vast adjective
Extremely large in area, size, or amount.
In the story: “Forests, grasslands, lakes, and mountains form a vast patchwork of habitats.”
Another example: A vast crowd filled the stadium.
vast → vastly, vastness
1. Meet the Words
Each word has a meaning, the sentence where it appears in the story, and a second example from everyday life. Read them aloud. Then cover the definitions and explain three words in your own words.
Describing places
patchwork noun
Something made of many different pieces or parts joined together.
In the story: “Forests, grasslands, lakes, and mountains form a vast patchwork of habitats.”
Another example: My grandmother made a patchwork quilt from old shirts.
patch (one piece) → patchwork
wilderness noun
A wild natural area where the land is not developed and few people live.
In the story: “The land was never an empty wilderness waiting to be discovered.”
Another example: Bears and moose live in the Alaskan wilderness.
wild → wilderness
landmark noun
A famous place or feature that is easy to recognize.
In the story: “Its value lies in more than famous landmarks.”
Another example: The old clock tower is a local landmark.
a famous landmark
streaked adjective
Marked with long, thin lines or bands of color.
In the story: “Waterfalls plunge between walls streaked with yellow, orange, and red.”
Another example: The evening sky was streaked with pink clouds.
streaked with + color
vivid adjective
Very clear, bright, and detailed; easy to picture.
In the story: “Photographs … and paintings … made distant landscapes vivid to audiences who had never seen them.”
Another example: I have a vivid memory of my first snowfall.
vivid → vividly
Movement and growth
drift verb
To move slowly and gently, carried by air or water.
In the story: “A traveler might watch steam drifting over a hot spring in the morning…”
Another example: Leaves drifted down the quiet stream.
drift → drifted, drifting
circulate verb
To move continuously around or through something.
In the story: “A hot spring allows water to circulate more freely.”
Another example: Blood circulates through the body.
circulate → circulation
flourish verb
To grow well; to be healthy and successful.
In the story: “Different communities flourish under different temperatures and chemical conditions.”
Another example: Her small bakery flourished in its first year.
flourish → flourishing
carve verb
To cut into something to shape it; for a river, to slowly cut a path through land.
In the story: “…the Yellowstone River carves through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.”
Another example: He carved a small bird from a piece of wood.
carve → carved, carving
plunge verb
To fall or drop suddenly and steeply.
In the story: “Waterfalls plunge between walls streaked with yellow, orange, and red.”
Another example: Temperatures plunged below zero overnight.
plunge → plunged; also a noun: a plunge in prices
History and change
expedition noun
An organized trip made for a special purpose, such as exploring or research.
In the story: “The 1871 expedition led by geologist Ferdinand V. Hayden helped document its wonders.”
Another example: The expedition reached the top of the mountain in May.
go on / lead an expedition
eliminate verb
To remove something completely.
In the story: “Wolves were eliminated from the park by the early twentieth century.”
Another example: The office eliminated paper forms and moved everything online.
eliminate → elimination
intersect verb
To meet or cross each other.
In the story: “Where Wild Lives Intersect” (section title)
Another example: The two highways intersect just outside the city.
intersect → intersection
endure verb
To continue to exist for a long time; also, to live through something difficult.
In the story: “A Place That Changes—and Endures” (section title)
Another example: Their friendship has endured for fifty years.
endure → endurance, enduring
alarm verb
To make someone suddenly worried or afraid.
In the story: “Images of burning forests alarmed people around the world…”
Another example: The sudden rise in rent alarmed many families.
alarm → alarmed, alarming; also a noun: a fire alarm
transform verb
To change something completely.
In the story: “Fire … threatens buildings and transforms familiar views.”
Another example: Learning English transformed her career.
transform → transformation
2a. Matching — Describing places Matched: 0/6
Select a word, then its definition. Correct pairs lock in place.
Words
Definitions
2b. Matching — Movement and growth Matched: 0/5
Select a word, then its definition. Correct pairs lock in place.
Words
Definitions
2c. Matching — History and change Matched: 0/6
Select a word, then its definition. Correct pairs lock in place.
Words
Definitions
3. Fill in the Blanks
Use each word once. Type the word, or click a word and then click a blank. The words are already in the correct form. Capitalization does not matter.