SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS

▼ Introduction ..................... 4
UNIT 1 Preview ............................. 5
LESSON
1 Unit 1 Glossary ....................... 6
2 How Does Sunlight
Produce Vitamin D? ............. 9
3 Waves, Surf, Seas,
and Swells: What’s the
Difference? ........................... 12
4 Some Surprising Facts
About Bones ........................ 15
5 Science in the News: A Very
Long-Term Experiment ..... 18
6 Have You Ever Seen a
Sun Dog? .............................. 21
7 Science in the News: The
Dangers of Mercury ........... 24

▼ Unit 1 Review ........................ 27
UNIT 2 Preview ........................... 30
LESSON
1 Unit 2 Glossary ..................... 31
2 What’s a Hertz? ................... 34
3 What Causes
Precipitation? ...................... 37
4 Try It Yourself: Make a
Standing Wave .................... 40
5 Carbon: A Common
Element ................................ 43
6 In Pursuit of Knowledge:
The Scientific Method ....... 46
7 Science in the News: Rewriting
the Record Books ................ 49

▼ Unit 2 Review ........................ 52
CONTENTS
UNIT 3 Preview ........................... 55
LESSON
1 Unit 3 Glossary ..................... 56
2 Today’s Weather Forecast:
A National Overview ......... 59
3 Try It Yourself: Making
Mold ...................................... 62
4 Two Kinds of Research:
Basic and Applied ............... 65
5 How Does a Radio Work? .. 68
6 The Amazing Rhino ............ 71
7 Science in the News:
Avoiding Potholes on the
Information Highway ........ 74

▼ Unit 3 Review ........................ 77
UNIT 4 Preview ........................... 80
LESSON
1 Unit 4 Glossary ..................... 81
2 Rabbits and Hares: What’s
the Difference? .................... 84
3 Animal Intelligence ........... 87
4 Why Are Deserts Dry? ....... 90
5 Q&A Sites on the
Internet ................................ 93
6 Science in the News:
Monitoring Vesuvius ........... 96
7 Noise Pollution: How Loud
Is Too Loud? ........................ 99

▼ Unit 4 Review ...................... 102
▼ End-of-Book Test ......... 105
▼ Word List ...................... 109
4
Welcome to VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT!

INTRODUCTION
5
UNIT 1
PREVIEW
Here’s an introduction to the vocabulary terms, skills, and concepts you will study in
this unit. Answers are upside down on the bottom of the page.
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false.
1. _____ The words molecule and atom are synonyms.
2. _____ Hexagon is the noun form of hexagonal.
3. _____ Cirrus clouds are dark and dense.
4. _____ Botanists are scientists who study a type of food poisoning
called botulism.
5. _____ The words pollute and sterilize are antonyms.
6. _____ The prefix -al turns the word digit into digital.
7. _____ The Greek root therm means “heat.”
8. _____ Dynamic is the adjective form of the noun dynamics.
9. _____ The plural form of bacterium is bacteriums.
10. _____ The suffix -ion can be used to turn a verb into a noun.

SPELLING
Circle the correctly spelled word in each group.
1. vertabrate virtabrate vertebrate
2. professor proffessor perfesser
3. germanate germinate germenate

ANSWERS: 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. F 7. T 8. T 9. F 10. T
SPELLING: 1. vertebrate 2. professor 3. germinate

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS

6
GLOSSARY

A glossary is an alphabetical list of unusual or specialized words from a certain field of knowledge. Following are some important scientific and technical words that all educated people should know.
atmosphere the air (made of gases, fine dust, and water vapor) that surrounds the Earth
atoms tiny parts into which all things on Earth can be broken down
bacteria simple, one-celled organisms that are visible only through a microscope
bit the smallest unit of information used by a computer; represented by a 0 or a 1
byte a string of eight bits standing for a single character
carbohydrates sugars and starches in food that give people energy
chemistry the scientific study of what substances are made of and how they can change when combined with other substances
climate a region’s average weather over many years
crust the outer layer of the Earth
diskettes disks made of magnetic material and used to store data entered into a computer
ecology the study of how all living things depend on one another
erosion the wearing away of soil by wind and water
evolution changes in a species over time
food chain a group of organisms, each of which is dependent on another for food
fossils the remains of organisms that lived long ago
organisms living things.

WORDS IN CONTEXT
Complete each sentence with a word from the glossary. Use the other words in the sentence to help you decide which word to add. Check the dictionary definition if you’re still not sure.
1. The devastating Dust Bowl of the 1930s was caused by the widespread ____________________ of America’s farmland.

Lesson 1 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 1
2. Life science is the study of all the ____________________ on Earth.
3. Fruits, vegetables, and grains are all good sources of
____________________.
4. Some ____________________ are useful for making foods such as
cheese; other kinds can cause sickness and death.
5. There are two hydrogen ____________________ and one oxygen
____________________ in a water molecule.
6. Each ____________________ of information in a computer program
stands for a letter, number, or symbol.

SCRAMBLED WORDS
First unscramble the words from the glossary.Then solve the crossword puzzle with words that complete the sentences.
ALCTIME ____________________
ODFO ACHIN ____________________
COYLOGE ____________________
MYSTERCHI ____________________
STRUC ____________________
HERPOSTMAE ____________________

ACROSS
5. _____ is the study of what
matter is made of and how
it can change.
6. The continents and the
ocean floor are part of the
Earth’s _____.

DOWN
1. The _____ extends more
than 1,400 miles above
the Earth’s surface.
2. Each of the organisms in a
_____ (two words) eats one of
the other organisms.
3. The study of the relationship
between different populations in a
habitat is called _____.
4. A desert _____ is mostly hot and dry.

WORD FORMS
Add vowels (a, e, i, o, u) to complete a different form of a glossary word. Use context
clues for help. The first one has been done for you.
1. A b__c t__r__ __l infection can usually be treated with an antibiotic.
2. As weather __r__d__s rocks, salt from the rocks enters the soil.
3. __t__m__c energy is used to power some submarines.
4. Ch__m__s t s often conduct their experiments in laboratories.
5. Over time, organisms will f__s s__l__z__ if all the conditions are
right.
6. All of today’s plants and animals __v__lv__d from tiny one-celled
creatures.
7. Scientists call lightning an “__tm__sph__r__c disturbance.”

EXAMPLES
Circle an example of each boldface glossary item.
1. climate
mountainous overpopulated humid prosperous
2. carbohydrates
lettuce butter proteins potatoes
3. organisms
fleas glaciers chemicals instruments

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS Lesson 2

How Does Sunlight Produce Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a chemical that allows
your body to make use of an
important nutrient called calcium. Our
bodies make the Vitamin D we need
by “doing chemistry.”
Sunlight is a part of the chemical
reaction that makes Vitamin D. When
it’s in your skin, the ultraviolet energy
in sunshine snips up another chemical

that is already floating around in your
body. The new chemical formed is
called Vitamin D3. But your body can’t
make use of Vitamin D3 until a few
more chemical reactions occur. So the
D3 is carried to your liver, where the
atoms are rearranged to form a new
molecule. Then that chemical ends up
in your kidneys. There it is taken apart
again and put back together as
calcitrol. This is the Vitamin D your
stomach needs to absorb calcium.
Vitamin D is essential to everyone’s
nutrition. It helps young people grow
strong teeth and straight new bones.
It keeps older people’s bones from
getting brittle. Years ago, parents were
concerned about the lack of sunshine
in the dark winter months. They
worried that their children weren’t
getting enough Vitamin D. Today,
Vitamin D is added to almost all milk
that’s sold in the United States.

WORD SEARCH
1. What eight-letter word in the reading means
“the smallest particle of a substance that can
exist alone without losing its chemical form”? _____________________

2. What three organs of the human body are named in the reading?
___________________ ____________________ ____________________

3. What nine-letter word in the reading means
“food” or “nourishment”? ____________________

4. What two-syllable word in the reading means
“to attract and take in another substance”? ____________________


UNIT 1
10
WORD ROOTS
• The Latin roots vit and viv mean “life.” The word vitamin, for example, means “a
substance needed by the body for normal growth and health.” Read the list of
words containing vit or viv. Then write a letter to match each word with its meaning.
Use a dictionary if you need help.
1. _____ survive a. clear; bright; strong
2. _____ vital b. lively, spirited, energetic
3. _____ vivid c. to continue to live or exist
4. _____ vivacious d. necessary to life
5. _____ revival e. act of bringing back to life
• Now write sentences of your own, using the five boldface words above.
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
ANALOGIES
An analogy is a statement of relationship. It points out a likeness between things that
are otherwise unalike. Complete the following analogies with words from the reading.
1. Biology is to biologist as ______________________ is to chemist.
2. Adjust is to readjust as action is to ______________________.
3. Athlete is to athletic as ______________________ is to energetic.
4. Multiply is to multiplication as ______________________ is to
rearrangement.

11
RHYMING WORDS
Write words from the reading that rhyme with the words below.
FIRST PARAGRAPH:
1. plead ______________________ 3. shore _______________________
2. fizz ________________________ 4. break _______________________
SECOND PARAGRAPH:
1. voting ______________________ 3. drowned ____________________
2. heart ______________________ 4. buried ______________________
THIRD PARAGRAPH:
1. strung ______________________ 3. fluff ________________________
2. plate _______________________ 4. leaps _______________________
SYNONYMS
Complete the puzzle with words from the reading. Clue words are synonyms (words
with a similar meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
3. permits
5. offspring
6. created
7. named
DOWN
1. requires
2. important
4. happen

12
Lesson 3
All four terms refer to the
conditions of a large body of water’s
surface. The generic term wave refers
to the undulations of the water’s surface.
In their graceful rise and fall, waves
are a combination of sea and swell.
Swell results from the wind’s past
action on the water. It has a gentler,
more rolling action than that of a
wave. You can see swells in the open
water even when the current wind is
calm. The distance between successive
crests is called the wavelength.
Sea refers to the distinct features
of the wave—such as crests—caused
by wind blowing across the water’s
surface.

WORD SEARCH
1. What ten-letter noun in the
reading means “the surface
features of a region, including
hills, rivers, roads, etc.”? _____________________________
2. What ten-letter adjective in the
reading means “going in regular
order without a break”? _____________________________
Surf is the interaction of the waves
and the shoreline. It is influenced by
the height and energy of the waves.
The topography of the coast also
affects surf. A beach with a gentle,
offshore slope, for example, will have
small surf. A beach that drops off
sharply will have larger surf.
Waves, Surf, Seas, and Swells: What’s the Difference?
t
s
UNIT 1
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
13
WORDS AND MEANINGS
Use the clues to help you solve the crossword puzzle. Answers are words from the reading.
1
S W T
G
R F
C
I C
5 6
4
2 3
8
7
PREFIXES
• The prefix inter- means “between,” and the prefix off- means “away from.” Write a
word from the reading that begins with each prefix.
1. _______________________________ _______________________________
• Now replace each scrambled word in the sentences below with a new word that
begins with inter- or off-. The first one has been done for you.
2. Tom said the tree house is MILSTI ____________________ until he
repairs the floor.
3. That science fiction story is about TALCGAIC ____________________
warfare in outer space.
4. The actor waited GATES ___________________ until he heard his cue.
5. Route 66 is a well-known ETAST ____________________ highway.
ACROSS
2. colorless liquid found in
oceans
5. points toward; assigns
meaning to
7. tops or summits of waves
8. has an effect on
DOWN
1. the outside of something
3. words or phrases with
special meanings in
science, art, etc.
4. describes smooth, beautiful
ease of movement
6. qualities or characteristics
off-limits
14
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS
You read that the surface features of the coast affect surf. Are you clear about the
difference between the words effect and affect?
effect: the consequence or result of an action
EXAMPLE: The moon has an effect on the tides.
affect: to influence or produce an effect upon
EXAMPLE: Bright lights affect the eyes.
Write affect or effect to complete each sentence.
1. The store owner hoped his advertisement would have a good
____________________ on sales.
2. Our assignment was to write a paragraph about one cause and
one ____________________ of world hunger.
3. Why should you allow her bad mood to ____________________ the
way you feel?
4. If he studies a little harder, he can ____________________ a big
change in his grades.
COMPOUND WORDS
1. What compound word (one word made
by combining two or more words) is a
synonym of the word “beach”? ____________________________
2. The distance between cresting waves
is named by what compound word? _____________________________
WORD COMPLETION
Add vowels (a, e, i, o, u) to complete the words from the reading.
1. __nd__l__t__ __ns are curvy, wavy motions.
2. W__v__s are a combination of s__ __ and sw__l l.
3. Surf is influenced by the h__ __ght and __n__rgy of the waves.
15
Lesson 4
Some Surprising Facts About Bones
WORD SEARCH
1. What seven-letter noun in the reading
means “a group of plants or animals that
are alike in certain ways”? _______________________
2. What seven-letter adjective in the reading
means “active, energetic, vigorous”? _______________________
3. What seven-letter noun in the reading
describes the hardened remains of
ancient plants or animals? _______________________
s
d
f
UNIT 1
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
Many people think of the
skeleton as a symbol of death. But
each and every bone is a living
organ, full of dynamic vitality. In
fact, every square inch of your
skeleton is regenerated every
ten years. Some parts—the
spongy bones of the spine
and hip—renew themselves
much more often.
In a broader sense, human bone
is a key to understanding who we
are as a species. The bones of longdead
creatures that have turned to
fossils tell us much about life. Without
them, scientists would know very
little about the history of vertebrates
over the past 600 million years.
Living cells make up less than five
percent of your body’s bones—but they
are continually busy! At this very
moment, specialized cells in your
skeleton are chewing up old, wornout
bits of bone and putting fresh
new material in their place.
Meanwhile, these same busy
bones are turning out new blood
cells. And they’re making sure
that every part of your body
gets just the right amount of
calcium to keep it going. How do
your bones do this? They act as a
storage bank for calcium. In fact, 99
percent of the calcium in your body is
held in bone—ready for release into the
bloodstream as needed.
16
SYNONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each unscrambled word
next to its synonym (word with a similar meaning).
SELS _________________________ OMANUT _______________________
ADED ________________________ TRUERACES _____________________
SYBU ________________________ NETFO _________________________
RAPT _________________________ LIARMEAT ______________________
1. piece ______________________ 5. deceased ____________________
2. quantity ___________________ 6. frequently ___________________
3. fewer ______________________ 7. industrious __________________
4. beings _____________________ 8. substance ___________________
SENTENCE COMPLETION
Puzzle answers are words from the
reading that complete the sentences.
ACROSS
1. Every bone is a _____ organ.
5. A skeleton is often thought
to be a ____ of death.
6. Every bone is full of
dynamic _____.
7. Worn-out bits of bone are soon
replaced with _____ new material.
DOWN
1. Fossils are the remains of _____
dead creatures.
2. Fossils tell us about the history of _____.
3. The bones of the spine and hip have a _____ texture.
4. Bones release _____ into the bloodstream.
L V
S
C
S
V I
F
6
5
4
3
2
7
1
17
MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS
Some words have entirely different meanings when they’re used in different contexts.
Find a word in the reading that matches each pair of definitions below. Write the
words on the lines.
1. _____________________ •the basic unit of living matter (noun)
•small room in a jail or prison (noun)
2. _____________________ •correct or true (adjective)
•opposite direction of left (noun)
3. _____________________ •metal device that unlocks a door (noun)
•important or central idea (adjective)
4. _____________________ •to play a part in a show (verb)
•to function or do (verb)
UNDERSTANDING THE READING
1. What percentage of human bone is not made up of
living cells? _________________
2. Bones hold our bodies upright and protect our inner organs.
Describe two more jobs that bones do.
________________________________________________________________
3. Are the bones in a 40-year-old the same bones that were there when
that person was 25 years old? Explain why or why not.
________________________________________________________________
GREEK ROOTS
The Greek root gen means “birth.” Draw a line to match each word on the left with its
meaning on the right. Check a dictionary if you’re not sure!
1. generation a. children or offspring
2. genealogy b. to renew or give new life to
3. regenerate c. all the people born about the same time
4. progeny d. a family tree or list of ancestors
18
Lesson 5
Science in the News: A Very Long-Term Experiment
Seeds buried by a
botanist 121 years
ago have recently
bloomed into bright
yellow flowers.
In the late 1800s,
William Beal was
a botany professor
at Michigan State
University. In 1879, he devised an
experiment to determine how long
seed would continue to germinate. To
do this he put seeds of mullein plants
in 20 glass bottles and then buried
them on the campus.
Professor Beal directed that one
bottle should be unearthed every five
years. To extend the experiment, the
WORD SEARCH
1. What nine-letter noun means “a college or
university teacher of the highest rank”? _______________________
2. What eleven-letter compound word in the
reading means “glass buildings that can be
heated for growing plants”? _______________________
3. What ten-letter noun in the reading
means “a test to find out whether a theory
is correct”? _______________________
intervals were lengthened to every ten
and then every 20 years.
The fifteenth bottle was dug up on
an April day in the year 2000. The
1,050 seeds in the bottle were set out
in a growth chamber. Twenty-five
seedlings, nearly all of them mullein,
began to grow.
Put in greenhouses, the plants
soon started blooming. The bright
yellow flowers were described as
“beautiful” by botanists following
through with Professor Beal’s
experiment.
Five of William Beal’s bottles still
remain buried on the Michigan State
campus. The next one is scheduled to
be dug up in 2020.
p
g
e
UNIT 1
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
19
ANTONYMS
Use words from the reading to solve the crossword
puzzle. Clue words are antonyms (words that mean
the opposite) of the answer words.
ACROSS DOWN
2. unearthed 1. pale; dull
4. wither 3. long
5. terminate
6. earlier
SYNONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each word next to its
synonym (word with a similar meaning).
DISCBREED ___________________ RINWOLFEG _____________________
NEATIMERG ___________________ NEXTED _______________________
CRIEDEDT _____________________ EDSIVED _______________________
1. blooming ___________________ 4. ordered ____________________
2. invented ___________________ 5. lengthen ___________________
3. sprout ______________________ 6. characterized ________________
THINKING ABOUT THE READING
1. How many of the 1,050 seeds planted in the year
2000 did not grow? _______________
2. What’s the name of the branch of
science that studies plants and how
they grow? ___________________________
3. How many glass bottles of seeds have already
been dug up? _______________
B
B
S G
C N
L
6
5
3 4
2
1
20
SUFFIXES MEANING “one who”
In the reading, the suffix -ist changes the word botany (the science of plants) into botanist—
one who practices botany. But many other suffixes are also used to show “one who does,
practices, or works with” something. Complete the sentences with words that contain the
suffixes in the box. Check a dictionary if you need help. The first one has been done for you.
-ist -ian -ant -or -er -ar -ent
1. An _________________________ practices art.
2. A _________________________ is one who paints.
3. One who assists is an _________________________.
4. One who begs is a _________________________.
5. An _________________________ is one who edits.
6. One who resides is a _________________________.
7. One who practices magic is a _________________________.
8. An _________________________ is one who acts.
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. To come up with the missing word, you
must figure out the relationship between the first two words. Then complete each
analogy with a word from the reading.
1. Baby is to child as seed is to ______________________.
2. Sweet is to taste as ___________________________ is to color.
3. Disappear is to vanish as ___________________________ is to stay.
4. Hours are to minutes as ___________________________ are to months.
5. ___________________________ is to bottle as tin is to can.
6. Run is to ran as dig is to ___________________________.
7. Water is to fish as soil is to ___________________________.
artist
r
d
y
G
s
y
p
21
Lesson 6
Have You Ever Seen a Sun Dog?
If you glance up at the sun about
an hour before sundown or after
dawn, you might see a sun dog. Sun
dogs are little patches of rainbow color
that appear on the left and right sides
of the sun.
Scientists say this is the effect of
sunlight refracting as it passes
through ice crystals. Sometimes these
same crystals—which are in highlevel
cirrus clouds—can also create
complete rainbow-like halos around
the sun.
How are sun dogs created? The ice
crystals in the clouds are of different
shapes. One type, shaped like a sixsided
plate, will reflect light only to
WORD SEARCH
1. What six-letter adjective in the reading
describes clouds that are “feathery and
wispy”? ___________________________
2. What four-letter noun in the reading
names a unit of time? ___________________________
3. What seven-letter noun in the reading
means “a picture, map, or diagram”? ___________________________
the sides of the sun when it is oriented
horizontally. When these hexagonal
crystals are oriented in all different
directions, a complete halo results.
The technical name for sun dogs—
which are also called “false suns”—is
parhelia. For a graphic that further
explains this phenomenon, ask a
reference librarian or surf the Web.
c
h
g
UNIT 1
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
SUN DOG SUN DOG
HORIZON
22
SYNONYMS
Complete the puzzle with words from the reading. Clue words are
synonyms (words with a similar meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
2. spots
5. kind
6. look
7. six-sided
DOWN
1. forms
3. total
4. daybreak
LOOK IT UP!
Write the dictionary definition of each word from the reading.
1. phenomenon __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. refracting _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. reflect _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
DIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The word horizontal means “level, flat, parallel to the horizon.” The word vertical
means “straight up and down; perpendicular to the horizon.” Write H or V to show
whether each item below is horizontal or vertical.
1. _____ the walls of a house
2. _____ the legs of a table
3. _____ a cupboard shelf
4. _____ a flagpole
5. _____ the surface of a pond
6. _____ a city sidewalk
S
P C
D
T G
H N
5 6
4
2 3
7
1
23
MYSTERY WORDS
Unscramble the words from the reading that match the definitions.
1. NOTDEERI ______________________: positioned in a certain way
2. SCARTSLY ______________________: regularly shaped pieces
formed when many substances become solids
3. CHINCATEL ______________________: describes something used
in a particular science, art, or profession
UNDERSTANDING THE READING
Write T or F to show whether each statement below is true or false.
1. _____ Sun dogs always appear just before or after it rains.
2. _____ You can use the Internet to find out more about sun dogs.
3. _____ Sun dogs appear only when there are stratus clouds in the sky.
4. _____ The name “false suns” is also used to describe sun dogs.
WORD FORMS
You can change the form of many words to make different parts of speech. The verb
excite, for example, can be changed to the adjective exciting, or the noun excitement.
Change the form of each boldface word from the reading according to the directions
below. The first one has been done for you.
1. cloud adjective form: __________________________________
2. ice adjective form: __________________________________
3. appear noun form: _____________________________________
4. hexagonal noun form: _____________________________________
5. complete noun form: _____________________________________
6. reflect noun form: _____________________________________
cloudy
24
Lesson 7
Science in the News: The Dangers of Mercury
Does your family still have an oldfashioned
mercury thermometer?
These days, most people use the new
digital thermometers. They measure
temperature faster, and they’re a lot
easier to read.
How can you get rid of your old
thermometer? You can’t just dump
it in the trash. That tiny drop of
mercury inside can be very dangerous
to human health. The half gram of
mercury in one broken thermometer
is enough to pollute 5 million gallons
of water! That’s why a mercury
thermometer should never be
incinerated or buried in landfill.
Instead, old thermometers should be
taken to the nearest household
hazardous waste site.
Mercury in the environment carries
unique risks. It affects the brain, spinal
cord, kidneys, and liver. In humans,
elevated mercury levels can cause
mental and physical retardation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is working to reduce
human exposure to mercury. In 1998,
the American Hospital Association
signed an agreement with the EPA to
start eliminating mercury from
hospitals and clinics. A number of
states and cities have recently passed
laws making the sale of mercury
thermometers illegal.
WORD SEARCH
1. What seven-letter adjective in the reading
means “displaying data numerically
rather than physically”? _________________________
2. What 11-letter noun in the reading means
“the conditions that surround a person,
animal, or plant and affect its character
and growth”? _________________________
d
e
UNIT 1
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
25
3. What four-letter noun in the reading
means “the basic unit of weight in the
metric system: about 1/28 of an ounce”? _________________________
4. What eight-letter noun in the reading
means “a place where garbage or rubbish
is disposed of by being buried under a
shallow layer of earth”? _________________________
GREEK ROOTS
• The Greek root therm, meaning “heat ,” appears in a number of English words.
Complete each sentence with a familiar English word containing this root. Add
consonants to complete the words.
1. __ __ e __ __ a __ underwear helps to hold in body heat.
2. Taylor’s __ __ e __ __ o __ bottle keeps her vegetable soup
hot until lunchtime.
3. Bradley uses the __ __ e __ __ o __ __ a __ to turn the furnace
on and off.
4. If the __ __ e __ __ o __ e __ e __ reading is 100°, you have a fever.
• The Greek root meter means “measure.” Add consonants to complete the words
containing this root.
5. The __ i a __ e __ e __ of a circle is a straight line passing
through its center.
6. A unit of length called a __ e __ __ i ___ e __ e __ is one
one-hundredth of a meter.
7. Because it measures atmospheric pressure, a __ a __ o __ e __ e __
is used to help forecast the weather.
8. An aircraft’s a __ __ i __ e __ e __ shows height above sea level.
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26
ANTONYMS
Write a letter to match each boldface word from the reading with its antonym
(word with the opposite meaning).
1. _____ incinerated a. purify
2. _____ pollute b. frozen
3. _____ elevated c. beneficial
4. _____ dangerous d. lowered
SYNONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each word next to its
synonym (word with a similar meaning).
MUPD ______________________ NUQUIE __________________________
SHART ______________________ GALLILE __________________________
1. ____________________: unlawful 3. ____________________: rubbish
2. ____________________: discard 4. ____________________: unusual
SUFFIXES
What word form will correctly complete each phrase? Rewrite each boldface word,
adding the correct suffix.
1. hazard ______________________________ waste site
2. signed an agree ______________________________
3. measure temperature fast ______________________________
4. new digit ______________________________ thermometers
27
UNIT 1
REVIEW
Here’s your chance to show what you’ve learned in this unit!
SENTENCE COMPLETION
Write words you studied in Unit 1 to correctly complete the sentences.
1. ____________________ such as un-, re-, and inter- are added to the
beginnings of base words to change their meaning.
2. The suffix ____________________ means “one who practices or does
something.”
3. Ecological is the adjective form of the noun ____________________.
4. The words nourishment and nutrition are ____________________.
5. The word ____________________ means “to influence or produce
an effect.”
6. The Greek root ____________________ means “birth.”
ANALOGIES
Remember that analogies are statements of relationship. Figure out the relationship
between the first two words. Then show the same relationship by completing each
analogy with a word you studied in Unit 1.
1. Oak is to maple as stratus is to ____________________.
2. Slender is to chubby as ____________________ is to lazy.
3. Page is to chapter as bit is to ____________________.
4. Horizontal is to horizontally as ____________________ is to vertically.
5. Steak is to protein as pasta is to ____________________.
6. Off- is to “away from” as ____________________ is to “between.”
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
b
i
i
c
c
v
28
HIDDEN WORDS PUZZLE
Find and circle the words in the puzzle. Words may go up, down, across, backward,
or diagonally. Check off each word as you find it.
___ TOPOGRAPHY ___ FEATURES
___ EVOLUTION ___ ECOLOGY
___ DISKETTES ___ SURFACE
___ CHEMICAL ___ FOSSILS
___ VERTEBRATES ___ VITALITY
___ EXPERIMENT ___ CRYSTALS
Now use each word in a sentence of your own. Be sure that your sentence makes the
word’s meaning clear.
1. crystals: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. topography: _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. experiment: _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. features: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. vertebrates: _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. vitality: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. evolution: ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
N O F C R Y S T A L S W I G
D S O H T E T I A M E F O J
T I S U R F A C E R Y A L Y
N L S O G O I M N E T N G H
E T I K O M M O C F I O E P
M O L W E H I R E O L W H A
I M S H L T I A T O A T L R
R D C G U O T N C E T H W G
E C O L D U H E B Y I M V O
P W O U R B N A S C V Z U P
X V C E N R M W P R O V T O
E O S E T A R B E T R E V T
29
8. ecology: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. chemical: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. fossils: ___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
11. diskettes: _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
12. surface: __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
COMPOUND WORDS
Write the compound word from Unit 1 that answers the question or completes
the sentence.
1. A place where garbage is buried is called a _______________________.
2. In the wintertime, plants can be grown in a _______________________.
3. What is a synonym for dawn? ____________________________________
4. Sun dogs are little patches of ________________________ color around
the sun.
5. Your bones release calcium into your _____________________________.
6. What do we call the distance between
successive crests of waves? ___________________________
MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS
Circle the word in each pair that can have an entirely different meaning when it’s
used in a different context.
1. crust crunch
2. sell cell
3. treated traded
4. big bit
5. fractures features
6. swell swollen
7. wave surface
8. drink drop
30
UNIT 2
PREVIEW
Here’s an introduction to the vocabulary terms, concepts, and skills you will study in
this unit. Answers are upside down on the bottom of the page.
WORD COMPLETION
Add vowels (a, e, i, o, u) to complete the words.
1. __xt__nc t animals are no longer living on the Earth.
2. C__rb__n is part of every living thing.
3. The verb form of observation is the word __bs__rv__.
4. The bowhead whale is an __nd__ng__r__d species.
TRUE OR FALSE
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false.
1. _____ Adding the suffix -al can change a noun to an adjective.
2. _____ The plural form of the word theory is theorys.
3. _____ The words characteristics and properties are synonyms.
4. _____ The words disprove and verify are antonyms.
5. _____ Homonyms are synonyms that sound alike.
6. _____ The prefix kilo- means “one million.”
7. _____ A compound word is made up of two or more words.
ANSWERS: WORD COMPLETION: 1. extinct 2. carbon 3. observe 4. endangered
TR UE OR FALSE: 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. F 6. F 7. T
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
31
GLOSSARY
cold-blooded animals whose body
temperature changes with the
temperature of their environment
condensation the process by which
gas turns into a liquid
continents the seven major land
masses on Earth: Africa,
Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe,
North America, and South America
environment all the conditions that
surround a person, animal, or plant
and affect its life
evaporation the process by which
heat changes water to water vapor
extinct no longer living on Earth;
used to describe a species that
has died out
A glossary is an alphabetical list of unusual or specialized words from a certain
field of knowledge. Following are some important words from the fields of science
and technology.
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Use context clues (the other words in the sentence) to help you complete the sentences
with words from the glossary. If you’re not sure, check a dictionary.
1. The ____________________ of Antarctica is in the Southern
Hemisphere.
2. Fish and snakes are ____________________ animals.
ozone a form of oxygen in a thin layer
within the stratosphere
precipitation any moisture that falls
from the atmosphere
respiration the way a cell gets energy
by mixing food and oxygen
satellite an object that revolves
around a planet
solar system the sun and all the
planets that revolve around it
warm-blooded animals whose body
temperature stays the same in hot
and cold weather
water cycle natural process by which
water continually condenses,
evaporates, and condenses again
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS Lesson 1
UNIT 2
32
3. In 1957, the first manmade _______________________ circled
the Earth.
4. Every living thing responds to changing conditions in its
_______________________.
5. The dinosaur and the woolly mammoth are examples of
_______________________ creatures.
6. Jupiter and Saturn are two planets in our ___________ ____________.
7. In humans, _______________________ begins when the lungs
take in air.
8. Steam coming from a tea kettle is an example of
_______________________.
9. _______________________ protects the Earth from harmful radiation
from the sun.
10. _______________________ occurs when water vapor turns into dew.
11. In a process called the _______________ _______________, all the
water on Earth is used over and over again.
12. Squirrels, whales, and mice are all _______________________
animals.
13. Rain is the most common form of _______________________.
33
WORD FORMS
To correctly complete each sentence, rewrite each boldface word in a different form.
1. (evaporation) On a sunny day, water in a puddle will
____________________ quickly.
2. (extinct) Mass ____________________ occurs when many forms
of life suddenly disappear from the Earth.
3. (environment) ____________________ are those who work to
protect Earth’s air and water from pollution.
4. (condensation) Freezing temperatures ____________________
water into ice.
ANALOGIES
Remember that analogies are statements of relationship. Begin by thinking about the
relationship between the first two words. Then complete the analogy by writing the
glossary word that makes sense.
1. Human being is to frog
as warm-blooded is to
________________________.
2. Past is to present as
________________________
is to living.
3. Daisy is to flower as sleet
is to ________________________.
4. Venus is to planet as moon
is to ________________________.
5. Environment is to
environmental as continent
is to ________________________.
6. Circulation is to circulatory
as ________________________
is to respiratory.
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Lesson 2
What’s a Hertz?
A hertz is the standard unit of
frequency used to measure an energy
wave. Suppose you were watching a
child on a swing. Each cycle of
swing-out and swing-in would be
one cycle. If you kept track of time
while you watched, you could
measure the swing in hertz. Two inand-
out cycles per second would be
2-hertz or 2Hz.
Household electricity is usually
120 volts at 60Hz—which means it
pulses energy at 60 times per second.
Kilohertz means thousands of cycles
per second. AM radio broadcasts in
kHz. Its programs are transmitted on
waves that number 740,000 per
second. Megahertz or MHz means
WORD SEARCH
1. What six-letter noun in the reading
means “the power of certain forces of
nature to do work”? ______________________
2. What nine-letter noun in the reading
means “a device for sending messages by
a code of electrical signals”? ______________________
3. What nine-letter noun in the reading means
“a scientist who studies the interrelationships
of matter, energy, force, and motion”? ______________________
millions of cycles per
second. Cordless phones
broadcast as radio signals
that cycle at millions of
times a second. Computer processors
run at speeds of about 450 million
cycles per second.
Where did the word hertz come
from? It came from a German
physicist named Heinrich Hertz. In
the late 1800s, he was the first to
produce electromagnetic waves
under laboratory conditions. This led
to the development of the telegraph
and the radio.
The abbreviations Hz, kHz, and
MHz appear in tiny print on lots of
appliances.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 2
35
WORDS AND MEANINGS
Use the clues to help you solve
the crossword puzzle.
ACROSS
4. any standard term of
measurement such as
inch, pound, or degree
5. things like refrigerators,
toasters, hairdryers
6. to determine quantity
7. a complete set of events
that repeat in the same
order
DOWN
L
S V
U
A
M
C
6
5
4
3
7
2
1
1. room or building
where scientific tests
are carried out
2. information sent by an
electromagnetic wave
3. measurements of an electric current
PREFIXES
You learned in the reading that the prefix kilo- means “thousand” and the prefix megameans
“million.” Use this information to help you complete the following sentences.
1. The word kilometer must mean ____________________ meters.
2. A ____________________ must be equal to one million tons.
3. A ____________________ must be one one-millionth of a megaton.
4. A megawatt of electrical power must be equal to one million
____________________.
5. Something that weighs one kilogram must be equal to
____________________ grams.
6. A megabyte must be equal to one million ____________________
of computer memory.
36
ABBREVIATIONS
You already know that abbreviations—like Mr. for Mister—are shortened forms of
words. On the lines below, write either the abbreviation or the whole word that
matches. The first one has been done for you.
1. __________________ = MHz 5. gallon = __________________
2. hertz = __________________ 6. __________________ = min.
3. kilohertz = __________________ 7. __________________ = oz.
4. __________________ = ft. 8. quart = __________________
MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS
Some words have entirely different meanings when they’re used in different contexts.
Notice the boldface words in phrases from the reading. Then write a sentence of your
own, using the same word with an entirely different meaning.
1. measure an energy wave ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. cycles per second _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. if you kept track _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SYNONYMS
Draw a line to match each boldface word from the reading with its synonym (word
with a similar meaning).
1. transmitted vibration
2. run power
3. pulse operate
4. energy sent
megahertz
37
Lesson 3
What Causes Precipitation?
Numerous factors influence the
amount of precipitation in a location.
Three of the most important factors are
a location’s latitude, distance from the
ocean, and elevation. Compare the
cities of Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle,
and Phoenix, for example.
In the United States, most
precipitation-producing weather
systems come from the west. These
systems are carried along by
undulations in the polar jet stream.
The jet stream is stronger in higher
latitudes, bringing more storms to
northern locales.
Western cities near the Pacific
Ocean tend to get more precipitation
than inland cities. Why? Because of
the higher mountains. Ranges such as
WORD SEARCH
1. What nine-letter noun in the reading means
“height above sea level”? ____________________
2. What five-letter noun in the reading means
“a row or line of connected mountains”? ____________________
3. What eight-letter noun in the reading means
“the length of a line between two points”? ____________________
the Cascades, the Sierra Nevada, and
the Rockies wring moisture out of the
clouds as they are lifted over the
mountains.
Finally, elevation determines
whether precipitation will fall as rain
or snow.
Average annual rainfall in the four
cities is as follows: Los Angeles, 14.83
inches; Denver, 12.55 inches; Seattle,
37.92 inches; and Phoenix, 7.95
inches.
LOS ANGELES
DENVER
SEATTLE
PHOENIX
RAINFALL IN INCHES
0 10 20 30 40
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 2
38
ANTONYMS
Solve the crossword puzzle. Clues are
antonyms (words with opposite meanings)
of words from the reading.
ACROSS
3. insignificant
4. dropped
5. under
6. lower
DOWN
1. least
2. weaker
3. oceanfront
HOMOPHONES
Homophones are words that sound exactly alike but have different meanings and
spellings. In the reading, for example, you can find the homophones weather and
whether. Write a homophone for each word listed below.
1. aunt /_______________________ 6. fowl /________________________
2. bare / _______________________ 7. herd / _______________________
3. capital /_____________________ 8. higher / _____________________
4. cent /________________________ 9. not / ________________________
5. chews /______________________ 10. mane / ______________________
LOOK IT UP!
Check a dictionary to help you compare the meanings of longitude and latitude.
Circle the word that correctly completes the sentence.
1. A city’s ( longitude / latitude ) is its distance north or south of
the equator.
2. Both longitude and latitude are measured in ( miles / degrees ).
M S
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6
4 5
3
1 2
39
3. ( Longitude / Latitude ) is distance measured east or west of an
imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole.
4. Lines of longitude and latitude are usually shown on a
( globe / road map ).
5. Chicago is at 87 degrees west ( latitude / longitude ).
6. Minneapolis is at 45 degrees north ( latitude / longitude ).
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. To complete an analogy, figure out the
relationship between the first two words. Then write the word from the reading that
shows the same relationship.
1. Horizontal is to vertical as latitude is to __________________________.
2. Numerous is to plentiful as yearly is to __________________________.
3. Warmer is to rain as colder is to __________________________.
4. Mountain is to mountainous as pole is to __________________________.
MYSTERY WORDS
Unscramble words from the reading to correctly complete the sentences.
1. SCARTOF ____________________ are causes that combine to bring
about a result.
2. LAUDNUSNOIT ____________________ are wavy movements.
3. Precipitation is measured in CHINES ____________________.
4. Liquid causing dampness is called STROMUIE ____________________.
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Lesson 4
Try It Yourself: Make a Standing Wave
WORD SEARCH
1. Which five-letter noun in the reading
means “one of the huge bodies of salt
water on Earth”? __________________________
Any surfer will tell you that an ocean wave keeps moving—
even when it washes onto a beach. This experiment
will show you a kind of wave that doesn’t go
anywhere. It’s called a standing wave.
To conduct this experiment, you’ll need:
• several drinking glasses of
different sizes
• a small cloth such as a dish
towel
• a plastic bottle of water
• a machine that shakes when it operates
(clothes dryer, dishwasher, washing
machine, air conditioner, etc.)
Follow these steps:
1. Fill one of the glasses about half
full of water.
2. Put the cloth on the machine and
place the glass on the cloth.
3. Turn on the machine and wait a
few seconds.
4. Look at the water’s surface.
Do you see a pattern of rings?
5. If you don’t see a pattern, repeat the
experiment with a different size glass
of water.
6. What should you do if you try all the
glasses and still don’t see a pattern?
Repeat the experiment with a different
machine.
What will happen when you finally find the right combination of glass
size and shaking machine? You will see ring-shaped standing waves on the
water’s surface. The waves in the water will go from the wall of the glass to
the center—and then seem to disappear. But the waves don’t actually
disappear in the middle. As they keep going to the other side of the glass,
they exactly match the waves coming toward them!
o
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 2
41
2. What seven-letter noun in the reading
names a manmade substance used in
manufacturing many products? __________________________
3. What seven-letter adjective in the reading
means “more than two but not many”? __________________________
SYNONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with words from the reading. The clue words are
synonyms (words with a similar meaning) of the answers.
ACROSS
3. to demonstrate
6. to test
DOWN
1. middle
2. vibrates
4. type
5. little
WORDS IN CONTEXT
First unscramble the word from the reading and write it on the line. Then circle a
letter to show the word’s meaning.
1. The sea SEWSAH ____________________ the shore.
a. cleans with soap b. flows over c. wears or
and water or against carries away
2. A NAGDINTS ____________________ wave doesn’t go anywhere.
a. confined; unable b. upright or c. position, rank,
to flow freely erect position or reputation
C S
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4
3
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42
3. An electric shaver is a machine that shakes when it
APESTORE ____________________.
a. runs or b. conducts c. manages or
works surgery controls
4. A RENTTAP ____________________ of rings will appear on the
water’s surface.
a. planned b. guide for making c. visible
route something design
ANTONYMS
Write a letter to match each word from the reading with its antonym (word with the
opposite meaning).
1. _____ full a. away
2. _____ different b. identical
3. _____ toward c. vanish
4. _____ appear d. empty
5. _____ exactly e. approximately
THE PREFIX dis-
The prefix dis- has three meanings: (1) away, away from, or out of; (2) the opposite of;
(3) to fail, stop, or refuse to. Read the words listed below. Then write 1, 2, or 3 to show
the meaning of the prefix in that word. If you’re not sure, check a dictionary.
1. _____ disbelief 6. _____ disregard
2. _____ dislocate 7. _____ dissatisfied
3. _____ disagree 8. _____ disqualified
4. _____ dishonest 9. _____ disown
5. _____ displace 10. _____ disobey
43
Lesson 5
Carbon: A Common Element
All things that
take up space on
Earth—including
solids, liquids, and gases—are made
of matter. And all matter is made of
chemical elements. So far, scientists
have identified 103 elements. Some
of these are gold, helium, tin, oxygen,
and carbon. Elements are basic. That
means they cannot be broken down
into simpler substances.
Carbon is an interesting element.
In nature, it is found in two different
forms that have very different
properties, or characteristics. A
diamond is one form of carbon. As
the hardest natural substance
known, diamonds are used to make
WORD SEARCH
1. What ten-letter noun in the reading means
“the characteristics or special qualities by
which something is known”? ____________________
2. What three different forms of matter are mentioned in the reading?
____________________ ___________________ ____________________
3. What nine-letter noun in the reading means
“chemical substances formed by combining
two or more elements”? ____________________
cutting tools. And, of course, polished
diamonds are beautiful gems often
used in jewelry. Another form of the
same element is graphite—which is
soft, black, and slippery. Because of
its properties, graphite is used to
grease the moving parts of some
machines. Did you know that what
we call the “lead” in a pencil is really
graphite?
Carbon makes up less than one
percent of all matter. But this
important element can be found in
all foods and is part of every living
thing. Chemists have given the name
organic chemistry to the branch of
chemistry that studies carbon
compounds.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 2
44
4. What seven-letter adjective in the reading
means “having to do with chemical
compounds containing carbon”? ____________________
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Use words from the reading to complete the sentences.
1. Some of the ____________________ of matter are color, odor, shape,
and density.
2. The two gases mentioned in the reading are ____________________
and ____________________.
3. Platinum and silver are two ____________________ that are often
used in fine jewelry.
4. Chemists study ____________________ and how it can change.
WORD FORMS
Complete the chart by writing either the noun or adjective form of each word given.
The first one has been done for you.
NOUN ADJECTIVE
1. science
2. chemical
3. beauty
4. difference
5. important
6. nature
7. elementary
scientific
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45
WORDS AND MEANINGS
Use the clues to help you solve the crossword puzzle.
ACROSS
2. fundamental;
not reducible
4. So far, 103 of them
have been identified.
5. form of carbon that
is soft and black
7. the hardest
substance
in nature
DOWN
1. form of matter
including oxygen
(plural)
2. a division or part of
3. form of matter including
iron (plural)
5. precious jewels
6. lightweight metal used to
make cans
SYNONYMS
Unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each word under its synonyms
(words with a similar meaning).
TRIPEROPES ______________________ ROMF _______________________
DUMSCOONP _____________________ SEERAG ______________________
1. kind, type, 3. to oil, lubricate,
__________________________ ____________________________
2. qualities, characteristics, 4. mixtures, combinations,
__________________________ ____________________________
G B
S E
G T
D
5 6
3 4
7
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46
Lesson 6
In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Scientific Method
Science is the study of nature and
the universe, based on facts learned
from observation and experiment.
This process of discovery is called the
scientific method. There are five
orderly steps in the scientific method:
1. State the problem. You can’t
begin to answer a question or
solve a problem until you know
exactly what it is that you’re
trying to learn.
2. Gather all related information.
You must research your subject
thoroughly to determine what is
already known. Besides reading
about the subject, you might talk
to others who are working on the
same problem.
WORD SEARCH
1. What eight-letter noun in the reading means
“everything that exists, including the Earth,
sun, planets, and outer space”? ____________________
2. What eight-letter noun from the reading means
“a written record that proves something”? ____________________
3. What eleven-letter noun in the reading means
“careful examination and study of something”? ____________________
3. Suggest a possible
answer or solution.
Scientists call this preliminary
theory a hypothesis. For the time
being, they use this idea as the basis
for further study and reasoning.
4. Conduct experiments to try out
the theory. A scientific experiment
is a test—or series of tests—
designed to determine whether a
theory is correct. The results of
one experiment often lead to
further experiments.
5. Record the results. Lastly, a scientist
writes a report on the experiment.
This document, which is recorded
in some detail, may be used as
proof that the theory is correct.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 2
47
4. What seven-letter noun in the reading means
“something being discussed or examined”? ____________________
PARTS OF SPEECH
• Study the words in the box. Circle only the words that can be used as either a noun
or a verb. Check a dictionary if you’re not sure. (Hint: You should circle 12 words.)
problem percent study subject conduct
document solve proof time test
experiment state learn basis reading
determine observe step lead results
• Now write sentences of your own. Use four of the words you just circled in two
different ways.
1. NOUN: ____________________________________________________________
VERB: ____________________________________________________________
2. NOUN: ____________________________________________________________
VERB: ____________________________________________________________
3. NOUN: ____________________________________________________________
VERB: ____________________________________________________________
4. NOUN: ____________________________________________________________
VERB: ____________________________________________________________
PLURALS
Write the plural (names more than one) form of each word from the reading.
1. experiment ____________________ 3. proof _____________________
2. discovery ______________________ 4. theory ____________________
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48
SYNONYMS
Use words from the reading to complete the crossword puzzle. Clue words are
synonyms (words with a similar meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
5. test
6. comprehended
7. theory
8. collect
DOWN
1. additional
2. introductory
3. process
4. thinking
ANTONYMS
Unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each word next to its antonym
(word with the opposite meaning).
HOOLTRYHUG _____________________ TURIPUS _____________________
GELEDWONK _____________________ ADLE ________________________
1. haphazardly / ____________________
2. follow / ____________________
3. avoidance / ____________________
4. ignorance / ____________________
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5
4
3
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7
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49
Science in the News: Rewriting the Record Books
Until now, scientists thought that
bowhead whales had a longevity of
80 to 100 years—about the same as
humans. But that was before the
Inupiat people of northern Alaska
discovered evidence to the contrary.
After recent hunts, they found six
ancient ivory and stone harpoon
points embedded in the blubber of
four whales. How could that be?
Native Alaskan whalers had used
only steel harpoons since the 1800s!
Scientific researchers were
amazed but skeptical. So, to
determine ages, they studied the
lenses of the whales’ eyes. Changes
in amino acids revealed that three
whales were between 135 and
172 years old. The fourth whale
appeared to have been 211 when it
was killed! These findings could
establish whales as the longest-living
WORD SEARCH
1. What nine-letter noun in the reading
means “span of life”? __________________________
2. What seven-letter noun in the reading
names a kind of weapon? __________________________
3. What seven-letter plural noun in the
reading means “warm-blooded animals
with backbones”? __________________________
mammals on
Earth. Further
tests on the
bowheads’ bones
and skin are being
conducted to verify
the initial estimates
of age. If the results
are confirmed, we will know that
some whales that are alive today
were swimming around the arctic
seas during America’s Civil War—or
perhaps even when Thomas
Jefferson was president!
Bowhead whales—each weighing
80 to 110 tons and measuring 50 to
60 feet in length—bear distinguishing
white markings on their front lower
jaws. There are thought to be 8,000
to 12,000 bowheads in existence.
The bowhead is listed as an
endangered species.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS Lesson 7
UNIT 2
50
ANTONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each unscrambled word next
to its antonym (word that means the opposite).
THRENRON ______________________ NICETAN _____________________
FRONCDIME ______________________ MEAZDA _____________________
RIVFEY ___________________________ EROWL _______________________
1. southern ____________________ 4. disprove ____________________
2. upper ______________________ 5. modern _____________________
3. unsurprised _________________ 6. denied ______________________
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Circle a letter to show the meaning of the boldface word or words.
1. The bowhead’s jaw has a distinguishing white marking.
a. elegant; b. different in c. conspicuous;
dignified every whale distinct
2. The Inupiats discovered evidence to the contrary.
a. that discredited b. that raised c. stubbornly
earlier evidence another issue inflexible
HOMOPHONES
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and often
different spellings. Find a homophone in the reading for each word listed below.
The first one has been done for you.
1. wails _______________________ 4. sees _______________________
2. forth _______________________ 5. inn ________________________
3. steal _______________________ 6. bare _______________________
whales
51
SYNONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle.
Clues are synonyms (words with
a similar meaning) of words
from the story.
ACROSS
1. seemed
4. proof
6. doubtful
7. showed
DOWN
2. buried
3. first
4. certify
5. guesses
UNDERSTANDING THE READING
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false. Write NI if there is no
information in the reading to suggest an answer.
1. _____ Until recently, some kinds of fish were thought to be the
longest living animals.
2. _____ Scientists can estimate a whale’s age by studying citric
acids in the lenses of its eyes.
3. _____ The Inupiat people have hunted whales for more than
4,000 years.
4. _____ Bowheads may be the oldest mammals on the planet.
A E I
E E
S
R
6
4 5
3
7
1 2
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UNIT 2
REVIEW
Here’s your chance to show what you’ve learned in this unit.
SENTENCE COMPLETION
Circle the word that correctly completes each sentence.
1. A scientist who studies matter, energy, and force is called a
( physician / physicist ).
2. The words synonym and antonym are ( adverbs / antonyms ).
3. The letter groups -ing, -ant, and -able are common
( suffixes / prefixes ).
4. A city’s ( elevation / latitude ) is its height above sea level.
5. Scientists have identified 103 chemical ( processes / elements ).
6. ( Properties / Characteristics ) is a multiple-meaning word.
7. The words seas and sees are called ( abbreviations / homonyms ).
8. A ( meteor / satellite ) is an object that revolves around a planet.
9. The abbreviations kHz and MHz appear in tiny print on lots of
( appliances / lightbulbs ).
10. Lines of ( latitude / longitude ) show distance north or south
of the equator.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
53
HIDDEN WORDS PUZZLE
Find and circle the words in the puzzle. Words
may go up, down, across, backward, or diagonally.
Check off each word as you find it.
___ CONTINENTS ___ OCEANS
___ SYNONYM ___ ENERGY
___ HOMONYM ___ ANTONYM
___ ADJECTIVE ___ NOUN
___ ABBREVIATION ___ GAS
___ COMPOUND ___ RAIN
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Write original sentences, using the words from the hidden words puzzle. Include
examples in each sentence.
1. continents ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. oceans ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. energy ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. compound ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. antonym ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
S D E V I T C E J D A
N K L O P U J G F D B
E H N M Y N O N Y S B
C O M P O U N D T L R
K M Z C A C X N V B E
L O B N C X E S D R V
R N R A I N O A P E I
W Y N B I E T Y N S A
T M D T Y D F E L S T
U K N O U N R B C X I
P O W Q X G A S Z C O
C L P M Y N O T N A N
54
6. abbreviation __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. synonym ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. homonym _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
9. adjective ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
10. noun __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
11. gas ____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. rain ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Figure out the relationship between the first
two words. Then complete the analogy with a word you studied in this unit.
1. Water is to ocean as land is to ___________________________.
2. Cold is to condensation as warmth is to ___________________________.
3. Rise is to evaporation as fall is to ___________________________.
4. Abbreviation is to Mr. as kHz is to ___________________________.
5. Extinct is to living as cold-blooded is to ___________________________.
6. Weight is to pound as energy wave is to ___________________________.
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UNIT 3
PREVIEW
Here’s an introduction to the vocabulary terms, skills, and concepts you will study in
this unit. Answers appear upside down on the bottom of this page.
RECOGNIZING EXAMPLES
Circle two items in each word group that match the category.
1. proper adjectives
Joseph Ouch! Hispanic Shakespearean
2. plural nouns
celebrates frequencies violates fungi
3. compound words
broadcasting interaction ecosystem snowflake
4. words with a prefix
researcher unforgivable disjointed desired
5. words with a suffix
moldy hairless imprecise nostrils
SPELLING
Underline the two correctly spelled words in each group.
1. inventer modems inventor modams
2. navigate rhinocerus rhinoceros navagate
3. aproppriate substitute appropriate substatute
4. studios amplafied studioes amplified
ANSWE R S: RECOGNIZING EXAMPLES: 1. Hispanic, Shakespearean 2. frequencies, fungi 3. broadcasting, snowflake
4. unforgivable, disjointed 5. moldy, hairless SPELLI NG: 1. modems, inventor 2. navigate, rhinoceros
3. substitute, appropriate 4. studios, amplified
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
56
GLOSSARY
A glossary is an alphabetical list of unusual or specialized words from a certain
field of knowledge. Following are some important words from the fields of
science and technology.
appendage a body part that sticks
out, such as an arm, wing, or leg
axis an imaginary line running
through the center of a planet from
one pole to the other pole
carbon dioxide gas made of carbon
and oxygen; it is breathed out
of the lungs and taken in by
plants
chromosomes tiny particles in the
nucleus of cells made up of DNA
and genes
cyclone an area of low pressure with
strong, circular winds
ecosystem all the living things that
make up a particular community in
a certain environment
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Use context clues to help you complete the sentences with the correct words from the
glossary. If you’re not sure, check a dictionary.
1. The _________________________ covers nearly 85 percent of all
geological time.
2. Much like a tornado, a _________________________ can be very
damaging.
fertilization the joining of a sperm cell
with an egg cell
genetics the study of the way animals
and plants pass on characteristics
to their offspring
germination the process by which a
young plant breaks out of its seed
magma the molten matter under the
Earth’s crust
parasite an organism that lives in or
on another organism
Precambrian era the geological era
that began 4.5 billion years ago and
lasted nearly four billion years
tissue a group of cells that all do the
same job
Lesson 1 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
57
3. A tree branch and a dog’s tail are both _________________________.
4. When _________________________ reaches a volcano’s surface, it is
called lava.
5. If you’ve ever seen a flea on a dog, you’ve seen a
_________________________.
6. Every 24 hours, the Earth makes a complete rotation on its
_________________________.
7. The _________________________ of a pond includes weeds, insects,
frogs, worms, and fish.
8. If you exercise too hard, you may damage your muscle
_________________________.
9. _________________________ is the branch of science that explains
how traits are passed on from one generation to the next.
10. In order to make food, plants need _________________________.
11. Humans have 23 pairs of _________________________; fruit flies
have only four pairs.
12. At _________________________, a baby inherits genes from both its
father and its mother.
13. Sprouts in a vegetable garden show that _________________________
has taken place.
SCRAMBLED WORDS
Unscramble the words from the reading to complete the sentences.
1. YOGLOGE ____________________ is the study of the Earth’s crust,
including rocks and fossils.
2. RUCLARIC ____________________ winds blow around in a spiral.
58
WORDS AND MEANINGS
Use clues to help you complete the crossword puzzle. Answers are words from
the reading.
ACROSS
1. male reproductive
cell
3. broken off part or
piece of something
7. a thousand million
DOWN
2. a tiny bit; a speck
4. form of matter that
is neither liquid nor
solid
5. female reproductive cell
6. kind of dioxide formed with oxygen
SUFFIXES
Suffixes can be used to turn many words into adjectives (describing words).
Rewrite the words below. Make them adjectives by adding one of these
suffixes: -y, -ic, -al, or -ful.
1. dream ___________________ 5. history ________________________
2. music ____________________ 6. guilt __________________________
3. peace ____________________ 7. atmosphere ____________________
4. ice ______________________ 8. environment __________________
5
S P
F G E
C
B
6
3 4
7
1 2
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Lesson 2
Today’s Weather Forecast: A National Overview
People in the northern Midwest
can expect frigid temperatures
today. In some extreme northern
locations, 0 degrees may be the
daytime high. The South will be
fairly chilly as well. Highs there
are projected to be in the upper 40s
and lower 50s. As a group of highpressure
systems move across the
country, temperatures are expected
to fall even lower.
TODAY’S OUTLOOK IN SELECTED CITIES
Snow will continue to fall across
the Midwest. The South will see a few
more flurries and showers before this
evening. But most of the precipitation
there will dissipate by tomorrow
morning. Both the Pacific Northwest
and the Northeast can expect more
rain today as low-pressure systems
linger. But the relentless weather
pattern in both regions is expected
to break up by the weekend.
ATLANTA
Rain showers changing to ice and snow;
increasing clouds; high 45°, low 28°
SEATTLE
Intermittent showers until noon, then
mostly sunny; high 45°, low 39°
KANSAS CITY
Overcast in the morning, sunny in the
afternoon; high 30°, low 10°
DETROIT
Consistent light flurries throughout the
day; high 25°, low 5°
WORD SEARCH
1. What twelve-letter adjective in the
reading means “stopping and starting
again from time to time”? _i___________________________
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
60
2. What eight-letter plural noun in the
reading means “sudden light falls
of snow or rain”? ____________________________
3. What eight-letter noun in the reading
is a synonym of “prediction”? ____________________________
4. What four regions of the United States are mentioned in
the reading?
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
PARTS OF SPEECH
Many words can be used as either a noun (names a person, place, or thing) or a verb
(names an action). On the lines below, write two sentences using the boldface word
from the reading. In one sentence, use the word as a noun. In the other, use the word
as a verb. The first one has been done for you.
1. snow NOUN: ______________________________________________________
VERB: ______________________________________________________________
2. fall NOUN: ________________________________________________________
VERB: ______________________________________________________________
3. rain NOUN: _______________________________________________________
VERB: ______________________________________________________________
4. shower NOUN:____________________________________________________
VERB: ______________________________________________________________
The weather forecaster said it might snow today.
Freshly fallen snow covered the sidewalk.
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SYNONYMS
Complete the puzzle with words
from the reading. Clues are synonyms
(words with a similar meaning) of
the answer words.
ACROSS
4. places; perhaps cities
5. persistent; unyielding
6. to break up; disappear
DOWN
1. to foresee; anticipate
2. freezing; bitterly cold
3. steady; unchanging
4. to remain; continue
ANTONYMS
Think about the meaning of the boldface word in each phrase. Then circle
a letter to show its antonym (word with the opposite meaning). Check a
dictionary if you need help.
1. some extreme northern locations
a. slightly b. remote c. unusual
2. will be fairly chilly
a. windy b. uncomfortable c. sweltering
3. snow will continue
a. cease b. develop c. proceed
4. increasing clouds
a. darkening b. diminishing c. fluffier
E F
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R E
D
6
4
3
1 2
5
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Lesson 3
Try It Yourself: Making Mold
Everyone knows that the Earth
is teeming with all kinds of plants
and animals. Biologists have identified
more than a million animals and
nearly 400,000 different types of
plants. But plants and animals aren’t
the only organisms living on Earth.
Another classification of living things
is called the fungus kingdom.
Molds, yeasts, and mushrooms
are fungi. Mold grows on damp,
decaying things like discarded food
or dead trees. To see for yourself, try
this experiment:
(1) Fill three small cups half full of
coffee, and put three slices of
bread in clear plastic sandwich
bags.
(2) Then place one bag of bread and
one cup of coffee in each of these
places: on a sunny windowsill;
in a dark cabinet or closet; in the
refrigerator.
(3) Every day for two weeks, use
a magnifying glass to observe
the bread and coffee. Take notes
on any changes you see. Draw a
sketch if something appears.
(4) If you don’t see any change, keep
checking for another two weeks.
What will you eventually discover?
Fuzzy white stuff will appear on the
coffee. White, green, or black stuff
will appear on the bread. This is
mold—a type of living, growing thing
that is neither a plant nor an animal.
WORD SEARCH
1. What ten-letter adverb in the reading
means “finally” or “in the end”? _________________________
2. What five-letter proper noun in the
reading names a planet? _________________________
3. What seven-letter noun in the reading
means “in biology, one of the major groups
into which all living things are divided”? _________________________
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
63
4. What nine-letter plural noun in the
reading names a kind of edible fungi
that have a stalk and a cap? _________________________
ANTONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each unscrambled word next
to its antonym (word that means the opposite).
NYNUS ___________________________ GEMTINE _____________________
MAPD ____________________________ REPAPA ______________________
UZZFY ____________________________ LUFL __________________________
HEWIT ___________________________ GINFYAM _____________________
1. dry / ________________________ 5. hairless / ____________________
2. vanish /_____________________ 6. barren / _____________________
3. reduce / _____________________ 7. empty / _____________________
4. black / ______________________ 8. gloomy / _____________________
MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS
Notice how the words type, draw, and mold are used in the reading. Then write
original sentences in which the words have completely different meanings. Use a
dictionary if you need help.
1. (type) ___________________________________________________________
2. (draw) ___________________________________________________________
3. (mold) ___________________________________________________________
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64
SYNONYMS
Complete the puzzle with words
from the reading. Clues are synonyms
(words with a similar meaning) of
the answer words.
B
D G
S T
N
O
P
6
4
3
8
7
2
1
5
ACROSS
2. rotting
4. a drawing
7. to watch
8. a vegetable
DOWN
1. a sack
2. dim
3. thrives
5. swarming
6. almost
ANALOGIES
Remember that an analogy is a statement of relationship. Figure out the relationship
between the first two words. Then show the same relationship by completing the
analogy with the correct word from the reading.
1. Elephant is to animal as yeast is to _________________________.
2. Alike is to unlike as same is to _________________________.
3. Natural is to cotton as manmade is to _________________________.
4. Ledge is to windowsill as cupboard is to _________________________.
5. Organize is to organization as classify is to ________________________.
6. Plants is to plant as fungi is to _________________________.
7. General is to specific as scientist is to _________________________.
8. Either is to or as neither is to _________________________.
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Lesson 4
Two Kinds of Research: Basic and Applied
Research—the
quest for information
—was born when people
first started asking questions and
searching for answers. The inventors
of the wheel were great researchers.
Modern research, based on study and
experimentation, got its true start in
the 1500s with the work of Galileo.
In the natural sciences—such as
biology, chemistry, and medicine—
methods of research are very exact.
Scientists have developed very
accurate instruments such as
electronic microscopes.
Basic research is aimed at
discovering more about the laws of
nature. As they push into the
unknown, scholars doing basic
research may have little idea of what
lies ahead. They may be trying to find
out why birds migrate or whether
plants grow on Mars. Wishing only to
add to the world’s knowledge, they don’t
concern themselves with the practical
applications of their findings.
Applied research is aimed at a
practical goal. Researchers focus on
discovering or inventing new and
useful products or better ways of
doing something. The first synthetic
plastic, for example, was developed
to find a substitute for ivory in the
manufacture of billiard balls. This
early plastic—called Celluloid—paved
the way for development of today’s
enormous plastics industry.
Basic and applied researchers
work hand in hand. Applied research
is often built on ideas from basic
research. In turn, basic researchers
depend on applied research for the
invention of instruments that make
further investigations possible.
WORD SEARCH
1. What five-letter noun in the reading
means “a seeking, hunt, or pursuit”? _q__________________________
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
66
2. What seven-letter verb in the reading
means “to move from one region to
another with the change of seasons”? _________________________
3. What ten-letter noun in the reading
means “something used in the place
of another”? _________________________
WORD FORMS
Complete the chart below with different forms of the verbs apply and investigate.
APPLY INVESTIGATE
PAST-TENSE VERB: __________________ PAST-TENSE VERB: ___________________
NOUN FORM: _____________________ NOUN FORM: ______________________
ONE WHO DOES: ___________________ ONE WHO DOES: ____________________
UNDERSTANDING THE READING
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false.
1. _____ Modern research got its start with the discovery of
the wheel.
2. _____ Scientists involved in applied research are trying to solve
specific problems.
3. _____ The words knowledge and information are synonyms.
4. _____ Basic researchers try to discover more about the laws
of nature.
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SYNONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with
words from the reading. Clue words
are synonyms (words with a similar
meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
1. targeted
4. precise
6. data
7. improved
DOWN
2. tools; devices
3. to rely
5. to concentrate
ANTONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then draw a line to connect each word
with its antonym (word that means the opposite).
1. ALARUNT
____________________ a. miniature
2. RUTE
____________________ b. subtract
3. TRACECAU
____________________ c. synthetic
4. NOURSOME
____________________ d. useless
5. CATRICLAP
____________________ e. false
6. DAD
____________________ f. imprecise
A I
D
E
F
I
B
6
4
3
7
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5
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Lesson 5
How Does a Radio Work?
The space around you may look
empty—but it isn’t. At all times it is
filled with radio frequency waves
from nearby radio stations. They are
causing minute vibrations in all the
metal objects in the room. But you
can hear these vibrations only if you
turn on your radio.
Your radio picks up the radio
waves of the station you want to hear
and turns them into sound waves.
How does it do this?
1. Your radio’s antenna (or aerial
wire) picks up all the radio
frequency currents that are in the
air around it.
2. The tuner selects the frequency of
the desired station and blocks out
the frequencies of other stations.
3. Now your radio separates the
program current from the carrier
current. Electronic devices block
off the carrier current so that only
the program current is left.
4. The program current, which is
very weak, must be amplified until
it can operate the loudspeaker.
This is done by transistors.
5. The loudspeaker changes the
program current into sound waves.
These sound waves are a copy of
those in the broadcasting studio.
WORD SEARCH
1. What eleven-letter plural noun in the
reading means “tiny electronic devices
made from semiconductors that control
the flow of electrical current”? ___________________________
2. What eight-letter plural noun in the
reading means “places with electronic
equipment for sending out radio or
TV programs”? ___________________________
t
s
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
AM (amplitude modulation) Radio Wave FM (frequency modulation) Radio Wave
69
3. What five-letter adjective in the
reading means “made of a chemical—
such as iron, gold, or aluminum—that
conducts electricity”? ___________________________
ANTONYMS
Circle a letter to show the antonym (word that means the opposite) of the boldface
word in each sentence.
1. Nearby radio stations fill the air around you with radio
frequency waves.
a. overlapping b. faraway c. powerful
2. In order to operate the loudspeaker, the program current must
be amplified.
a. ignited b. refined c. silenced
3. The tuner selects the frequency of the desired station.
a. best b. unwanted c. chosen
4. The space around you is never empty.
a. quiet b. occupied c. hollow
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Figure out the relationship between the first
two words. Then show the same relationship by completing the analogy with a word
from the reading.
1. Tongue is to taste 3. Copy is to copies
as ear is to as frequency is to
_________________________. _________________________.
2. Celebrate is to celebration 4. Gather is to scatter
as vibrate is to as combine is to
_________________________. _________________________.
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SYNONYMS
Use the clues to help you solve the crossword
puzzle. Clues are synonyms (words with a
similar meanings) of words from the reading.
ACROSS
1. to duplicate
3. microscopic
6. runs
DOWN
1. generating
2. pulses
4. transforms
5. chooses
PARTS OF SPEECH
In a different context, the same word can be a different part of speech. Notice how
the boldface words from the reading are used in each sentence. Then identify the
part of speech by writing noun (names a person, place, or thing), verb (shows
action), or adjective (describes a noun or pronoun).
1. ____________________ Is that information current or out-of-date?
2. ____________________ Will you take a minute to answer my
question?
3. ____________________ Ed programs his computer to do specialized
tasks.
4. ____________________ The TV programs I like are on Tuesday
night.
5. ____________________ Minute particles of dust covered the
furniture.
6. ____________________ The North Atlantic current moves across
the ocean from Newfoundland to England.
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2
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Lesson 6
The Amazing Rhino
Rhinoceroses are quiet, slowmoving,
retiring animals—until they
are cornered. If that happens, watch
out! They can charge an enemy at
30 miles an hour.
These huge, thick-skinned animals
have heavy bodies and one or two
large horns above their nostrils. Their
legs are short, and each foot has
three toes. They are hoofed animals,
related to horses.
The smallest rhinoceros, the
Sumatran, usually weighs less than
a ton and is about four feet high at
the shoulder. The largest is the African
white rhinoceros. It may weigh three
and one-half tons or more and stand
six and one-half feet high.
Some kinds of rhinoceroses have
very long horns. The longest one
ever measured was 621/2 inches. The
horns are made of closely packed
masses of tough hairs. Their bodies,
however, are usually hairless.
There are five different kinds of
rhinoceroses living today. Two of
these live in Africa, and the other
three kinds live in Asia. In captivity,
rhinoceroses typically live to be about
50 years old.
Rhinoceroses do not hunt other
animals. As herbivores, they eat only
grass and other plants. They usually
travel alone, but are sometimes found
in small family groups. The female
bears only one offspring at a time.
WORD SEARCH
1. What eight-letter noun in the reading
means “part of the body to which an arm
or foreleg is connected”? _________________________
2. What seven-letter adjective in the
reading means “of the same family
or kind”? _r________________________
s
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
72
3. What eight-letter plural noun in the
reading means “openings in the nose
through which people and some animals
breathe and smell”? _________________________
ANTONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with words from
the reading. Clue words are antonyms (words with
opposite meanings) of the answer words.
Use a dictionary if you need help.
ACROSS
2. aggressive
4. thin
6. weightless
8. carnivores
DOWN
1. noisy
3. wispy
5. female
7. below
SYNONYMS
Circle a letter to show the synonym (word with a similar meaning) of each boldface
word from the reading.
1. The foot of a rhinoceros has three toes.
a. knuckles b. hooves c. digits
2. Rhinoceroses can charge at 30 miles an hour.
a. postpone b. launch a running c. take bounding
payment attack leaps
3. If a rhinoceros is cornered, its enemy better watch out!
a. foe b. competitor c. prey
6
4
3
8
7
2
1
5
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4. Rhinoceroses are sometimes found in small groups.
a. occasionally b. rarely c. typically
5. The horns are made of closely packed masses of tough hairs.
a. woven b. dense c. enclosed
6. Their bodies, however, are usually hairless.
a. by the way b. likewise c. nevertheless
PROPER ADJECTIVES
You read that the smallest rhinoceros is Sumatran. That word is a proper adjective
describing someone or something from Sumatra—a large island in Indonesia. On the
lines below, write the proper adjective that can be made from each place name.
Remember that proper adjectives are always capitalized!
1. Brazil _____________________ 5. England ___________________
2. Europe ____________________ 6. Russia _____________________
3. France ____________________ 7. China ______________________
4. Australia __________________ 8. Scotland ___________________
WORD FORMS
Find the word captivity in the reading. You can probably figure out that captivity means
“kept in a zoo” or “the condition of being held by force” as it is used in the reading.
To complete the sentences below, unscramble some different forms of the word captivity.
1. The zoologists tried to RAPTCUE _________________________
a rhinoceros.
2. The TAPEVIC _________________________ rhino was loaded onto
a truck.
3. The rhino’s ROTPACS _________________________ were careful
not to injure the animal.
74
Lesson 7
Science in the News: Avoiding Potholes on the Information Highway
Jean Armour Polly, a former
librarian, has been working with
computers and modems for 20
years. In a 1992 magazine article,
she coined the term “surfing the
Internet.” Today, she is a best-selling
author. Her book, The Internet Kids
and Family Yellow Pages, has helped
hundreds of thousands of young
people learn to navigate the Net
safely, comfortably, and productively.
The book has recently come out in
its fifth edition.
Mrs. Polly says that the best
Web sites for young people should
meet certain criteria: They should
have authority, currency, and an
acceptable “signal-to-noise ratio.” No
less importantly, the sites should
be age-appropriate. Specifically, the
author gives this advice:
• Authority Ask yourself who is
behind the site. Is it a reputable
source such as National Geographic
or someone you never heard of?
Make sure the information comes
from a source you can trust.
WORD SEARCH
1. What seven-letter plural noun in the
reading means “electronic devices that
connect computers via a telephone line”? _m________________________
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 3
THE GRIZZLY BEAR
LAST
CHANCE
SHOP, SHOP,
SHOP!!!
BUY ME
TRY THIS LOOK
HERE
DON’T
MISS OUT
If you’d like, you can contact Mrs.
Polly at www.netmom.com.
• Currency Some pages have been
on the Web for years without
being updated. Look for the “last
update” notation on the site’s
front page.
• Age-appropriate To learn about
how the heart works, middle school
students don’t need a lengthy article
from a professional medical journal.
Instead, find a well-illustrated
article written at a lower level.
• Acceptable mix of signal to noise
Avoid too many distractions. Things
such as ads, pop-up windows, and
music that can’t be turned off soon
become annoying. They detract
from the value of the site.
75
2. What eight-letter proper noun in the reading
means “a network linking computers all over
the world by satellite and telephone, connecting
users with service networks such as
e-mail and the World Wide Web”? _________________________
3. What twelve-letter plural noun in the
reading means “things that interfere
with concentration”? _________________________
4. What four-letter noun in the reading
means “the place where certain
information can be found on the Web”? _________________________
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. First find the relationship between the first
two words. Then show the same relationship by completing the analogy with a word
from the reading.
1. Portrait is to artist 5. Scissors is to divide
as book is to as modems are to
_________________________. _________________________.
2. Potholes are to highway 6. Music is to musician
as problems are to as library is to
_________________________. _________________________.
3. Present is to past 7. Esteemed is to reputable
as current is to as worth is to
_________________________. _________________________.
4. Bear is to bare 8. Adjective is to adverb
as sight is to as important is to
_________________________. _________________________.
I
d
s
a
I
f
c
l
v
s i
76
SYNONYMS
Complete the puzzle with words
from the reading. Clue words are
synonyms (words with a similar
meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
3. suitable
4. recency; newness
6. assisted
DOWN
1. to devaluate
2. standards
3. credibility
5. invented
ANTONYMS
First, complete the sentences by unscrambling the words from the reading. Then, on
the line after each sentence, write the antonym (word that means the opposite) of the
unscrambled word. Antonyms are words in the box.
wastefully questionable intolerable concise soothing
1. The terms of the agreement were PACECLABET
____________________ to us, but not to them. ____________________
2. Her simple question did not require a THYGLEN
____________________ explanation. ____________________
3. Al accomplishes more than Ben does, because he uses his time
LYVIDROPCUTE ____________________. ____________________
4. The constant dripping of a leaky faucet can be quite
NONYGAIN ____________________. ____________________
5
D
C
A
C E C
H
6
4
3
2
1
77
UNIT 3
REVIEW
Here’s your chance to show what you know about the material you studied in Unit 3.
TRUE OR FALSE
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false.
1. _____ Overview and outlook are compound words.
2. _____ Basic researchers are concerned with the practical
applications of their findings.
3. _____ The adjective form of the noun meteor is meteoric.
4. _____ Current and retiring are multiple-meaning words.
5. _____ The words aerial and antenna are synonyms.
6. _____ The adjective form of wave is spelled wavey.
7. _____ Overcast and flurries are words that might be used
to describe the weather.
8. _____ Mushrooms are members of the plant kingdom.
ANTONYMS
Draw a line to match each boldface word from the unit with its antonym (word that
means the opposite).
1. annoying a. airy
2. current b. outdated
3. dense c. unsuitable
4. appropriate d. soothing
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
78
HIDDEN WORDS PUZZLE
Find and circle the words in the hidden words puzzle. Words may go up, down,
across, backward, or diagonally. Check off each word as you find it.
_____ CLASSIFY _____ GENETICS
_____ THEORY _____ PARTICLE
_____ EXACT _____ CONSISTENT
_____ QUEST _____ FRIGID
_____ WAVES _____ MOLD
_____ MASSES _____ FUZZY
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Now use each word from the puzzle in a sentence of your own. Try to include a
scientific fact, explanation, or example in each sentence.
1. fuzzy __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. masses ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. mold___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. waves _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. consistent _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. quest __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
L G H M A S S E S A W
E P O C L A S S I F Y
Q L H F J K F S G S R
D U C P R T C A X E O
Y A S I B I Q V C V E
Z T R E T U G E W A H
Z Q G E E R G I F W T
U A N S L K A J D U Y
F E T X C V B P E R M
G C O N S I S T E N T
79
7. frigid __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. exact __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
9. particle _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
10. theory _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
11. genetics _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. classify ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Find the relationship between the first two
words. Then show the same relationship by completing the analogy with a word from
Unit 3.
1. Decay is to rot 4. Singular is to plural
as predict is to as chromosome is to
_________________________. _________________________.
2. Sea is to oceanography 5. Male is to female
as earth is to as sperm is to
_________________________. _________________________.
3. Radio waves are to antenna 6. Occasional is to steady
as sound waves are to as intermittent is to
_________________________. _________________________.
f
g
l
c
e
c
80
UNIT 4
PREVIEW
Here’s an introduction to the vocabulary terms, concepts, and skills you will study in
this unit. Answers are upside down on the bottom of this page.
SENTENCE COMPLETION
Circle the words that correctly complete the sentences.
1. The words categorize and classify are ( homonyms / synonyms ).
2. Animals without backbones are called ( vertebrates / invertebrates ).
3. The word ( exceeds / extends ) means “goes beyond what is usual
or allowed.”
4. The words sights and sites are ( antonyms / homonyms ).
5. WWW is the ( abbreviation / nickname ) of the World Wide Web.
6. An outcome that can’t be prevented can be described as
( catastrophic / inevitable ).
TRUE OR FALSE
Write T or F to show whether each statement is true or false.
1. _____ Astrology is the scientific study of the universe beyond the
Earth’s atmosphere.
2. _____ Lead has more density than bread.
3. _____ Healthy humans must have some minerals in their diet.
4. _____ A colony of plants or animals may be scattered all over
the Earth.
ANSWE R S: SE NTENCE COMPLETION: 1. synonyms 2. invertebrates 3. exceeds 4. homonyms 5. abbreviation 6. inevitable
TRUE OR FALSE: 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
81
GLOSSARY
astronomy the scientific study of the
universe beyond the Earth’s
atmosphere
consumers organisms that eat other
organisms
carbohydrates sugars and starches in
food that give people energy
density the amount of matter per
each unit of area or volume
force any push or pull on an object
habitat the place where an organism
lives
host an animal on or in which a
parasite lives
minerals natural substances found in
non-living things
output processed data that comes out
of a computer
radiation energy that can move
through a vacuum
spectrum the rainbow-like band of
colors that can be seen when white
light is refracted
technology the application of scientific
and industrial skills to practical use
turbine a machine driven by the force
of a moving fluid
vacuum the absence of matter
weathering the process that breaks
down rocks and minerals
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Complete each sentence with the correct word from the glossary. If you’re not sure
about some words, check a dictionary.
1. That woodland stream is the _________________________ of beavers.
2. Over time, erosion and _________________________ can wear down
an entire mountain range.
A glossary is an alphabetical list of unusual or specialized words from a certain
field of knowledge. Following are some important words from the fields of
science and technology.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS Lesson 1
UNIT 4
82
3. Light, heat, radio waves, and X-rays are different kinds of
_________________________.
4. Scientists who study _________________________ learn about the size
and motion of the stars.
5. A hog or a cow may be the _________________________ of a parasite
such as a tapeworm.
6. A healthy diet for humans includes such _________________________
as iron and salt.
7. Animals are called _________________________ because they cannot
make their own food.
8. If nearly all the air is removed from a bottle, a _____________________
is formed inside.
9. Gravity is the _________________________ that holds us on the
ground.
10. There are seven colors in the _______________________ of visible light.
11. Because a rock has greater _________________________ than water,
it will sink in a pond.
12. Your computer monitor is an _________________________ device.
13. Engineers and mechanics use _________________________ to solve
practical problems.
14. Good sources of _________________________ include vegetables,
grains, and potatoes.
15. A powerful _________________________ engine uses the water in
a dam to create electricity.
83
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. To complete an analogy, figure out the
relationship between the first pair of words. Then write the word from the reading
that shows the same relationship.
1. Keyboard is to printer 4. Plants are to producers
as input is to as animals are to
_________________________. _________________________.
2. Total is to partial 5. Flower is to botany
as erosion is to as planet is to
_________________________. _________________________.
3. Wind is to windmill 6. Meat is to protein
as fluid is to as doughnut is to
_________________________. _________________________.
CATEGORIES
Write the boxed items under the correct headings.
desert bread quartz monitor
fruits ocean printer rain forest
silver noodles zinc disk drive
1. HABITATS 3. COMPUTER OUTPUT DEVICES
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
2. CARBOHYDRATES 4. MINERALS
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
o
w
c
a
t c
84
Lesson 2
Rabbits and Hares: What’s the Difference?
Rabbits and hares were once
classified as rodents. After all, just
like rodents, they have two pairs of
big gnawing teeth, or incisors, in the
front of their jaws. But rabbits and
hares also have a second, smaller
pair of upper incisors. Because of this
and other differences, rabbits and
hares are now placed in a separate
order from rodents.
In general, rabbits and hares are
a lot alike. They both have big, long
ears and stubby tails. They have
short front legs and long, powerful
hind legs that make them expert
runners and leapers. And they are
both vegetarians that eat grass,
leaves, tender buds, and twigs.
But rabbits are usually smaller
than hares, and their ears are not so
long. At birth, the young of rabbits
are blind, naked, and helpless. In
contrast, newborn hares are born wideeyed
and fully furred. They are able
to hop about on the day of their birth.
True rabbits dig far-reaching
burrows and bear their young in an
underground nest. Hares, on the
other hand, make their nests in
hollows in the ground. (So does the
cottontail—but in all other ways it is
a true rabbit!)
WORD SEARCH
1. What seven-letter plural noun in the
reading means “a very large order of
gnawing mammals”? ______________________________
2. What four-letter plural noun in the
reading means “plant swellings from
which leaves or flowers develop”? ______________________________
r
b
HARES RABBITS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
85
3. Which seven-letter plural noun in
the reading means “underground
holes or tunnels”? ______________________________
ANTONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with words from the reading. Clues are
antonyms (words that mean the opposite) of the answer words.
ACROSS
1. front
5. unskilled
6. larger
DOWN
2. covered
3. bald
4. lower
SYNONYMS
First unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each unscrambled word next
to its synonym (word with a similar meaning).
WOLPRUFE ________________________ DERENT ______________________
BUSBYT __________________________ LUAUSLY ______________________
SAICFIELDS _______________________ AKEIL ________________________
1. similar / __________________ 4. ordinarily / ____________________
2. soft / _____________________ 5. mighty / ______________________
3. short / ____________________ 6. categorized / __________________
b
H N F
U
E
E
S
6
4
1 2 3
5
86
CATEGORIES
List each word in the box under the correct heading.
newborn underground helpless longer vegetarian cottontail
1. COMPOUND WORDS 2. WORDS WITH SUFFIXES
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
HOMONYMS
Homonyms are words that sound the same but have different meanings and
spellings. First write a homonym for each boldface word from the reading. Then
write a sentence that contains both words. The first one has been done for you.
1. hare / ____________________
________________________________________________________________
2. pairs / ____________________
________________________________________________________________
3. bear / ____________________
________________________________________________________________
4. tails / ____________________
________________________________________________________________
5. two / ____________________
________________________________________________________________
hair
The hair on that hare is a beautiful brown color.
87
Lesson 3
Animal Intelligence
long does the animal remember what
it has learned? The answers to these
questions are strong indications of the
animal’s learning and memory
capacities.
Which animals are smarter? In
learning how to solve new problems,
vertebrates are usually superior to
invertebrates. Chimpanzees, dogs,
cats, and rats make high scores on
various tests. But there are wide
differences among individual animals
of the same species. Some bees, ants,
and cockroaches, for example, are
much brighter than other members of
the same colony.
Here are a few fascinating facts about animal intelligence:
• Many fish have color vision and can
recognize each other by color
patterns on the head.
• Squirrels, like some birds, have a
sense of numbers.
• An octopus can run mazes and
differentiate between a circle, a
square, and a triangle.
• Toads and frogs learn to respond to
their caretakers.
WORD SEARCH
1. What thirteen-letter verb in the
reading means “to tell the difference
between”? __d___________________________
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
Many animals, from
a flea to an elephant,
can be taught to perform tricks. But
these acts tell us little about learning
ability. An animal’s intelligence is
measured by how it manages a new
situation and how well it solves problems.
The maze is one method scientists
use to test animal intelligence. A maze
contains a number of confusing
pathways. In a scientific test, the
animal’s task is to discover the path
that leads to food or some other
reward. How many attempts does the
animal make to find its way through
the blind alleys of the maze? And how
88
2. What thirteen-letter plural noun in
the reading means “creatures without
backbones”? ___________________________
3. What six-letter noun in the reading
means “a group of animals or plants
living or growing together”? ___________________________
4. What eight-letter verb in the reading
means “found out the exact size, amount,
or extent of something”? ___________________________
SYNONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle
with words from the reading.
Clues are synonyms (words
with a similar meaning) of
the answer words.
ACROSS
2. signs
4. designs
6. tries
7. bewildering
DOWN
1. smarter
3. abilities; skills
5. answers;
explains
CATEGORIES
Write examples from the reading that belong to each category.
1. three geometric figures: _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
2. four insects: _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
B
I C
P S
A
C
6
4
3
7
2
1
5
i
c
m
89
WORD FORMS
Complete the chart. If the boldface word is a noun, write its verb form. If the word is
a verb, write its noun form.
VERBS NOUNS
1. recognize
2. colony
3. measure
4. perform
5. memory
6. solve
ANTONYMS
Unscramble the words from the reading. Then write each one next to its antonym
(word that means the opposite).
DRAWER ______________________ INVALIDUDI ______________________
ROPERIUS _____________________ SCANTIGAFIN _____________________
1. boring / _____________________ 3. inferior / ____________________
2. group / _____________________ 4. punishment / ________________
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Circle a letter to show the meaning of the boldface word or words.
1. An animal must find its way around blind alleys.
a. scary streets b. dark passages c. dead-end paths
2. Toads and frogs respond to their caretakers.
a. recognize b. give intelligent c. try to please
and react to answers to and impress
90
Lesson 4
Why Are Deserts Dry?
By definition, deserts are simply
regions where the annual amount of
evaporation exceeds the annual
amount of precipitation. These stark,
arid stretches of land cover about 30
percent of the Earth’s surface. The
Sahara Desert of Northern Africa is
the world’s largest. It covers an area
of three and a half million square
miles.
There are two distinct types of
deserts: subtropical and midlatitude.
Subtropical deserts cover vast
expanses between 10 degrees and 30
degrees latitude. High-pressure
atmospheric conditions in those
regions cause the air to sink and grow
warmer. Subtropical deserts include
those in Arizona, the Sahara, the
Arabian Peninsula, and most of
Australia’s interior.
Midlatitude deserts are usually
found on the downwind side of major
geographic barriers. These barriers—
mountain ranges such as the Sierra
Nevada, the Himalayas, and the
Andes—block a large percentage of
moisture-laden winds. The Great
Basin, a cool desert of North America,
is a good example of a midlatitude
desert. The Great Basin developed
because of the “rain shadow”
produced by the Sierra Nevada.
Some deserts were formed because
the prevailing winds are too far away
from large bodies of water. Two
deserts in such interior locations are
the Gobi and the Turkestan in Asia.
WORD SEARCH
1. What ten-letter adjective in the reading
means “most common or frequent”? ___________________________
2. What ten-letter noun in the reading
means “a certain part or amount in
every hundred”? ___________________________
p
p
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
91
3. What seven-letter verb in the reading
means “goes beyond what is usual or
allowed”? ___________________________
ANTONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with words from the reading. Clues are
antonyms (words that mean the opposite) of the answer words.
ACROSS
2. alike; same
3. small
4. minor
6. upwind
DOWN
1. exterior; coastal
2. rain forest
5. humid; damp
THE PREFIX mid-
The prefix mid- means “middle or middle part.” Complete the sentences below with a
word beginning with mid-. Use a dictionary if you need help.
1. The two small planes met in a _________________________ collision.
2. _________________________ is the halfway point between dusk
and dawn.
3. Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, Nebraska are ________________________
cities.
4. Students take _________________________ tests halfway through
the semester.
5. The cafeteria serves lunch at _________________________.
I
D
V MA
D
6
3 4
2
1
5
e
92
MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS
Some words have entirely different meanings when they are used in different
contexts. Unscramble the multiple-meaning words from the reading. Then write a
sentence for each meaning shown.
1. SEGNAR ____________________
a. (noun) rows or lines of connected mountains ____________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. (verb) roams or wanders about freely ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. CHESTRETS ____________________
a. (noun) unbroken distances_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. (verb) draws out to full length or to a greater size ________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. BOLCSK ____________________
a. (verb) stops movement or progress______________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. (noun) wooden or plastic toy bricks or cubes _____________________
_____________________________________________________________
SYNONYMS
Draw a line to match each boldface word from the reading with its synonym (word
with a similar meaning).
1. stark a. loaded
2. barriers b. developed
3. laden c. obstructions
4. formed d. bleak
93
Lesson 5
Q&A Sites on the Internet
Do you need the answer to a
tricky question? Would you like some
help understanding a difficult
concept? You can always try one of
the Question and Answer (Q&A)
sites on the World Wide Web. These
are places you can submit a question
for an expert to answer. Before you
start clicking, however, there are a
few things you should know.
Most Web sites offering expert
assistance also keep an archive. This
is a collection of all previous
questions and answers—or at least
the most frequently asked questions
(FAQs). So check out the site’s
archive before submitting your
question. If your question has
already been answered in their
archive, some sites will not respond
to your e-mail.
Other sites require a certain time
frame to respond—perhaps two days,
or even longer. Still other sites select
and answer only one question of all
those received in a day or a week.
And they answer it only on a
message board. That means you
have to visit the message board
frequently to see if your question was
chosen. Some interesting Q&A sites
are listed below. Just remember that
Web sites change frequently. If one
site doesn’t work, try another one!
• www.howstuffworks.com
for help with science projects
• www.science.ca/ask/
150 Canadian scientists answer
your questions
• www.ipl.org/youth/
great references for kids from the
Internet Public Library
• http://mathforum.com/dr.math
Dr. Math accepts math challenges.
WORD SEARCH
1. What seven-letter noun in the reading
means “a general idea of what a thing
or a group of things is”? _c________________________
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
94
2. What ten-letter plural noun in the
reading means “books or other sources
of information”? _________________________
3. What eight-letter verb in the reading
means “putting forward for someone
to take or refuse”? _________________________
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Circle a letter to show the meaning of the boldface words in the sentences.
1. Many Web sites provide FAQs to provide help quickly.
a. Fast Accurate Quotes
b. Facts and Quality
c. Frequently Asked Questions
2. If you can imagine a subject, you can find out about it on the
Internet.
a. international network of electronically connected computers
b. a search engine such as www.yahoo.com
c. Web pages with customized information
3. Your question may be answered on the site’s message board.
a. an organization’s list used for regular mailings
b. area on a Web site where users post comments and read
the comments of others
c. an educational chat room for regular users
4. Some sites respond only within a certain time frame.
a. date and time of day framed on the screen
b. information about the time an event occurred
c. period of time during which something is planned to take place
r
o
95
HOMONYMS
Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings and sometimes
different spellings. Clue words are homonyms of words from the reading. Use words
from the reading to complete the crossword puzzle.
N W
S
T Y
K
S
6
4
3
7
1 2
5
ACROSS
3. sights
4. to
6. no
7. sea
DOWN
1. knot
2. weak
3. sum
5. ewe
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
Write S or A next to each word pair to show whether the words are synonyms (words
with a similar meaning) or antonyms (words with opposite meanings).
1. _____ submit / receive 5. _____ frequently / rarely
2. _____ perhaps / maybe 6. _____ require / need
3. _____ respond / answer 7. _____ expert / amateur
4. _____ chosen / rejected 8. _____ previous / earlier
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Figure out the relationship between the first
two words. Then complete the analogy with a word from the reading that shows the
same relationship.
1. Gymnasium is to gym 3. Money is to budget
as mathematics is to as time is to
_________________________. _________________________.
2. Later is to subsequently 4. Send is to submit
as earlier is to as reply is to
_________________________. _________________________.
96
Lesson 6
Scientists agree about one thing:
The world’s most famous volcano
will erupt again. The only active
volcano on the mainland of Europe,
Vesuvius is currently the subject of a
bitter dispute. One volcanologist says
that state-of-the-art equipment will
give two or three weeks’ warning
before a major eruption occurs.
That would be enough time to
evacuate the 700,000 people who
live on Vesuvius’s slopes.
Another leading expert disagrees,
however. He says that precursor
signs—such as increased seismic
activity and changes in the water
table—won’t save anybody. He
insists that such signs may be
evident for months or even years in
advance of a big blow. He maintains
that it’s impossible to pinpoint the
WORD SEARCH
1. What fourteen-letter plural noun
in the reading names scientists who
specialize in the study of volcanoes? _____________________________
2. What seven-letter adjective in the
reading describes an effect “caused
by an earthquake or explosion”? _____________________________
v
s
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
Science in the News: Monitoring Vesuvius
time of an eruption.
And according
to him, quickly
evacuating so
many people
is hopelessly impractical. Disaster
planners are closely monitoring the
debate.
Looming over the Bay of Naples,
Italy, Vesuvius is a catastrophe
waiting to happen.
In 79 A.D., a tremendous flow of
hot lava cascaded down the
mountain in convulsive waves. The
city of Pompeii was buried alive in
less than 48 hours. Such an eruption
today would certainly reach the
coastal plain in six minutes, wiping
out everything in its path. How to
prepare for the inevitable is the
only question.
97
3. What seven-letter adjective in the reading
describes something that comes into
sight in a sudden, frightening way? _____________________________
ANTONYMS
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Unscramble the words from the
reading and write them next to their antonyms.
1. SUMOAF 4. PINTONIP
__________________ / unknown __________________ / guess
2. TONGRINIOM 5. TICAVE
__________________ / ignoring __________________ / extinct
3. NYCETRIAL 6. TRIBET
__________________ / doubtfully __________________ / mild
SYNONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with
words from the reading. Clues are
synonyms (words with a similar
meaning) of the answer words.
ACROSS
3. argument
5. plain; clear
6. explode
8. enormous
DOWN
1. topic
2. forerunner
4. unavoidable
7. indications
S
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6
3 4
8
7
2
1
5
l
98
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Circle a letter to show the meaning of the boldface words. If you need help,
check a dictionary.
1. Lava and burning ashes cascaded down the mountain.
a. exploded in b. quickly flowed c. mushroomed in
all directions in large amounts a dark cloud
2. Would residents have enough time to evacuate?
a. immediately leave b. board up c. evaporate the
for safety’s sake their homes hot lava
3. Can state-of-the-art equipment warn of an eruption?
a. finest instruments b. artistic c. most advanced
in the state renderings technology
4. Convulsive waves of lava completely buried Pompeii.
a. curving outward, b. uncontrollably c. very dense
not inward jerky and shaky and heavy
5. On the mainland of Europe, Vesuvius is the only active volcano.
a. not an island b. most important c. centrally
or a peninsula region located
WORD FORMS
Rewrite each boldface word from the reading in the form of an adjective or a noun.
Check a dictionary if you’re not sure of the spelling.
ADJECTIVE FORM NOUN FORM
1. volcano ___________________ 1. active ___________________
2. catastrophe ___________________ 2. erupt __________________
3. disaster ___________________ 3. occur ___________________
99
Lesson 7
Noise Pollution: How Loud Is Too Loud?
5 dB. If someone shouts in your ear,
the sound level may reach 100 dB.
Sound levels above 120 dB cause
physical pain. At 140 dB, extremely
loud sound can break your eardrums,
and at 180 dB, it can kill you! Hearing
loss is common in people who work
around constantly thunderous,
roaring, or shrieking sounds.
Besides damaging your hearing,
noise pollution can hurt you in other
ways. When people are exposed to
noise levels above 70 dB, their blood
pressure and pulse rates increase.
Because their bodies are under stress,
they become tense and irritable.
WORD SEARCH
1. What nine-letter noun in the reading
means “the quality of having great
strength or force”? __________________________
2. What ten-letter adverb in the reading
means “steadily and invariably, without
stopping”? __________________________
3. What nine-letter noun in the reading
means “corrupted condition caused by
an outside influence”? __________________________
c
p
i
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
UNIT 4
Warnings about the
dangers of air and water
pollution are frequently
in the news. But noise pollution is
also a serious problem in the modern
world. City-dwellers are especially
vulnerable since noise levels are
higher in urban areas. Loud noise
stresses the nerves in your ears. If
the excessively loud noise continues
for a long time, your ears can be
damaged permanently.
Did you know that the intensity
of sound is measured in decibels
(dB)? A very faint noise, such as the
sound of human breathing, is about
100
4. What six-letter plural noun in the
reading means “bodily fibers that
connect organs, muscles, etc. to the
brain and spinal cord”? ___________________________
ANTONYMS
Complete the crossword puzzle with
words from the reading. Clues are
antonyms (words that mean the
opposite) of the answer words.
ACROSS
3. diminish
6. shielded
7. joyful
DOWN
1. rural
2. temporarily
4. unusual
5. ancient
SYNONYMS
Unscramble the words from the reading. Then write the unscrambled words next to
their synonyms (words with a similar meaning).
1. GAMEAD 3. IOURSSE
__________________ / injury __________________ / severe
2. ARKEB 4. STOUSH
__________________ / rupture ____________________ / yells
n
U
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I C
M N
E
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I
3 4
1
5
6
7
2
101
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Find the relationship between the first two
words. Then write a word from the reading that shows the same relationship between
the second pair of words.
1. Fahrenheit is to F 4. Effect is to cause
as decibel is to as flood is to
______________________. ______________________.
2. Damage is to injury 5. Soft is to whisper
as strain is to as loud is to
______________________. ______________________.
3. Finger is to knuckle 6. Adjective is to noun
as ear is to as intense is to
______________________. ______________________.
WORD COMPLETION
Add vowels (a, e, i, o, u) to complete the words in the sentences.
1. Increased bl__ __d pressure and pulse r__t__s are two signs
of physical stress.
2. A person with c__mpl__t__ hearing loss is d__ __f.
3. If you are in a good m__ __d, you are not a bit __rr__t__bl__.
4. Respiration is the scientific term for br__ __th__ng.
5. A f__ __nt sound is very low and s__ft.
6. The adjective form of the noun str__ss is str__ssf__l.
7. A p__rm__n__nt disability never goes away.
s
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102
UNIT 4
REVIEW
SPELLING
Circle the correctly spelled word in each group.
1. vaccum vacuum vaccume
2. weathering whethering wethering
3. diffrences diferrences differences
4. intellagence intelligense intelligence
WORD FORMS
To correctly complete each sentence, add a suffix to the boldface word. Write the
new word on the line.
1. One who pollutes is called a ________________________.
2. A book or Web site you refer to for information is called a
________________________.
3. When you submit a question to a Web site, your question is your
________________________.
4. A scientist who studies volcanoes is a ________________________.
MYSTERY WORDS
To complete the sentences, write the unscrambled words on the lines.
1. An VERAICH ___________________ is a Web site’s collection of FAQs.
2. To NOTPINIP ___________________ something is to identify it exactly.
3. The place where an organism lives is its THABAIT
___________________.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
103
HIDDEN WORDS PUZZLE
Find and circle the words in the hidden words puzzle. Words may go up, down,
across, backward, or diagonally. Check off each word as you find it.
_____ ERUPT _____ BURROWS
_____ HARES _____ HOMONYMS
_____ DESERT _____ SUPERIOR
_____ MAJOR _____ DOWNWIND
_____ RANGE _____ INTERNET
_____ SUBMIT _____ ARCHIVE
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Now use each word from the puzzle in a sentence of your own. Try to include a
scientific fact, explanation, or example in each sentence.
1. archive ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. submit _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. burrows _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. erupt __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
5. hares __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. homonyms _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
I N T E R N E T P A C S
S O M X D N I W N W O D
U H A B T E V I H C R A
P N O S D F S K L H E J
E H W M E W R E T Y R E
R L A K O H J R R E U G
I H G R J N K L B T P N
O Q R S E A Y O U B T A
R U X C B S R M A J O R
B Z O T I M B U S M K S
104
7. desert __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. superior _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
9. major __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
10. range __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
11. Internet _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. downwind _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
ANALOGIES
Analogies are statements of relationship. Find the relationship between the first two
words. Then show the same relationship in the second pair of words by completing
the analogy with a word from Unit 4.
1. Fall is to snow 4. Much is to little
as cascade is to as loud is to
___________________________. ___________________________.
2. Explode is to explosion 5. Sound is to homonyms
as erupt is to as meaning is to
___________________________. ___________________________.
3. Yesterday is to outdated 6. Lion is to consumer
as now is to as dandelion is to
___________________________. ___________________________.
e
p
l
s
s
f
105
END-OF-BOOK TEST
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
ELEMENTS OF VOCABULARY
• Complete the crossword puzzle with a word that
names the category that could label the clue words.
Answers are some of the elements of vocabulary
you’ve been working with in this book.
ACROSS
2. student, Paris, loyalty
4. red, electric, spongy
6. are, jump, think
7. therm, gen, vit
DOWN
1. -ment, -ance, -ist
3. inter-, pro-, anti-
4. soon, slowly, awkwardly
5. daybreak, snowshoe, barnyard
• Now write three examples of your own for each element of vocabulary (crossword
puzzle answers).
1. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
2. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
3. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
4. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
S
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R
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6
4 5
3
2
7
106
5. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
6. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
7. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
8. ELEMENT: ____________________
EXAMPLES: _________________ _________________ _________________
HOMONYMS
Homonyms are words that sound exactly alike, but have different meanings and
often, different spellings. First figure out a homonym for each boldface word from
the book. Then write a phrase, describing your homonym with two appropriate
adjectives. The first one has been done for you.
HOMONYM PHRASE
1. sun ________________ _______________________________________
2. chilly ________________ _______________________________________
3. flower ________________ _______________________________________
4. hare ________________ _______________________________________
PLURALS
Write the correct plural form of each boldface word from the book. If you need help,
check a dictionary.
1. kidney 4. bacterium 7. memory
_________________ _________________ _________________
2. fungus 5. alley 8. flurry
_________________ _________________ _________________
3. species 6. criterion 9. ability
_________________ _________________ _________________
son her oldest, tallest son
107
SILENT LETTERS
Find and circle the silent letter in half the words listed below.
gnawing liver aerial focus
respond autumn modem knowledge
ANTONYMS
Find and circle the words hidden in the puzzle. Words may go up, down, across,
backward, or diagonally. Check off each word as you find it. When you have circled
all the words, write each word next to its antonym (word that means the opposite).
_____ EXTINCT _____ PARASITE
_____ SOLID _____ INTERIOR
_____ MULTIPLE _____ LATITUDE
_____ URBAN _____ CONDENSATION
_____ INFERIOR _____ OUTPUT
_____ MAJOR _____ VOWELS
1. consonants /_________________ 7. living / ______________________
2. minor / _____________________ 8. host / ______________________
3. liquid / _____________________ 9. evaporation / ________________
4. exterior / ___________________ 10. single / ______________________
5. input / ______________________ 11. rural / ______________________
6. longitude / __________________ 12. superior / ___________________
I M U L T I P L E A C S
N O I T A S N E D N O C
F E A B T E V I N C R R
E X L S D F O K A H O O
R T W A E U R E B I R J
I I A K T H T R R E U A
O N G P J I K E U T V M
R C U S S A T O U O T A
R T X A B N R U W J O R
B Z R T I S O E D D K S
A A C D E F L H I E K L
P N O P Q S O L I D W X
108
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Circle a word to correctly complete each sentence.
1. Rabbits and hares have a second pair of upper ( incisors / appendages ).
2. Noise levels are measured in ( Hz / dB ).
3. ( Evaporation / Elevation ) determines whether precipitation will
fall as rain or snow.
4. Scientists have identified 103 ( organic / chemical ) elements.
5. The ( tuners / transistors ) in a radio amplify the program current.
6. Carnivore is to meat-eater as herbivore is to
( vegetarian / cold-blooded ).
COMPOUND WORDS
First unscramble the compound words. Then use each unscrambled word to complete
one of the sentences.
DROOLBETAMS _________________ NAILMAND _______________________
GLINTHUS _____________________ THAWGENVEL _____________________
1. Calcium is released as needed into the ____________________.
2. The distance between successive crests on the ocean’s surface is called
the ____________________.
3. As it passes through ice crystals, ____________________ refracts and
appears as sun dogs.
4. Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the ____________________ of
Europe.
109
WORD LIST
Abbreviation
ability
absorb
adjective
advance
adverb
aerial
African
amino acids
amplified
analogy
Andes
annual
Antarctica
antenna
antonym
ants
appendage
application
applied research
appropriate
Arabian Peninsula
archive
arctic
area
arid
Arizona
astronomy
atmosphere
atoms
Australia
author
authority
axis
Bacteria
barriers
basic research
bees
biologists
bit
bitter
blind alleys
blood pressure
bloodstream
blubber
boldface
botany, botanist
branch
brittle
broadcasting
buds
burrows
byte
Calcitrol
calcium
campus
capacity
captivity
carbohydrates
carbon
carbon dioxide
caretaker
cascade
catastrophe
category
cell
Celluloid
challenges
characteristics
chemistry
chilly
chimpanzee
chromosomes
cirrus
classification
classify
climate
coastal
cockroach
cold-blooded
colony
compound
computers
concepts
condensation
conditions
confirm
consistent
constant
consumers
context
continents
contrary
contrast
convulsive
cottontail
crests
criteria
crust
crystals
currency
currents
cycle
cyclone
Damage
debate
decaying
decibels (dB)
degrees (°)
dense
density
desert
detract
devastating
devised
diagonally
differentiate
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
110
digital
disaster
discovery
disk drive
diskettes
disprove
dispute
dissipate
distinct
distinguishing
distractions
document
downwind
dynamic
Eardrum
ecology
ecosystem
egg
electromagnetic
electronic
element
elephant
elevated, elevation
endangered
energy
enormous
environment
equipment
erosion
erupt
essential
evacuate
evaporation
evident, evidence
evolution
exact
exceed
excessively
expanses
experiment
expert
exposed, exposure
extent
extinct
Factors
faint
fascinating
features
fertilization
findings
flea
flurries
focus
food chain
force
fossils
frequency
frigid
fungi, fungus
furred
fuzzy
Gas
genetics
geographic
geology
germinate, germination
glossary
gnawing
Gobi
graphite
greenhouse
Habitat
halos
hare
harpoon
hazardous waste
helium
herbivore
hertz
hexagonal
high-pressure system
Himalayas
hind
hollows
homonym
hoofed
horizon
horizontal
horns
host
hydrogen
hypothesis
Incinerate
incisors
individuals
industrious
industry
inevitable
inferior
information
inland
input
instruments
intensity
interaction
interior
intermittent
Internet
intervals
inventions, inventor
invertebrates
investigations
involved
irritable
Italy
Jet stream
Kidneys
kilokingdom
knowledge
WORD LIST
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
111
Landfill
latitude
lava
laws of nature
lenses
life science
linger
liquid
liver
locations, locales
longevity
longitude
looming
Magma
magnifying glass
mainland
maintains
major
mammal
manufacture
Mars
masses
matter
maze
measure
megamemory
mercury
message board
metal
meteor
microscopes
midlatitude
migrate
minerals
minute
modem
modern
moisture
mold
molecules
monitor
monitoring
mountain ranges
mullein plants
multiple
Naked
Naples
nature
navigate
nest
newborn
noise
nostrils
notation
noun
nucleus
nutrient
nutrition
Objects
observation
oceans
offshore
offspring
operate
opposite
order
organic chemistry
organisms
oriented
outlook
output
overcast
overview
oxygen
ozone
Parallel
parasite
parhelia
particle
parts of speech
pattern
percentage
permanently
perpendicular
phenomenon
physics, physicist
pinpoint
plain
planet
plastics
plural
polar
pollute, pollution
Pompeii
practical
Precambrian era
precipitation
precursor
prefix
preliminary
prevailing winds
process
produced
productive
professor
projected
proper adjective
proper noun
properties
pulse
pursuit
Qualities
quartz
quest
Rabbit
radiation
radio frequency
waves
rain forest
rain shadow
rate
ratio
WORD LIST
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
112
reaction
reflect
refracting
regenerated
regions
relationship
relentless
reputable
research
respiration
respond
retardation
retiring
rhinoceros
rodent
Satellite
scholars
scientific method
score
seas
seedlings
seismic
Sierra Nevada
signal
site
skeptical
sketch
slopes
solar system
solid
sound waves
source
space
species
specific
spectrum
spongy
square miles
stark
state-of-the-art
stations
stomach
stratus
stress
stretches
subject
submit
substance
substitute
subtropical
successive
suffix
Sumatran
sun dogs
superior
surf
surface
swells
synonym
synthetic
Task
technical
technology
teeming
telegraph
terminate
test
theory
thermometer
thunderous
time frame
tissue
topography
transistors
transmit
tremendous
tuner
turbine
Turkestan
twigs
Ultraviolet
underground
undulations
unearthed
unit
universe
updated
upwind
urban
Vacuum
various
vast
vegetarians
verb
verify
vertebrates
Vesuvius
vibrations
vitality
vocabulary
volcanologist
volt
vowels
vulnerable
Warm-blooded
water cycle
water table
wave
wavelength
waves
weathering
Web sites
wither
Zinc
WORD LIST
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORDS
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