“Homeless”by Anna Quindlen

problem-solution essay

Vocabulary

anonymous- adjective – having no known name or origin; lacking qualities that make one different

legacy – noun – anything handed down from an ancestor or from the past

enfeebled – adjective – lacking force, strength or effectiveness; weakened

“What Do Fish Have to Do With Anything?” by Avi short story

Vocabulary

contemplate - verb - to consider carefully and at length

inevitably – adverb - unavoidably; without fail

preoccupied- adjective - lost in thought; distracted

retort – verb - to reply sharply

threshold – noun - a doorway or entrance

urgency – noun - a condition of pressing importance; necessity

““Dirk the Protector” Dirk the Protector” by Gary Paulsen

memoirmemoir Vocabulary

cohort n. a companion or associate

conventional adj. usual; traditional

decoy n. person or thing used to distract others or lead them in a different direction

forerunner n. person or thing that came before

hustle v. to gain by energetic effort

impasse n. a situation in which no progress can be made; a deadlock

predatory adj. given to stealing from or hurting others for one’s own gain

puny adj. weak and small

“Sleeping in the Forest” by Mary Oliver and “Gold” by Pat Morapoems

Vocabulary

lichens – fungi that grow together with algae and form crustlike growths on rocks or tree trunks

grappling – struggling

saguaro – a tall branching cactus found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico