When I was an infant, I got a rag doll.
It was a very plain, little doll, and it wore a clown outfit and a clown’s hat.
I used to take that doll to bed with me every night.
I couldn’t go to bed without my doll.
My mother used to pretend that the doll was talking to me.
She would make the doll dance and sing songs.
I would talk to the doll.
My mother would answer for the doll, but I was a baby, and I thought that the doll was
actually talking to me.
That doll was my best friend.
I took her everywhere.
One time I took her to a store with me, and I left her on a shelf in the store.
We were halfway home when I realized that I didn’t have my doll with me.
I was very upset.
My mother and I rushed back to the store.
My doll was still there.
I was so relieved.
I hugged my doll, and I promised myself that I would never leave her anywhere again.
I couldn’t imagine life without that doll.
Through the years, the doll became less important in my life.
I had other things to do, but the doll still sat on my bed during the day, and I still took it to bed at night.
I gave that doll a lot of love when I was little.
In fact, I loved the doll so much that she looks tattered and torn now.
There are parts of her face and hands that are almost worn away.
I had a lot of other toys when I was little, but none of them were ever so important as that doll.
I don’t play with toys anymore, but that doll is still in my room.
She sits in a special chair in the corner.
I’ll always have that doll.
No matter how worn out she is, I’ll always keep her and cherish her as a part of my early childhood.
rag doll:
a soft doll made of cloth
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halfway:
at a middle point in space or time between two things
ￚsynonym partway halfway through/up/down/between etc
*He chased Kevin halfway up the stairs.
*It was a terrible film – I left halfway through.
*traffic queues stretching back halfway to London the halfway stage/mark/point
*They’ve just reached the halfway stage of the project.
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relieved (adj):
feeling happy because you are no longer worried about something greatly/immensely/extremely etc relieved
*She looked immensely relieved when she heard the news.
relieved to see/hear/know something *His mother was relieved to see him happy again. relieved (that)
*I felt relieved that Ben would be there.
*A relieved smile spread over his face. _________________________________
that: used after verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce a clause which shows what someone says or thinks, or states a fact or reason
*If she said that she’d come, she’ll come. *I can’t believe that he’s only 17.
*Are you sure that they live in Park Lane?
*allegations that he is guilty of war crimes
*The fact that he is your brother-in-law should not affect your decision.
*He might have left the money for the simple reason that he didn’t know it was there.
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wear away: phrasal verb
to gradually become thinner or smoother, or to make something become like this, because of rubbing or touching
*The leather is starting to wear away at the seams. wear something ↔ away
*Most of the grass had already been worn away by the spectators. *In the course of centuries, the wind has worn away the rock.
_________________________________ cherish:
1
if you cherish something, it is very important to you
*He was a man who cherished his privacy. *I still cherish the memory of that day.
cherish a hope/an idea/a dream etc
*a willingness to re-examine cherished beliefs *he would cherish his parents
*that is a memory I will always cherish 2 to love someone or something very much and take care of them well
*In marriage, a man promises to cherish his wife. *his most cherished possession
Another Source
1 to care for tenderly; love:
*The old man cherished the girl as if she were his daughter.
*his most cherished possession 2 to keep (hope, love, or other deep feelings) firmly in mind: *I cherish the hope that he will come back.
*cherished memories
I am curious about many things.
I would like to find the answers to a lot of questions that I have.
What holds the stars up in the sky?
Why does ice form on the top of the lake when it is cold?
Is there life on other planets?
Why do we not fall off the face of the earth?
How do caterpillars turn into butterflies?
All of these things are mysteries to me.
There are so many questions that are unanswered.
I think I should go to the library and get a book to find out why people grow old.
What makes a television work?
I also want to know where electricity comes from.
Who is the strongest person in the world?
Who is the smartest person in the world?
Why do some people have blonde hair, and some people have black hair?
Why do people in different countries speak different languages?
Why do people have to die?
Why are no two snowflakes alike?
What makes people fall in love?
What makes the rivers run?
Why does the sun rise every morning?
How did the oceans form?
Why did the dinosaurs vanish from the earth?
I wonder if I’ll ever find out the answers to all my questions.
I think I’ll have to study hard and stay in school to find out everything that I want to know.
Some questions never get answered.
It is good to be curious.
People who are curious about things are the ones who learn a lot, and some curious people go on to invent things and make important discoveries.
fall off
face
caterpillar:
a small creature like a worm with many legs that eats leaves
and that develops into a butterfly or other flying insect
Some people are just born to create.
That’s what I think.
Some people just have the need to write stories, compose beautiful music, or paint pictures.
Creativity seems to be inside them, and they need to let it out.
It’s good that we have people like that.
Composers like Mozart and Chopin have given us music that is incrediblybeautiful.
It’s not just the classical composers who have given us great pieces of music; there are modern composers who have written great songs also.
Elton John is an example of someone who has composed many wonderful songs.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has given us some very popular musicals like Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
There are so many talented and creative people in this world.
When you visit an art gallery, you marvel at how artists are able to recreate realism or make up something that seems totally unreal yet beautiful.
The American artist Norman Rockwell painted some pictures that actually looked like photographs.
He tried to portray life as it was in America.
Through his paintings, one can get a good sense of American life through the years.
On the other hand, artists like Jackson Pollock did not portray realism.
Jackson Pollock painted abstract pictures.
His paintings are just as good as Norman Rockwell’s, but they are entirely different.
Some books that we read are classics.
Mark Twain portrayed American life through his characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Charles Dickens brought Victorian England to life through his books.
Most people are familiar with his Christmas Carol where the mean and miserable
Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas.
People don’t have to read the classics.
There are modern writers who entertain readers through their stories.
Stephen King has written a number of horror stories.
Some of his books have even been made into movies.
We are lucky to have creative people who share their gifts with us.
If you are lucky enough to be creative, you should use your talents to create works of art
that we all can share.
incredibly:
1
[+adjective/adverb] informal extremely
Nicotine is incredibly addictive.
2
[sentence adverb] in a way that is hard to believe
The knife had pierced his heart, but incredibly he was still alive.
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talented:
having a natural ability to do something well
*a talented actor
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marvel:
to feel or express great surprise or admiration at something, especially someone’s behaviour
*The man is a genius,’ marvelled Claire. marvel at/over
*I marvelled at my mother’s ability to remain calm in a crisis.
*Visitors to Rome marvel over the beauty of the city. marvel that
*I marvelled that anyone could be so stupid.
*foreigners marveled at the country’s rapid progress
*they listened to my story and marveled
Another source
fml to be filled with great wonder, surprise, admiration, etc.:
*We marveled at their skill.
*[+that] The onlookers marveled that he was unharmed after such a long fall.
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mean:
▶CRUEL◀
cruel or not kind
*That was a mean thing to do.
*I felt a bit mean asking him to help.
*It’s a mean trick to play on someone.
*It was mean of him not to invite her. mean to
*Don’t be so mean to her!
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miserable:
especially British English always bad-tempered, dissatisfied, or complaining
*He’s a miserable old devil.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
There are so many things that you can be.
You might want to work in the field of law.
You could be a police officer.
You could be a judge or a lawyer.
Maybe you’d like to work in the food industry.
You could be a cook or a waitress.
You might want to manage a hotel dining room.
Perhaps you would want to do room service in a hotel.
You could be a chef and make fancy meals for people.
Maybe show business is what you’d like to be involved in.
You could act in television shows or movies.
You could sing or play an instrument in a band.
If you like to help people, you could go into medicine.
You could be a doctor or a nurse.
You might be a surgeon and operate on people.
There are other jobs in the field of medicine too.
You could be an x-ray technician or a lab technician.
It takes a lot of education to be a doctor.
Maybe you would rather be a teacher.
You could teach in a primary school or a high school.
If you don’t want to work with children, you could become a professor at a university.
There are hundreds of other jobs to choose from too.
You might want to fix cars or work in a store.
You could be a dentist or a veterinarian.
You could be a janitor or a zookeeper.
There are so many jobs that I just can’t name them all.
Maybe you’d like to be a minister or an organist at a church.
You could be a babysitter or a shop clerk.
You might be interested in being an astronaut or a baker.
You could work in a bank or at a shop.
You could work on a construction crew and build roads and houses.
Maybe you’d rather decorate the houses, so you’d become an interior decorator.
You could cut hair or be a driving instructor.
The list is endless.
There are even jobs that you may never have heard about.
The choice is yours.
You just choose whatever you want to be and do your best to become that.
I could go on forever . . . you could work in a library.
You could be a factory worker or a fisherman.
You could make clothes or build bridges.
You could wash windows or be a bricklayer.
The possibilities are endless.
fancy:
1
fancy hotels, restaurants, cars etc are expensive and fashionable
ￚsynonym swankyHarry took me to a fancy restaurant for our anniversary. fancy prices British English (=very high and often unreasonable prices)
2
having a lot of decoration or bright colours, or made in a complicated way
fancy soaps in seashell shapes I just want a basic sports coat – nothing fancy .
3
complicated and needing a lot of skill
ￚopposite straightforwardI can’t do all that fancy stuff on the computer.Negotiating a deal can take some fancy footwork (=skill at making deals) .
4
[only before noun] American English fancy food is of a high quality
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take
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janitor:
especially American English someone whose job is to look after a school or other large building
British Equivalent: caretaker
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organist:
someone who plays the organ
a church organist
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construction
▶BUILDING SOMETHING◀
[uncountable] the process of building things such as houses, bridges, roads etc
construction of
the construction of a new airport
under construction
(=being built) The hotel is currently under construction.
a road construction project construction workers
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crew:
a group of people working together with special skills
a TV camera crew
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I have been having trouble seeing the blackboard.
Everything is blurry.
I keep getting headaches.
I told my mother about it, and she made an appointment with the optometrist.
I went to a place where they made me read words and letters on a chart.
Some of the words were big, and some were very small.
I tried to read everything, but sometimes I couldn’t see some of the small letters.
The optometrist would cover one of my eyes while I read the chart.
Then, she would cover my other eye.
She even put some drops in my eyes.
I asked the optometrist if I had passed or failed the test.
She laughed, and said that it wasn’t the kind of test that you passed or failed.
She was just trying to find out if I needed glasses.
I did need glasses.
My mother and I looked around.
There were many pairs of frames.
I wanted something that was in style.
I tried on many pairs of frames.
Some of them looked good on me, and some of them looked really funny on me.
I finally chose a frame that was my favorite.
I gave them to a lady who did some measurements.
She told me to come back on Friday to get my glasses.
On Friday, I got my glasses.
My friends liked them.
They said I looked smart in my glasses.
I wore them to school on Monday, and I was able to see the blackboard clearly.
I didn’t realize how much I hadn’t been able to see.
Now I don’t get headaches anymore.
I’m glad that I have my glasses.
Everything is a lot clearer now.
someone who tests people’s eyes and orders glasses for them
British Equivalent: optician
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make:
▶DO◀
[transitive] used with some nouns to say that someone does something
Anyone can make a mistake. I can’t make a decision just yet. I need to make a quick phone call. You could have made more effort to talk to him. He made no attempt to apologize. Could I make a suggestion? There are a few points I’d like to make. The police were called but no arrests were made. I suppose we should make a start on cleaning this room. Stop making such a fuss!
My mother says that I am clumsy.
My father says that I am clumsy.
I know that I am clumsy.
I do things all the time that are clumsy.
I fall down for no reason at all.
If there is a crack in the sidewalk, I will be sure to trip on it and fall down.
If I carry a plate of food in the cafeteria, I almost always either drop it or bump into someone with it.
I don’t try to do these things, it just happens.
When I drink juice, I miss my mouth and get juice all over my shirt.
I always have something spilled on my clothes.
Last week I opened a jar of peanut butter.
The jar flew out of my hands and landed upside down on the floor.
There was a big glob of peanut butter on the floor.
Yesterday I knocked over the sugar bowl.
There was a big sticky mess on the floor.
I bump my head when I get into the car.
I rip my pants on things.
I lose my money out of my pockets.
I step on the cat’s tail.
I always feel bad when I do that because the cat thinks I don’t love her.
I don’t mean to do these things.
I am just a clumsy person.
My parents tell me to slow down.
I am always in a hurry; maybe that’s why I’m so clumsy.
Maybe it’s just a stage that I am going through.
If it is, I hope it is over soon.
Being clumsy is no fun at all.
Clumsy:
awkward and ungraceful in movement or action; without skill or grace: He’s too clumsy to be a good dancer. | You clumsy oaf ! You’ve knocked over my coffee!
trip on
▶FALL◀
also trip up (phrasal verb)
also trip over
[intransitive]to hit something with your foot by accident so that you fall or almost fall
ￚsynonym stumble
*He tripped and fell . trip over
Clary tripped over a cable and broke his foot. trip on
He tripped on the bottom step.
trip up (phrasal verb)
to hit something with your foot so that you fall, or to make someone do this
trip somebody ↔ up
He chased the thief, tripped him up, and grabbed the camera.
glob noun
a small amount of something soft or liquid that has a round shape
ￚsynonym dollop
*globs of paint
mess:
▶DIRTY/UNTIDY◀
[singular, uncountable]if there is a mess somewhere or a place is a mess, things there are dirty or not neatly arranged
What a mess!Sorry – the place is a bit of a mess .When I got home, the house was a complete mess .
in a mess
British English The burglars left the house in an awful mess.
You can make cookies if you promise not to make a mess in the kitchen. clear/clean up the mess Whoever is responsible for this mess can clear it up immediately!She hates mess.
rip:
to tear something or be torn quickly and violently
Her clothes had all been ripped. The sails ripped under the force of the wind. Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open .
he buttons had been ripped off.
I remember the first time that my parents left me home alone.
I was very grown up, and I thought that I would be just fine.
I was fine for a while.
I watched television and had something to eat.
I called my friend on the phone, and we talked for a while.
Then, I sat down to read a book.
The house was quiet, very quiet.
I found myself listening very carefully.
I heard a tap, tap tapping noise.
I wondered where it was coming from.
It seemed to be coming from the window.
I turned out the lights so that nobody would see me, and I peeked out the window carefully.
I was expecting to see a robber tapping at my window.
There was nobody there.
It was just a tree branch sway ing in the breeze and tapping at my window.
I felt silly.
I turned on the lights and sat back down to read my book.
A few minutes later, I heard some creaking noises.
I listened carefully.
Then, I heard a clunking noise.
I think it might have been the furnace.
Then there was a whirring noise.
My imagination began to play tricks on me.
I was imagining that there were all kinds of creatures in the house.
I told myself to grow up.
I wouldn’t let my imagination run away with me.
I was glad when my parents got home.
I told them about all the noises that I had heard.
My parents laughed and said that all houses make noises.
We’re usually just so busy that we don’t hear all the noises that go on.
I have stayed home alone many times now.
I just ignore all the little creaks and noises that I hear.
I am still alert and listen for anything suspicious, but I know that
there are lots of noises that are harmless.
That tree that taps on my window still frightens me sometimes, but I’m a lot braver now
than I was the first time that I stayed home alone.
grown up:
fully developed as an adult
Before you know it, the children will be grown-up and leaving home.
*I’ve got two grown-up sons.
* I need you to think like a grown up now.
find:
▶DO SOMETHING WITHOUT MEANING TO◀
to be in a particular state or do a particular thing, or to realize that this is happening, especially when you did not expect or intend it
After wandering around, we found ourselves back at the hotel. find yourself/your mind etc doing something When he left, Karen found herself heaving a huge sigh of relief.She tried to concentrate, but found her mind drifting back to Alex.
find (that)
He found he was shivering.
tap:
hit sound
tap:
to hit your fingers lightly on something, for example to get someone’s attention
tap somebody on the shoulder/arm/chest etc He turned as someone tapped him on the shoulder.
tap on
I went up and tapped on the window.
tap something on/against/from etc something
Mark tapped his fingers on the tabletop impatiently.She tapped ash from her cigarette.
robber:
someone who steals money or property
ￚsee also thief, burglar
*Armed robbers broke into the shop and demanded money from the till.
*a bank robber
sway:
to move slowly from one side to another
*The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
*the boat swayed and tipped
clunk:
a loud sound made when two solid objects hit each other
the clunk of the car door being shut
ￚclunk verb [intransitive and transitive]
furnace:
1
a large container for a very hot fire, used to produce power, heat, or liquid metal
2
a piece of equipment used to heat a building
whirr whir / wɜː $ wɜːr /
past tense and past participle whirred present participle whirring
[intransitive]
to make a fairly quiet regular sound, like the sound of a bird or insect moving its wings very fast
Helicopters whirred overhead.
ￚwhirr noun [countable usually singular] the whirr of an electric motor
What does the word “family” mean to you? The easiest way to define family is to talk about who you are related to. Usually, there is a mom and a dad and children who are brothers and sisters. This would be the “core” family. Then there is the “extended” family which would include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and in-laws (people married to your bothers or sisters, husband or wife).
However, I think the word “family” has a much deeper meaning. The word “family” brings words to my mind like: love, support, help, kindness, fun, love, trips, closeness, love, forgiving, sharing, love, understanding, respect and love!
You’ll notice one word that is repeated over and over again. LOVE. I believe if a family has real love for one another, they will be able to overcome any problems they may have. Actually, they may not have too many problems if they all love and respect one another. However, there are things that cannot be helped; like death, sickness or accidents. It is during those hard times that a family’s love helps them to go through those experiences.
We had quite a few children in my family. There were brothers and sisters which included an adopted brother and a number of foster children, too. I was also very fortunate that I had both my mom and dad to live with and do things like vacations together. We had a lot of fun and there were some times of tears, too. Above all, we love one another! Family is a wonderful thing! I am so lucky!
core:
▶MOST IMPORTANT PART◀
the most important or central part of something
core of
The core of the book focuses on the period between 1660 and 1857. Debt is at the core of the problem.
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adopted:
an adopted child has been legally made part of a family that he or she was not born into
his adopted son
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foster:
to take someone else’s child into your family for a period of time but without becoming their legal parent
ￚsee also adopt The couple wanted to adopt a black child they had been fostering.
My first “real” job was during my last year of high school. I had taken classes in various business subjects. In that last year of high school, we could do a “co-op”. That meant we could work part of the time instead of going to school. It would count as a credit towards our diploma.
The place I got a job was at a men’s tailor shop. The owners were a very nice older German couple. They had two other men working for them, too. One of the men had had brain surgery for cancer. He had a big, long scar all around the top of his head. He told me all about it. He was always happy and full of fun. I thought he was very brave!
The tailor shop made suits to order. One of the salesmen would measure the man, and the customer would choose a fabric and style he (or his wife!) liked. The people in the back of the shop would then cut and sew the suit.
The suits cost a lot of money. There were also suits already made that the customer could buy instead if they wished. They could also rent suits or tuxedosfor weddings or parties.
I worked at a little desk. I answered the phone, wrote letters, filed papers and did some bookkeeping. It was about a mile walk from my school to work. I passed many clothing shops. That wasn’t good because I spent a lot of the money that I earned in those shops! I worked at the tailor shop for almost a year. It was a good experience and helped me get my next job with the United States Navy. That was fun, too!
tailor:
someone whose job is to make men’s clothes, that are measured to fit each customer perfectly
ￚsee also dressmaker
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scar:
▶MARK ON SKIN◀
a permanent mark that is left on your skin after you have had a cut or wound
He had a long, curved scar on his right cheek. a deep cut that could leave a permanent scar
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fabric:
cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc
ￚsynonym material
our new range of fabrics and wallpapers cotton/silk/synthetic etc fabric printed cotton fabric
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suit:
▶CLOTHES◀
a set of clothes made of the same material, usually including a jacket with trousers or a skirt
a grey light-weight suit a business suit a tweed suit She was wearing a black trouser suit.
ￚsee also morning suit
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tuxedos
1
a man’s jacket that is usually black, worn on formal occasions
2
a man’s suit that includes this type of jacket
Today I am going to my friend’s house. Her name is Valerie. This is going to be my first trip away from home, without my parents. My dad is driving me to Valerie’s house, and I’ll be staying there for two weeks. Her mom will drive me back home. It takes about l l/2 hours to get there. I have to pack enough clothes for play, work and church. I hope I’ll pack the right things. Of course, I have to remember my toothbrush and hairbrush. Valerie lives on a farm. I’ll be helping her dad with milking the cows–I think! We’ll play up in the hayloft after we have helped put the bales into the barn. We’ll be all itchy when that job is done! There are a lot of things to do on a farm. Her mom is a good cook and will feed us well! There is a nice pond where we can go swimming. I mustn’t forget my bathing suit. I wonder if the farm dog comes into the pond, too. That would be funny!
My dad and mom are giving me money just in case we go shopping. I hope we do go shopping because I want to buy lots of candy. (I won’t tell my mom that!) Oh, dear! I hear Dad yelling, “Let’s go!” I haven’t even finished packing my things yet. I guess I better stop writing this now and get busy fast! Bye!
hayloft:
the top part of a farm building where hay is stored
bale:
a large quantity of something such as paper or hay that is tightly tied together especially into a block
*a bale of straw
*bales of old newspapers
*two bales of cotton
pond:
a small area of fresh water that is smaller than a lake, that is either natural or artificially made
I work at a conservation park called Ball’s Falls. I’ve only worked there for three weeks now. I am a Tour Guide, and I tell people the history of all the old buildings there.
Somebody told me that one of the houses I work in is haunted. Now I get chills every time I walk into that house! My boss told me that the stories aren’t real, but I have an active imagination!
Ball’s Falls is very beautiful. It has two different water falls, the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. There used to be tons of water cascading over them, which turned a big water wheel to grind grain. However, through the years the amount of water has really lessened.
I love working at Ball’s Falls because I get to work outside a lot. I am getting a tan! In July and August, I will be working with kids there at a day camp. I am getting ready now, making different crafts and thinking up fun new games to play. I can’t wait to start working with them. I think that will be the best part of the summer.
I will be going to work again tomorrow. I usually have to work from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I also like the people I work with. They are very nice.
Come to Ball’s Falls, and I’ll give you a tour!
conservation:
the protection of natural things such as animals, plants, forests etc, to prevent them being spoiled or destroyed
ￚsynonym preservation
ￚsee also conservewildlife conservationa local conservation group
conservation of
conservation of the countryside
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haunted:
a haunted building is believed to be visited regularly by the soul of a dead person
a haunted house
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chill
1
[singular]a feeling of coldness
There was a slight chill in the air . morning/autumnal/January etc chill Suddenly aware of the morning chill, she closed the window.
chill of
He sat in the chill of the evening, staring out over the city below.
I turned on the heater in the hall to take the chill off the house (=to heat it slightly) .
2
[countable]a sudden feeling of fear or worry, especially because of something cruel or violent
The sound of his dark laugh sent a chill through her. chill of fear/apprehension/disquiet etc Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter.There was something in his tone that sent a chill down Melissa’s spine (=made her very frightened) .
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cascading:
to flow, fall, or hang down in large quantities
Her thick black hair cascaded down below her waist. Gallons of water cascaded over the side of the bath.
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grind:
▶INTO SMALL PIECES◀
[transitive]
a) also grind up
to break something such as corn or coffee beans into small pieces or powder, either in a machine or between two hard surfaces
freshly ground pepper
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grain:
▶FOOD◀
a) [uncountable] the seeds of crops such as corn, wheat, or rice that are gathered for use as food, or these crops themselves
big sacks of grain Last year’s grain harvest was the biggest ever.
b) [countable] a single seed of corn, wheat etc
grains of rice
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tan:
the attractive brown colour that someone with pale skin gets after they have been in the sun
ￚsynonym suntan
*I wish I could get a tan like that.
Let’s see. Today I might go fly a kite, or maybe go for a swim. It is hot outside, and I don’t know what to do. My mom tells me that I should do something that I like doing on hot days. Since our house is nice and cool, I guess I’ll stay inside and work on my hobby.
My hobby is something that not a lot of people do. I make and collect bookmarks.
To make my bookmarks, I use stickers, and special art pencils to draw. I buy the stickers at a mall, usually in a card store. The art pencils are bought in an art store. To make the bookmarks, I start with a piece of paper. I measure out how big I want the bookmark to be with a ruler. I once made a bookmark so big, that it couldn’t even be used in a very big book! After I measure it, I draw lines so that I can cut it straight. Sometimes, I use fancy scissors that cut zig-zags or frills. Then I start to decorate them.
I like to draw cartoons and flowers on my bookmarks. Sometimes, I even put real flowers on them. A lot of the time I write little sayings on the bookmarks. I like to give my bookmarks to friends and family. Sometimes, I even sell my bookmarks to people.
I like my hobby. I can draw whatever I want on the bookmarks. Maybe sometime in the future I will be a famous bookmark maker and even have my own store!
bookmark:
a piece of paper, leather etc that you put in a book to show you the last page you have read
frill:
a narrow piece of cloth that has many small folds in it, and that is attached to something as a decoration
She was wearing a white blouse with frills at the cuffs.
If I had a million dollars, I’d travel the world. I would go to the highest mountain. I would swim the deepest sea. I would probably buy a lot of clothes because I love clothes! More than anything though, I would want to visit Ireland.
I want to see the rolling hills and the green, green grass that everyone talks about. When I think of Ireland, I think of where my family came from many years ago. I am almost all Irish and would love to see my family over in Ireland.
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a Mustang or a Pontiac Sunbird car. I would buy a nice house with a big backyard and an outdoor and indoor pool. I would love to take my family wherever they wanted to go. I would buy them wonderful presents, too.However, I know that money does not buy happiness. It does not buy you friends or family. It may bring some happiness only for the moment, but in the long run your family is what will be there for you if you love them and are there for them.
If I had to pick between a million dollars and my family, I would pick my family. The million dollars is a nice dream. If that dream ever comes true and I do get a lot of money, I hope I would use it wisely.
What a great day for a picnic! We’re not only having a picnic; we’re having a big bike ride, too. We did this last year with a lot of friends also. It was really fun.
We meet quite early in the morning in a pretty little town. The town is where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario in Canada. The town’s name is Niagara-on-the-Lake. Then all of the people, fifty or more, get on their bikes or roller blades. We go on a bike path beside the river. The path we take is about 11 km or 6 miles long. There are a lot of other people using the path, too.
We usually stop for an ice cream treat near the end or where we turn around to go back to our cars. It is just before the park where we will have our picnic, and a steep hill. Many of the men and boys go up the hill. Most of the women and children go back to their cars.
The ride takes about two hours plus whatever time we take at the ice cream store.
After the ride is finished, we go the park. We have a delicious “pot-luck” lunch. Pot luck means everyone brings some food to share with the others. We eat, rest, talk and laugh.
After we’ve cleaned up, some of us climb the tower that is there remembering a war at that place and its general. It is a steep climb, over l00 steps. We usually end the day with a fun game of baseball or soccer.
Finally, we pack up our stuff. Tired and dirty, we head for home with good memories swimming in our heads.
steep:
a road, hill etc that is steep slopes at a high angle
The road became rocky and steep. a steep climb to the top
I live in a house that has a small yard around it. In my yard there is a lawn and a garden.
There is also a sidewalk that leads to my front door, and a driveway that leads to my garage.Throughout the year I work to maintain my yard.
During the summer, I cut the grass that grows in my yard, using a lawn-mower. I like the smell of the grass when it has just been cut. But it’s better not to cut the grass too short.
When the weather is dry, I also put water on the lawn and garden, so that the grass and flowers can grow.
During the autumn, many leaves fall from the trees in my yard. I use a rake to collect the leaves from the lawn. Then I can put the leaves into bags. I can use the leaves to make fertilizer. When I was a kid, I didn’t like the job of raking leaves, but now I don’t mind it.
Another job during the autumn is to remove flowers from the garden before the cold weather arrives.
During the winter, there is no work to do in the lawn or garden, because they are covered in snow. But I need to keep the snow off my sidewalk and driveway. Whenever it snows, I use a shovel to clear the snow from the sidewalk and the driveway. Sometimes it snows a lot. If I didn’t shovel the snow, it would soon be impossible to get into my house!
During the spring, the snow melts. I clean up my yard by sweeping away dirt and by removing weeds from the lawn and garden. I also put flowers back into the garden. It’s nice to see them again after the long, cold winter. When spring comes, the grass grows very quickly, so I need to cut the grass quite often.
Working in the yard can be very satisfying work. It’s so nice when the lawn and garden are looking green and healthy.
Throughout:
during all of a particular period, from the beginning to the end
*We are open every weekend throughout the year.
*He was involved in politics throughout his life.
*The debate continued, but Meredith remained silent throughout.
maintain:
▶LOOK AFTER SOMETHING◀
to keep a machine, building etc in good condition by checking and repairing it regularly
The report found that safety equipment had been very poorly maintained.
The company is responsible for maintaining public telephone boxes.
“Yawn!” I am so tired. I don’t like getting up in the morning. I wish I could sleep in until noon.
My mom has to come into my room and shake my feet. “Get up, you lazy girl!” she says, “It’s time to rise and shine. It’s a beautiful day!”
I raise my head, mumble and turn over, putting my pillow over my head. My mom yanks my pillow from off my head and starts tickling me. “Okay, I’ll get up!” I shriek. The sun is so bright that I squint. I think I will go outside and play. I can’t wait to get up now. My mom cooks me breakfast. I have eggs, bacon, toast and orange juice.When I finish my breakfast. I brush my teeth, comb my hair, wash my face and then change into play clothes. I choose a bright pink and yellow tank top with jean shorts and blue sandals.
My bike is in the garage where my dad keeps the cars and tools. As I pedal, my hair flies out behind me! I keep my mouth shut so that bugs don’t get in! I am going down a big hill now. I can hardly pedal anymore. My legs are moving so fast. I hang onto my handle bars tightly. I don’t want to fall off!
I finally am able to slow down as the road becomes level. I turn a corner and decide to go back home. I realize I now have to ride up the hill! I know I will be tired when I get to the top. I think that I will have some water now before I start to go up. Mmmm, it tastes great! It is so clean and cold.
Well, I know that I have a big trip ahead of me, so I need to get going!
Bye-bye!
mumble:
to say something too quietly or not clearly enough, so that other people cannot understand you
ￚsee also mutter He bumped into someone and mumbled an apology. Stop mumbling!
mumble to yourself
A woman on the corner was mumbling to herself.
ￚmumble noun [countable]
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yank:
informal to suddenly pull something quickly and with force
yank something out/back/open etc
One of the men grabbed Tom’s hair and yanked his head back. Nick yanked the door open.
yank on/at
With both hands she yanked at the necklace.
ￚyank noun [countable] He gave the rope a yank .
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shriek:
[intransitive]to make a very high loud sound, especially because you are afraid, angry, excited, or in pain
ￚsynonym screamThey were dragged from their homes, shrieking and weeping.He shrieked in agony.
shriek with
A group of students were shrieking with laughter.
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squint:
to look at something with your eyes partly closed in order to see better
Anna squinted in the sudden bright sunlight.
squint at
Stop squinting at the screen – put your glasses on.
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to say something too quietly or not clearly enough, so that other people cannot understand you
ￚsee also mutter He bumped into someone and mumbled an apology. Stop mumbling!
mumble to yourself
A woman on the corner was mumbling to herself.
ￚmumble noun [countable]
We went into the church and sat down. There were pretty flowers at the front. There was beautiful organ music playing. The church was full of people dressed up nicely. Everyone was waiting to see the beautiful bride walk up the aisle.
A hush, and intake of breath. There she was! Oh, she was so beautiful! She had a lovely, long white dress with pretty lace and beads. Her hair was swept up off from her face.
There were curls flowing down her back. Instead of a veil, she had little flowers in her hair. Her bouquet of tiny flowers was very, very pretty. Her dad looked very proud of her. He looked just a little sad, too.
At the front of the church, the groom stood waiting. He had a beautiful tender smile on his face. He took his bride’s hand as her dad left her there. They smiled at each other.
The minister read, prayed and offered some words of advice to the lovely couple.
Someone sang a pretty song. The groom slipped the simple wedding band on the bride’s finger. She struggled a little to put a band on his finger. Pretty soon theminister said they were now husband and wife. They kissed. We all stood, and they walked down the aisle to live the rest of their lives together as Mr. And Mrs.!
We cried.
hush:
a period of silence, especially when people are expecting something to happen
A sudden hush fell over the crowd.
intake of breath:
a sudden act of breathing in, especially when you are shocked
a sharp intake of breath
lace:
a fine cloth made with patterns of many very small holes
a handkerchief trimmed with lace lace curtains
sweep:
▶HAIR◀
to pull your hair back from your face
sweep something back/up
*Kerry swept her hair back into a ponytail.
tender:
▶GENTLE◀
gentle and careful in a way that shows love
Her voice was tender and soft. a slow, tender kiss
minister:
a priest in some Christian churches
ￚsee also pastor, vicara Baptist minister
There is a place in my mind that is pure. Everything there is beautiful. Many flowers grow, and the grass is very green. The clouds are always white and fluffy. The tree’s branches sweep the earth floor.
You can hear the sound of a waterfall. It is roaring with life, and the water races. A bird calls in the distance and as you listen, the sound gets closer. A flapping quite near makes me turn and look. A great, magnificent eagle flies over my head. The strength I see in his powerful wings amazes me!
I am never thirsty or hungry. I live off the beauty that surrounds me in this perfect place.
I walk on trails that lead me to breath-taking places. The beach is my favourite spot to end up. The sand between my toes is soft and cool. I love to lie down on the sand. I watch the sun go down. Sometimes the sun is a brilliant orange. The world seems like it is on fire! Waves lull me to sleep. The seagulls wake me up.
In this perfect place I have learned so much. The animals and their homes are so precious. I have learned to respect the animals; they were here first.
The sounds, smells, and sights are too perfect and full of life. There is no war here, no anger or stress. I don’t have to worry about pollution or destruction.
My perfect world exists only in my head. Maybe if we all work hard, my fantasy can become real!
fluffy:
fluffy clouds look light and soft
Lul:
to make someone feel calm or as if they want to sleep
The hum of the tyres on the road lulled her to sleep.
destruction:
the act or process of destroying something or of being destroyed
ￚsee also destroy
destruction of
the destruction of the rainforest
*weapons of mass destruction
*the environmental destruction caused by the road building programme
*The floods brought death and destruction to the area.
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fantasy:
an exciting and unusual experience or situation you imagine happening to you, but which will probably never happen
*I used to have fantasies about living in Paris with an artist.
*Young children sometimes can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.
*He lived in a fantasy world of his own, even as a small boy.
Another Source
1 imagination, esp. when unlimited or allowed complete freedom
2 [C;U] something produced from free imagination, whether expressed in words or not: The whole story is a fantasy. | He lives in a world of fantasy.
There is a place in my mind that is pure. Everything there is beautiful. Many flowers grow, and the grass is very green. The clouds are always white and fluffy. The tree’s branches sweep the earth floor.
You can hear the sound of a waterfall. It is roaring with life, and the water races. A bird calls in the distance and as you listen, the sound gets closer. A flapping quite near makes me turn and look. A great, magnificent eagle flies over my head. The strength I see in his powerful wings amazes me!
I am never thirsty or hungry. I live off the beauty that surrounds me in this perfect place.
I walk on trails that lead me to breath-taking places. The beach is my favourite spot to end up. The sand between my toes is soft and cool. I love to lie down on the sand. I watch the sun go down. Sometimes the sun is a brilliant orange. The world seems like it is on fire! Waves lull me to sleep. The seagulls wake me up.
In this perfect place I have learned so much. The animals and their homes are so precious. I have learned to respect the animals; they were here first.
The sounds, smells, and sights are too perfect and full of life. There is no war here, no anger or stress. I don’t have to worry about pollution or destruction.
My perfect world exists only in my head. Maybe if we all work hard, my fantasy can become real!
fluffy:
fluffy clouds look light and soft
Lul:
to make someone feel calm or as if they want to sleep
The hum of the tyres on the road lulled her to sleep.
destruction:
the act or process of destroying something or of being destroyed
ￚsee also destroy
destruction of
the destruction of the rainforest
*weapons of mass destruction
*the environmental destruction caused by the road building programme
*The floods brought death and destruction to the area.
_____________________
fantasy:
an exciting and unusual experience or situation you imagine happening to you, but which will probably never happen
*I used to have fantasies about living in Paris with an artist.
*Young children sometimes can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.
*He lived in a fantasy world of his own, even as a small boy.
Another Source
1 imagination, esp. when unlimited or allowed complete freedom
2 [C;U] something produced from free imagination, whether expressed in words or not: The whole story is a fantasy. | He lives in a world of fantasy.
There is a place in my mind that is pure. Everything there is beautiful. Many flowers grow, and the grass is very green. The clouds are always white and fluffy. The tree’s branches sweep the earth floor.
You can hear the sound of a waterfall. It is roaring with life, and the water races. A bird calls in the distance and as you listen, the sound gets closer. A flapping quite near makes me turn and look. A great, magnificent eagle flies over my head. The strength I see in his powerful wings amazes me!
I am never thirsty or hungry. I live off the beauty that surrounds me in this perfect place.
I walk on trails that lead me to breath-taking places. The beach is my favourite spot to end up. The sand between my toes is soft and cool. I love to lie down on the sand. I watch the sun go down. Sometimes the sun is a brilliant orange. The world seems like it is on fire! Waves lull me to sleep. The seagulls wake me up.
In this perfect place I have learned so much. The animals and their homes are so precious. I have learned to respect the animals; they were here first.
The sounds, smells, and sights are too perfect and full of life. There is no war here, no anger or stress. I don’t have to worry about pollution or destruction.
My perfect world exists only in my head. Maybe if we all work hard, my fantasy can become real! fluffy:
fluffy clouds look light and soft Lul: to make someone feel calm or as if they want to sleep
The hum of the tyres on the road lulled her to sleep. destruction: the act or process of destroying something or of being destroyed
ￚsee also destroy
destruction of
the destruction of the rainforest
*weapons of mass destruction *the environmental destruction caused by the road building programme
*The floods brought death and destruction to the area.
_____________________ fantasy:
an exciting and unusual experience or situation you imagine happening to you, but which will probably never happen
*I used to have fantasies about living in Paris with an artist. *Young children sometimes can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.
*He lived in a fantasy world of his own, even as a small boy.
Another Source 1 imagination, esp. when unlimited or allowed complete freedom
2 [C;U] something produced from free imagination, whether expressed in words or not: The whole story is a fantasy. | He lives in a world of fantasy.
