The Fear Place

Key VocabularyHoughton Mifflin Reading

Theme 2 – Give It All You’ve Got

From © Brent Coley 2008 | www.mrcoley.com. Modified by P. HOLT January 2013

See if you can correctly

define the following

vocabulary words.

If necessary, use the context clues from the

sample sentences to

help you.

adventure

adventureSample Sentence:

It will be an adventure to travel

to the Canadian rainforest.

cautious

cautiousSample Sentence:You should always be cautious when

you cross the street.

cautiousDefinition:

adj. Careful; not taking chances

concentrate

concentrateSample Sentence:

I couldn’t concentrate on my homework because of all the

loud noise outside.

concentrateDefinition:

v. To give your full attention to something

discomfort

discomfortSample Sentence:

John felt discomfort whenever he had to

get up in front of the class and talk.

discomfortDefinition:

n. A feeling of uneasiness or

distress; not being comfortable

dismayed

dismayedSample Sentence:She was dismayed when she realized

she lost her car keys.

dismayedDefinition:

adj. Troubled or distressed; full of

concern

excitement

excitementSample Sentence:The president’s arrival caused

much excitement in the small town.

excitementDefinition:

n. A stirred-up feeling; a state of increased activity

immobile

immobileSample Sentence:Four flat tires and an empty gas tank

left the car immobile.

immobileDefinition:

adj. Unable to move; fixed in one

place

stamina

staminaSample Sentence:After months of

training, Bill finally had the stamina to

run a marathon.

staminaDefinition:

n. The strength to not get tired

quickly

terrified

terrifiedSample Sentence:

Marcus was terrified when he

saw the rattlesnake on the path.

terrifiedDefinition:adj. Very

frightened; filled with overpowering

fear

unsure

unsureSample Sentence:

Due to the cold weather, we were

unsure about going on the picnic.

unsureDefinition:

adj. Not certain; having doubts