Short Articles for Reading 2nd-Book 3 (E)

title

to give a name or title to

The song is titled “Hey Diddle Diddle.”

curate

to select and organize items for other people to enjoy

He curated a recent exhibition of eighteenth century European art.

typical

like most people or things of the same type; normal

The building is typical of the Victorian era.

curator

one manage a museum, library, ect.

The museum curator has plans to give a presentation on ancient art.

professional

a person with a job that requires special education, training, or skill

Doctors, lawyers and engineers are all professional careers.

critic

a person who gives opinions about books, movies, or other forms of art

The film critic gave the movie only 2.5 stars out of five.

companion

a person or animal you spend time with or enjoy being with

My dog has been my constant companion for over seven years.

canine

a dog or animal of the dog family

Those who choose a feline friend rather than a canine companion are more likely to enjoy their own company.

engaging

interesting in a way that attracts one’s attention

The speakers presentation was not engaging at all; everyone in the audience was moving around in their chairs.

propose

to suggest something (such as a plan) to a person or group of people to consider

The mayor of New York City proposed a plan for a new art gallery.

overwhelming

very strong or large in effect, number, etc.

Students usually feel a(n) overwhelming sense of relief when exams are over.

enthusiasm

strong excitement and energy about something

I felt full of enthusiasm and wanted to work hard to win Dora.

millennium

a period of 1,000 years (pl. millennia)

It’s been two millennia since the year 0.

adaptation

a change or adjustment to the environment

The giraffe’s long neck is an adaptation that allows it to eat tree leaves.

bizarre

very unexpectedly strange

Many of the fish swimming in the reef are strange, bizarre creatures.

creature

any living thing that is not a plant; an animal

The platypus is an interesting creature from Australia.

appendage

a part projecting from the body of an animal

A person's longest appendages are his legs, while his smallest appendages are his toes.

camouflage

to hide something by making it look like the background

The sea dragon has natural camouflage that allows it to look like a plant.

toxic

poisonous

Snake venom is highly toxic, and can kill you quickly.

mottled

having spots or streaks

This skirt got wet and is mottled with stains.

venomous

poisonous

Vipers are highly venomous snakes.

spine

a long, sharp point on a plant or on an animal’s body

Our spine helps us to stand up nice and straight.

dorsal

on or relating to the back

dorsal means relating to the back of a fish or animal.

lethal

capable of causing death

The stone fish is known as the most lethal fish in the world!

culinary

related to cooking

Garlic is used in many culinary traditions all over the world.

originally

having begun or happened first

Sam lives in Singapore now, but he originally comes from the UK.

cultivate

to prepare land and use for growing plants

The farmers in this area mostly cultivate wheat and barley.

harsh

difficult or severe

The desert can be a very harsh environment.

bulb

the round, underground part of some plants

A garlic bulb is made up of smaller sections called cloves, which have been used in food and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

slave

a person who is owned by others as though property

slaves were forced to pick cotton in the US a long time ago.

heal

to make healthy or well again

If you want to heal an infection, you should take care of it.

wreath

a circular arrangement of flowers and plants as a decoration

He put a wreath on her head like it was a crown.

vampire

a mythical blood-sucking monster that was once human

Can you tell my a story about demons or vampires?

producer

a company or country that grows or makes a product

California is an important producer of garlic.

distributor

a company or country who supplies goods to others

California is the world’s largest distributor and producer of garlic.

aroma

a smell, scent, or odor

That spaghetti sauce has a wonderful aroma, I can’t wait to taste it!

emergency

an unexpected and difficult or dangerous situation

Come quick! This is a(n) emergency!

limit

to restrict the boundaries

First aid is limited to trying to help the casualty until medical help arrives.

preserve

take action to protect from damage

Refrigerators preserve food from spoiling.

injury

damage done to a living body

Giving first aid means to preserve life, prevent further injury, and promote recovery.

recovery

the act or process of returning to a healthy condition

The soldier was making a quick recovery from his wounds.

ensure

to make certain

How can we ensure the safety of the children?

expose

to cause to be visible

The hole in his pants left the man’s knee exposed.

casualty

a person injured or killed in a war or accident

casualties should not be moved unless it is absolutely necessary.

external

on the outside of

We could not see any external injuries.

professional

highly trained and skilled

Treatment of the casualty must await the arrival of the professional medical team.

resuscitation

the act of reviving a person from unconsciousness

When we get someone’s heart and circulation working again, it is called resuscitation.

compress

to press or squeeze

It might be necessary to compress the heart to get the blood circulating again.

teem

to completely fill; to abound

The market was teeming with people doing their shopping.

miniscule

extremely small

The orphans only had a miniscule piece of toast to eat each morning.

destruction

serious damage

The tornado caused large areas of destruction.

global warming

a gradual increase in world temperatures that are sufficient to cause climatic change

global warming continues to cause a rise in sea level, putting our coasts at risk.

waste disposal

the act of getting rid of trash or waste products from a factory

Pollution caused by waste disposal and oil spillage puts ocean life at tremendous risk of death or disease.

tremendous

extremely large or very serious

The Earth’s oceans are filled with a tremendous amount of water.

ecosystem

all the living things existing and interacting with each other in a particular environment

Sharks play an important role in the ocean ecosystem.

overfishing

the act of catching so many fish that the species is put in danger of extinction

overfishing puts some marine species in danger.

marine

found or living in the ocean

A healthy ocean is full of marine animals.

establish

to start something new

He established a running club in the city.

regulation

a rule or law that is put in place and monitored by someone in authority

Parking here is against city regulation. If you park here you'll get fined.

invasive species

a plant or animal comes from a different area and takes over the local ecosystem

A(n) invasive species is threatening the plant life in the area.

heritage

the customs, beliefs, traditions, etc. of a group or nation

We must all take care to preserve our national heritage.

distressed

feeling extreme sorrow, suffering, or trouble

The news of the car crash left her in distress.

commission

to hire; to agree to pay money in exchange for work

The president commissioned the artist to paint a portrait of him.

mausoleum

a building that contains the grave of a rich person

The Taj Mahal is an elaborate mausoleum, a tomb made to tribute the emperor’s beloved wife.

architect

one who designs the construction of buildings

Beth studied architecture and now she works as a(n) architect in Paris.

construct

to build

It took hundreds of years to construct the Great Wall of China.

dome

a large roof that is partially spherical

A large dome covers the arena.

reflect

to throw back light or heat

The mirror reflects the light into his eyes.

chamber

a room

The girl was tired. She went to her chamber for a nap.

cenotaph

a structure built to honor someone buried elsewhere

The cenotaph stands as a remembrance of those killed during the war.

elaborate

having very complicated detail

The stained glass windows had elaborate designs.

tribute

something done to show admiration for another

The fan gave him flowers as a tribute to his victory.

detective

a professional who must discover who was part of a crime

Edgar Allan Poe wrote the first detective story.

genre

a type, or category, of story

Detective fiction is a popular genre.

private

relating to an individual person

The two types of detectives include police detectives and private detectives.

solve

to find a solution or an answer

In many mystery novels, the hero solves the mystery in the final chapter.

crime

an illegal act

It is a(n) crime to take money that is not yours.

murder

the intentional and illegal killing of a person

The man is in prison because he murdered another man.

fictional

occurring in stories but not in real life

Many films and novels feature fictional characters. They may seem real, but aren’t.

investigation

a close examination

The FBI stands for the Federal Bureau of investigation.

archetype

a typical example of a particular kind

Sherlock Holmes provided the archetype of the detective with highly developed skills of observation and deduction.

popularize

to make popular

Some detectives that were popularized during the 1930s are still well-known today.

intimate

friendly

I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.

unforgettable

very special or unusual, and therefore difficult to forget; memorable

A visit to the museum is an unforgettable experience.

currency

a specific kind of money, such as the money that a country uses

It is a type currency, like the yen or won, except it can only be traded online.

system

a group of related parts, objects, or units that move or work together

The library has a(n) system to keep track of books people check out.

transaction

a business deal, such as the exchanging of funds, goods, or services

The bank records every transaction you make at an ATM.

virtual

existing on a computer or a computer network

I like to play virtual combat games on my computer.

anonymous

made or done by someone who is not named or identified

Blockchain records are anonymous.

confident

sure; certain; without doubts

I feel more confident about my exams when I take notes and study hard.

accurate

free from mistakes

If the scale is accurate, then the package weighs six pounds.

possibility

an opportunity to develop in a successful way

Many people are excited about the possibilities of Bitcoin, but others aren’t so sure.

ultimately

In the end, or after a period of time

It will ultimately be your decision.

financial

having to do with money

Poor management gave the company financial problems.

tainted

spoiled or contaminated and no longer safe to consume

People can get sick from eating tainted food.

method

a way of doing something; a procedure

Traveling by horse is an old method of transportation.

attentive

paying careful attention; listening carefully

Edison was not an attentive student.

infuriate

to make very angry

I was infuriated that I didn’t get picked to join the basketball team.

conductor

a person who manages passengers on a train

The conductor told the musicians how he wanted them to play.

solitary

alone or lonely

Mike was a solitary man who never spoke to anyone.

transmitter

a device used to transmit radio or television signals

There is a radio transmitter in that tower that sends music out to radios in the area.

phonograph

a record player

Edison's most famous inventions are the electric light bulb and the phonograph.

telegraphy

a system of communication by means of the telegraph

Edison developed a possibilities and receiver for the automatic telegraph.

improve

to make better

Some of the best inventors made careers by improving on the ideas of others.

relevant

relating in a suitable way

The book was published long ago but the ideas are still relevant today.

perspiration

sweat; moisture that forms on skin because of work or heat

Making an invention requires a little inspiration and a lot of perspiration.

prolific

producing a large number of works

A(n) prolific inventor is one who invents a lot of different things.

patent

a legal paper proving ownership of a technology or idea

Edison took out patents for his electric light bulbs.

frozen

cold enough to be solid

Ice cream is a frozen treat made from by King Charles I.

confection

a sweet food that someone has made

Europeans brought ice cream and other confections to New York.

myth

a story or explanation that is believed by many but is likely not true

There are many myths about the origins of ice cream.

account

a detailed description of events

She accounted for the way to the post office.

chef

a person who cooks and prepares food for others

The chef has prepared a large feast for everyone.

recipe

the instructions for preparing a dish

Can I please have the recipe for this delicious dish?

dessert

a usually sweet dish served at the end of a main meal

After dinner, it is time for dessert.

banquet

a grand formal dinner with many guests and foods

In the seventeenth century, ice cream was served at royal banquets.

inaugurate

to bring about the start of something

The winner of the election does not become president until the presidential inaugurated.

freezer

a container kept very cold to store food and ice

To stay cold, ice cream belongs in the freezer.

mass production

the process of producing large quantities usually by using machinery

mass production of automobiles means that almost everyone can own one.

evolve

to develop gradually

Many people believe ice cream evolved from ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, Persians, and Romans, who used to chill wines and juices.

tragic

causing great sadness and suffering

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story.

gangster

a member of an organized gang of criminals

A gangster killed another gang member.

gritty

showing things realistically, without making them look better than they are

Some are realistic movies that take a gritty look at topics such as crime.

in the course of

during a specific time or while something else is happening

He changed his mind in the course of a week.

witness

to see something happen, especially a crime

The police are talking to him because he witnessed the murder with his own eyes.

reality

the way that a situation actually is, not fantasy

That’s not the reality, but it seems real.

feature

to give someone or something an important part or focus

This radio station is popular because it always features one local band's music.

adversity

a difficult situation or set of circumstances

He has faced many adversities lately - he lost his job, his wife left him, and he was diagnosed with cancer.

sarcastic

using a form of humor where you say the opposite of what you really mean

This actor plays sarcastic characters a lot, and he can be very funny.

sequel

a movie or book that continues the story of the one before it

The first movie was scary, but the sequel is even scarier.

alien

a person or thing from another planet

Men in Black is about a group of people who chase aliens.

classic

something that is well-known and popular for a long time

I can’t believe you haven’t seen this classic movie. It’s so famous.

seismograph

a tool for measuring and recording earthquakes

The seismograph measured the size of the earthquake.

combination

a mixture

A combination of red paint and blue paint gives us purple paint.

bark

the tough material covering the outside of trees

The deer eat the bark from the tree.

technique

the specific way something is done

Every chef has their own technique for preparing food.

mill

a building used for manufacturing

The first paper mills were in Spain.

fiber

a thin piece of some natural material

People use plant fiber to make rope.

enormous

very large

Japan is one country that still has a(n) enormous demand for handmade paper.

environmental

relating to the environment

Pollution causes environmental harm.

solution

the answer to a problem

I have a(n) solution to your problem.

cut down

to remove a tree by cutting through its trunk

My father cut down on salty food as I had advised.

origami

the art of folding paper into models of creatures

What a beautiful origami paper crane!

pastime

a fun activity that makes time pass happily

Going to the movies is a very popular pastime.

sculpture

art produced by carving or shaping a material into a figure

An amazing steel sculpture outside of the art museum.

dominate

to strongly control or influence

Mercy High School's football team dominated the football league; they won every game.

discussion

a conversation

The class discussion changed from politics to the environment.

depict

to show; to describe

During his “Blue Period,” Picasso mostly depicted poor people in his art.

studio

the place artists use to create their work

They went to the studio to record their song.

My previous car was much smaller than my new one.

Cubism

a style of modern art characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric shapes

Pablo Picasso was an influential artist in the development of cubism.

inspire

to influence or give creativity to

I like to feel inspired before I begin any art project.

bomb

to drop bombs on

I heard on the news there was another bombing in that city.

ceramics

art made with ceramic, a kind of cooked clay

Apart from his paintings, Picasso created sculptures, ceramics, and stage designs.

recognize

to acknowledge; to state

Many artists do not get recognized during their lifetimes.

outstanding

amazing; noteworthy for excellence

She is one of the most outstanding students in my class.

invincible

cannot be defeated

The word diamond comes from an old Greek word meaning invincible.

durable

tough and able to last a long time; resistant to wear

Diamonds are quite durable and strong.

sparkle

to shine with a lot of very small points of light

Diamonds sparkle because they can catch light well.

jewelry

ornaments people wear, such as rings or necklaces

My favorite piece of jewelry is my ring.

igneous

rock formed by volcanic activity

Diamonds come from igneous rock from under Earth.

volcanic

relating to or coming from a volcano

Diamonds form in igneous rock and are formed by volcanic activity.

source

the place from which something comes

Milk is a(n) source of calcium.

deposit

a natural buildup that remains after a geological process

We found a(n) deposit of oil under the ground near our city.

mine

to dig in order to find and take away coal or another substance

Diamonds that are mined have been forced near the surface of Earth over time.

significant

important

The cost of gas will not increase significantly.

cheap

inexpensive; costing very little

The pencil is cheap by the dozen.

industrial

relating to industry

The factory is in the industrial area of town.

revere

to respect and admire greatly

As a Christian, I deeply revere God.

sacred

having a close special connection to a god or religion

Have you ever read the sacred text of Islam?

faith

strong feeling of trust or confidence in someone or something

I know you will succeed because I have faith in you.

revelation

the act of revealing divine truth

When Jack told me the secret about Joan, it was an extraordinary revelation.

prophet

a person who is believed to deliver messages of a god

A prophet is someone who gets a message from God and accurately foretells the future.

compile

to collect and put together

She compiled some of the author’s less known short stories into a book.

omit

to leave out; to not include

Don't omit his name from the list.

memory

a past event or condition that is remembered

I have so many memories from the time I lived overseas.

chronological

described or shown in the order of occurrence, according to time

Write down everything that happened in chronological order.

commandment

a rule that must be obeyed

Following the king's commandment, we went out and started helping others.

throughout

during a period of time

He remained calm throughout the whole wedding ceremony.

recite

to repeat or read aloud

The smiling children recited poetry and then sang holiday songs.

institution

an important organization like a university, church, or bank

I studied at the health institution in the city.

historian

someone who studies the past

Modern historians can review written documents.

resource

a place or method to get information or help

The city website is a good resource for new companies.

tribe

a group of people sharing lineage, language, and culture

Large groups related by family or culture are called tribes.

orally

by the mouth (by talking)

Cultures without a way to write often have strict traditions of how to tell their history orally.

papyrus

a type of paper made from papyrus plants and used in ancient Egypt

The Egyptians also wrote on papyrus.

wealth

a lot of valuable objects or money

It is not a good idea to show off one’s wealth.

consult

to request assistance or the opinion of

Did you consult a doctor when you were ill?

artifact

an object that is associated with a particular past culture

That stone knife is a(n) artifact from ancient China.

archaeologist

someone who studies human prehistory and history

The archaeologist discovered several ancient tombs.

archivist

a person who collects, sorts, and cares for historical records

Librarians and archivists store historical records to keep them safe.

microfilm

a film on which photographs or printed materials are stored

Mindy went to the library to look at microfilm for her report for history class.

associate

to relate or connect in some way

Most people associate his bad behavior to his bad childhood.

originate

to come from

Where does your style of art originate from?

mint

to make coins or medals

The thaler was a silver coin minted in a town called Joachimsthal.

abbreviate

to make shorter, especially a word

Because her name was so long, she abbreviated her name to Ann.

circulate

to pass from person to person

The Weekly Times newspaper circulates in many cities.

empire

a large territory over which there is a single ruler

The Roman empire included several hundred towns and cities.

desperate

urgent; having little or no hope

"Please help me! I’m desperate."

independent

not needing another for help or assistance

The province of Quebec wants to be independent of Canada.

proximity

closeness; a nearby area

The two people, having worked in close proximity for years, finally fell in love with each other.

theory

a belief or idea about something

In theory, it is not possible to travel faster than light.

simplification

the act of making simpler or reducing to basic elements

Etc. is a(n) simplification of the word etcetera.

superimpose

to place one thing over something else, making one mixed image

The “$” sign might have come from superimposing the P and S in Peso.

literally

in the most basic meaning of a word

Carte blanche literally translates as “white card.”

obligation

a duty; an action that must be done

It is our obligation to help others in need.

contribute

to give money or help

There were many sponsors that contributed to the charity event.

well-being

a feeling of being healthy and happy

The wealthy need to contribute to the well-being of the poor.

generous

freely giving time or money; tending to share or help

Bill Gates is one of the richest and most generous person in the world.

strategic

carefully planned

Bill knew the foundation needed a strategic plan to succeed.

pledge

to make a formal promise to do something, such as giving money

The couple pledged to give $1,000 to the children’s hospital.

vulnerable

capable of being physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt

In their home state of Washington, Melinda and Bill help vulnerable children.

globally

all over the world

It sets up health programs in poor countries globally.

intention

a planned action; a purpose

Mari has good intentions, but sometimes her plans don’t work out.

meaningful

serious and important

The guest gave a(n) meaningful speech to the graduating class.

fortunate

lucky

We should all help others less fortunate than ourselves.

devastating

causing great damage or harm

One massive earthquake in California could be devastating.

predict

to say in advance what will happen

Things often change so we cannot predict future events.

accuracy

the state of being correct, or free from error

Newspapers provide citizens with accurate news.

erupt

to burst forth; to move quickly out of

An earthquake is a kind of volcanic eruption.

evacuate

to send people away from a dangerous place

Floods from the hurricane caused families to evacuate the town.

crust

an outer layer; Earth’s solid outer layer

The first layers of surface rock form Earth’s crust.

crevasse

a deep crack in rock or ice

The hikers proceeded carefully so as not to fall into the dark crevasse below.

foundation

the layer of concrete that a structure is built on

The foundations of the building were damaged by the severe earthquake.

appalling

terrible and shocking

It was an appalling performance, I agree. I was miserable and unhappy.

frequent

occurring often

Volcanic eruptions are frequent in some parts of China.

potentially

having the possibility of happening

California is a major earthquake region with potentially dangerous earthquakes.

astride

being partially on either side of something

One of the most potentially dangerous earthquake belts is in California, which sits astride the San Andreas Fault.

technology

the practical use of scientific knowledge in industry

Imagine using 3D technology to make an automobile.

extremely

very, to a large degree

A car made mostly by a 3D printer is still extremely rare, though.

manufacturer

a person or company that makes a product to sell

That manufacturer makes doors and windows for buildings.

design

the way something is made that gives it a certain look or allows it to work in a certain way

The design of a mousetrap makes it difficult for a mouse to escape.

multiple

more than one; many

We have already received multiple donations from groups and individuals across the state.

version

a different form of something

Which version did you like better? The book or the movie?

experiment

to test new ideas or methods; to do an experiment

Do you experiment with dangerous chemicals in chemistry class?

decoration

something that is added to something to make it look nice

Balloons make good party decorations.

inventor

a person who produce something as a profession

Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest inventors of his day.

experimental

using new, unproven ideas or methods

For the most part, 3D cars are still experimental.

option

a choice

We have different options for breakfast: eggs, fruit, or pancakes

function

a purpose; an intended use for a tool or procedure

Bones also help with lots of important bodily functions.