (Clue: Description: a gentle head shake and sigh is mild scolding.)
The teacher accepted Kai's excuse for the late assignment as _____, since he had a note from the hospital proving he had been sick.	valid — based on good reasons; acceptable (Clue: Cause and effect: a hospital note proves the excuse, so it is acceptable.)
Liam was _____ in his opposition to cutting the music program, pounding the podium and speaking with fiery passion at the school board meeting.	vehement — showing strong, forceful feeling (Clue: Description: pounding the podium with fiery passion shows forceful feeling.)
The children had to _____ up the steep, rocky slope on their hands and knees, grabbing at roots and stones to pull themselves higher.	clamber — to climb awkwardly using hands and feet (Clue: Description: climbing clumsily on hands and knees.)
In the 1840s, a terrible _____ swept through Ireland's potato fields, turning the leaves black and rotting the crops in the ground.	blight — a disease that destroys plants (Clue: Description: something that blackens and rots crops is a plant disease.)
Hikers in the desert should watch where they step, because some snakes there are _____ and can deliver a dangerous bite.	venomous — able to inject poison by biting or stinging (Clue: Cause and effect: a dangerous bite signals poison delivered by the snake.)
Most students quietly accepted the new lunch schedule, but a few were very _____ about their objections, complaining loudly at every assembly.	vocal — expressing opinions loudly and freely (Clue: Contrast: quiet acceptance versus loud complaining.)
The cartoon villain tried to _____ the whole town into obeying him by threatening to switch off its electricity.	coerce — to force someone by using threats (Clue: Cause and effect: threats are used to force obedience.)
Jason boasted that he wasn't afraid of the haunted house, but his _____ disappeared the moment a skeleton popped out and he ran screaming for the exit.	bravado — showy, fake boldness (Clue: Contrast: his boastful courage vanishes, showing it was just a show.)
The Saturday study session is completely _____; no one is required to attend, but those who come usually do better on the exam.	voluntary — done by choice, not required (Clue: Restatement: "no one is required" explains that attending is a choice.)
Instead of competing against each other, the two rival schools decided to _____ on a single robot, sharing ideas, parts, and practice time.	collaborate — to work together (Clue: Contrast: instead of competing, they share and work together.)
In the folk tale, the _____ rabbit outsmarted the hungry fox by tricking him into tossing it into the briar patch, exactly where it wanted to go.	wily — clever in a tricky way (Clue: Description: outsmarting an enemy with a trick shows sly cleverness.)
When the forecast's "sunny day" turned into a downpour, Coach Henley gave a _____ grin and said, "Well, at least the field won't need watering."	wry — dryly funny, with gentle mockery (Clue: Description: a dry joke about bad luck shows quiet, ironic humor.)
The hockey game was stopped for twenty minutes after a shoving match between two players grew into a wild _____ involving both entire benches.	brawl — a rough, noisy fight (Clue: Description: a shoving match growing into a wild free-for-all is a rough fight.)
Because the concert was canceled at the last minute, the theater promised to _____ ticket holders with full refunds and free passes to a future show.	compensate — to pay back or make up for (Clue: Cause and effect: a cancellation leads to paying people back for their loss.)
Our science teacher is famous for her _____ demonstrations, like wearing a rubber-chicken hat while launching marshmallows from a homemade catapult.	zany — wildly silly and funny (Clue: Examples: a rubber-chicken hat and marshmallow catapult show wild silliness.)
After accidentally breaking his neighbor's window with a baseball, Sam felt so _____ that he apologized at once and offered to pay for the glass.	contrite — feeling sorry for doing wrong (Clue: Cause and effect: guilt over his mistake leads to an apology, showing regret.)
The volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii in ash was a _____ for the ancient Romans, destroying the entire city in a single day.	calamity — a terrible disaster (Clue: Description: destroying a whole city in a day is a terrible disaster.)
Rather than _____ to the trend of wearing the same brand of sneakers as everyone else, Jade proudly wore her hand-painted canvas shoes.	conform — to follow a group's rules or customs (Clue: Contrast: she rejects following what everyone else does.)
Mr. Ito praised Fatima's _____ science notebook, holding it up so the class could see the neat diagrams and careful notes he hoped everyone would copy.	exemplary — so good it is a model for others (Clue: Description: held up as a model for others to copy.)
The craft wire is _____ enough to twist into animal shapes with bare hands, yet it holds its form once you finish bending it.	pliable — easily bent or shaped (Clue: Description: twisting it by hand into shapes shows it bends easily.)
Every morning before the bell rings, students _____ in the courtyard, standing in noisy clusters to trade news and finish homework.	congregate — to gather together in a crowd (Clue: Description: forming noisy clusters in one place is gathering as a crowd.)
The explorers stopped at the edge of a deep _____ that split the mountain in two, its bottom so far below that they could barely see the river.	chasm — a deep crack in the earth (Clue: Description: a deep split with a distant bottom is a huge gap in the land.)
The bottle of cooking oil had sat open in the hot garage for a year, so it had turned _____ and gave off a sour, nasty smell.	rancid — smelling or tasting spoiled (Clue: Cause and effect: heat and age make oil go bad and smell sour.)
The box jellyfish is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean, because its sting is _____ enough to kill a person within minutes.	lethal — able to cause death (Clue: Cause and effect: a sting that can kill is deadly.)
To make studying easier, Ravi decided to _____ his scattered notes from three notebooks into a single, organized binder.	consolidate — to combine into one stronger whole (Clue: Description: merging scattered parts into one organized whole.)
A _____ fan of the team for fifty years, Mrs. Garza had never missed a home game, even during the coldest snowstorms.	devout — deeply religious or loyal (Clue: Description: fifty years without missing a game shows deep loyalty.)
When the garden's lettuce kept disappearing overnight, Ming set up a camera and discovered the _____: a chubby rabbit squeezing under the fence.	culprit — the one responsible for a problem (Clue: Description: the rabbit caught on camera is the one responsible.)
Lab workers wear gloves so that germs from their hands do not _____ the samples and ruin the results of the experiment.	contaminate — to make impure by adding something harmful (Clue: Cause and effect: germs getting into samples make them impure.)
The referee had no choice but to eject the player after a _____ foul, a deliberate trip made right in front of the official for the whole stadium to see.	flagrant — shockingly obvious, usually of wrongdoing (Clue: Description: deliberate and seen by everyone shows an obvious, shocking offense.)
While most guests wore plain dark clothing, Uncle Ray arrived in a _____ purple suit covered with sequins, feathers, and a glittering bow tie.	flamboyant — showy, bold, and colorful (Clue: Contrast: plain dark clothing versus eye-catching sequins and feathers.)
The queen announced a royal _____ that every village must celebrate her birthday with a feast, and no one dared disobey the official command.	decree — an official order from a ruler (Clue: Restatement: "the official command" restates the missing word.)
The contest judges will _____ in the library at noon for an official meeting to review the entries and choose the winning paintings.	convene — to come together for a formal meeting (Clue: Description: a group coming together for an official meeting.)
When the substitute asked the class to settle down, Brady gave a truly _____ reply, asking whether she even knew how to teach, and was sent straight to the office.	impertinent — rude and disrespectful (Clue: Cause and effect: a disrespectful remark to a teacher gets him sent to the office.)
Rather than sweet treats like cookies, Hana packed _____ snacks for the road trip, such as cheese crackers, salted nuts, and garlic pretzels.	savory — salty or spicy rather than sweet (Clue: Contrast: not sweet; the salty examples show this kind of flavor.)
Salty ocean air can slowly _____ the metal on seaside bicycles, eating away at the chains until they turn orange and crumble.	corrode — to wear away slowly by chemical action (Clue: Description: salty air slowly eating away metal is chemical wearing.)
After the city announced free pool passes, a _____ of applications poured into the office, so many that the staff needed a week to sort them.	deluge — a huge flood or overwhelming amount (Clue: Description: so many pouring in that sorting takes a week is an overwhelming flow.)
Helium is called a chemically _____ gas because it does not react with other substances, which is one reason it is safe to use in party balloons.	inert — not moving or not chemically active (Clue: Cause and effect: not reacting with anything makes it chemically inactive.)
Despite freezing winds and two failed attempts, the _____ explorer refused to give up and finally reached the South Pole on her third try.	dauntless — fearless and determined (Clue: Contrast: hardships and failures do not stop her, showing fearlessness.)
The town had to _____ its water use during the drought, banning lawn watering and limiting showers to five minutes.	curtail — to cut short or reduce (Clue: Examples: bans and limits show cutting back.)
Everyone found the baby panda's clumsy tumbles _____, and visitors crowded around the enclosure smiling and sighing, "Aww!"	endearing — causing affection; lovable (Clue: Description: smiles and sighs of "Aww" show feelings of affection.)
Although she was terrified of the audition, Lucia kept a calm, confident _____, smiling at the judges and walking steadily to the piano.	demeanor — the way a person looks and behaves (Clue: Contrast: inner fear versus calm outward behavior.)
It took scholars years to _____ the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, until the Rosetta Stone finally gave them a key to the mysterious symbols.	decipher — to figure out something hard to read (Clue: Description: years of work to read mysterious symbols is decoding.)
The new video game would not run on Kofi's old console, because the two systems simply were not _____ with each other.	compatible — able to work or exist well together (Clue: Cause and effect: the game will not run, so the systems cannot work together.)
Only students who have turned twelve by September are _____ to join the junior rowing team, so ten-year-old Pablo had to wait two more years.	eligible — allowed or qualified to do something (Clue: Cause and effect: the age rule decides who qualifies.)
After the toddlers' playdate, the living room was in complete _____: toys covered the floor, cushions were scattered, and crayons were everywhere.	disarray — a messy, disorganized state (Clue: Examples: scattered toys and cushions describe a disorganized state.)
From the wet umbrella by the door and the puddle on the floor, Detective Reyes was able to _____ that the visitor had just come in from the rain.	deduce — to figure out by reasoning (Clue: Description: using clues and reasoning to reach a conclusion.)
The speaker's voice was barely _____ from the back of the noisy gym, so students in the last rows kept asking each other what she had said.	audible — loud enough to be heard (Clue: Cause and effect: students cannot make out her words, so she can hardly be heard.)
