Reading Explorer 1

Target Vocabulary Definitions

access (n.) a way of being able to use or get something

accidentally (adv.) unintentionally; happening by chance, not on purpose
accomplish (v.) to succeed in doing (something)
according (to) (phrase) as stated by or in agreement with a particular source
achieve (v.) to succeed in doing something after a lot of effort
advance (n.) progress in a particular field
advantage (n.) benefit or gain
advice (n.) an opinion about what someone should do in a particular situation
affect (v.) to influence or change a person, thing, or situation
alike (adj.) similar to
allow (v.) to give permission to do something or not to do anything to prevent it
although (conj.) used to introduce a contrasting statement
ancient (adj.) very old, having existed for a long time
appearance (n.) the way someone or something looks
apply (v.) to put or spread (something) on a surface
approach (v.) to get closer to something
appropriate (adj.) suitable or acceptable for a situation
artist (n.) someone who draws, paints, or produces works of art, or a person who
performs such as a musician or actor
assist (v.) to help someone
attitude (n.) the way one thinks and feels about something
attract (v.) to cause (someone or something) to go to or move to a place
audience (n.) a group of people who watch or listen to a play, concert, movie, television
program, and so on
average (adj.) normal or ordinary
avoid (v.) to prevent something from happening or keep away from something
background (n.) the kind of family one comes from and the kind of education one has
balance (n.) a state in which different things occur in the correct amounts
belong (to) (v.) to be the property of a person or thing
benefit (v.) to help or improve your life in some way
block (n.) a large rectangular or square piece of stone
bravery (n.) the quality that allows someone to do things that are dangerous or
frightening; courageous behavior or character
bright (adj.) shining strongly, full of light
bury (v.) to hide (something) in the ground
capable (adj.) able to do something
century (n.) a period of 100 years
certain (adj.) definite or specific, but not named or stated
challenge (n.) something new and difficult that requires great effort and determination
circle (v.) to move around something in a circle
climate (n.) the general weather conditions that are typical of a place
club (n.) a place, like a nightclub, where people go for entertainment
collect (v.) to gather together; to accumulate
collector (n.) a person who collects certain things as a hobby
common (adj.) occurring or appearing frequently; usual
compete (v.) to take part in a contest or a game and try to win
completely (adv.) totally, entirely
concentrate (v.) to focus all one’s attention on a particular object or activity
confirm (v.) to state that (something) is true or correct
connection (n.) an association or relationship between two things
construction (n.) the building or creating of something
contact (v.) to send a message to someone
conversation (n.) To talk with someone, usually in an informal situation
crash (v.) to hit something hard enough to cause damage
creative (adj.) able to invent, create, and develop original ideas
crime (n.) activity that is against the law
cure (v.) to relieve or get rid of a disease or illness
currency (n.) something that is used as money
cycle (n.) a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
damage (v.) to break or harm something
deadly (adj.) causing or able to cause death
deeply (adv.) strongly, seriously
(in) demand (phrase) greatly desired or sought after
depend (on) (v.) to be determined or based on (something)
despite (prep.) even though; used to introduce a fact that makes something surprising
destroy (v.) to cause so much damage that something is completely ruined
determined (adj.) having made a firm decision to do something despite opposition
develop (v.) to cause (something) to grow or become more advanced
dig up (v.) to find in the ground; unearth
disappearance (n.) an act of vanishing; going to a place that cannot be found
discover (v.) to find unexpectedly or during a search
disease (n.) an illness that affects people, animals, or plants
distance (n.) the degree or amount of space between two places
diversity (n.) the quality or state of having many different things or types
divide (v.) to separate into smaller groups or parts
doubtful (adj.) unlikely or uncertain
dramatically (adv.) sudden and extreme
dream (of) (v.) to indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired; to
hope for
earn (v.) to receive money in return for work that one does
effort (n.) an attempt; trying and working very hard to do something
employ (v.) to give someone a job to do for payment
encourage (v.) to give someone confidence, letting the person know what they are doing is
good
energy (n.) the ability to be active
entire (adj.) the whole of (something)
environment (n.) the conditions that surround something
equality (n.) the same status, rights, advantages, and responsibilities for everyone
equipment (n.) supplies or tools needed for a special purpose
escape (v.) to succeed in getting away from someone, something, or some place
especially (adv.) applying more to one person, things, and so on than to any others; in
particular
estimate (n.) an approximate judgment or calculation
eventually (adv.) in the end
evidence (n.) a visible sign of something
examine (v.) to look at someone or something very carefully
expose (v.) to lay uncovered to something
extend (v.) to stretch or spread (something) out to greater or fullest length
extreme (adj.) very great in degree or intensity
factor (n.) one of the things that affects an event, decision, or situation
factor (n.) one of the things that affects an event, decision, or situation
fail (v.) to not succeed in doing something
fairly (adv.) to some degree but not extremely
familiar (adj.) used to describe someone or something that you recognize and know well
fearless (adj.) not afraid at all
female (adj.) referring to women and girls
flight (n.) a trip made by or in an airplane
freedom (n.) the state of being allowed to do what one wants to do
gentle (adj.) kind, mild, and calm
giant (adj.) huge, much larger than others of its kind
goal (n.) something to achieve, although it will take much time and effort
harmful (adj.) causing or likely to cause damage or hurt
harmless (adj.) not causing harm; not dangerous
head (v.) to move in a certain direction
heavy (adj.) having great weight
height (n.) the size or length of something from top to bottom
hide (v.) to put something or someone in a place where they cannot easily be found
hit (v.) to be touched or struck with a lot of force
huge (adj.) something extremely large in size, amount, or degree
hunter (n.) a person or animal that searches for other animals to kill for food
identify (v.) to discover or notice the existence of something
ignore (v.) refuse to take notice of or acknowledge
illegal (adj.) something the law says is not allowed
immediately (adv.) without delay, right away
improve (v.) to make or to become better
income (n.) money earned or received
independent (adj.) separate, not connected to or influenced by others
infection (n.) a disease caused by germs
influence (v.) to have an effect on something
intelligent (adj.) having the ability to think, understand, and learn things quickly and well
international (adj.) involving two or more countries; occurring between countries
investigate (v.) to try to find out what happened or what the truth is
invisible (adj.) impossible to see
involve (v.) to take part or participate in a situation, event, or activity
issue (n.) a subject that people argue about or discuss
journey (n.) travel from one place to another
journey (n.) travel from one place to another
lack (of) (v.) to not have enough of (something)
law (n.) the whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state or
country
length (n.) the size or measurement of something from one end to the other
limited (adj.) restricted in amount; very few
locate (v.) to find the place or position of (something or someone)
magical (adj.) wonderful or mysterious
maintain (v.) to keep something going in good condition, level, or standard
majority (n.) the largest part of a group of people or thing
medicine (n.) the treatment of illness and injuries by doctors and nurses
memorize (v.) to learn something so one can remember it exactly
message (n.) information that someone is trying to communicate
method (n.) a particular way of doing something
middle (n.) the part of something that is furthest from its edges; the center
mission (n.) a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task
model (n.) a standard or example for imitation or comparison
modern (adj.) of or relating to the present time
move (into) (v.) to occupy a dwelling or place of work
museum (n.) a building where a large number of interesting and valuable things are kept
mystery (n.) something that is not known or understood
nation (n.) a large area of land that is controlled by its own government
native (n.) someone born in a particular place
neighbor (n.) someone who lives near or next to you
network (n.) the act or process of building something (such as a house or a road)
normally (adv.) under normal or usual conditions
occupation (n.) a job or profession
opinion (n.) a personal belief or view
option (n.) something that may be choses; a choice
ordinary (adj.) normal; not special or different in any way
overall (adj.) as a whole; in general
path (n.) a strip of ground that people walk on
peace (n.) a state of quiet and calm; not war
performance (n.) entertaining an audience by singing, dancing, or acting
physically (adv.) in or of the body
popular (adj.) well-liked by a lot of people
potential (n.) the possibility for doing something
powerful (adj.) very strong or effective
predict (v.) to say or estimate what will happen in the future
preserve (v.) to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition
pretend (v.) to make believe something is true
primarily (adv.) mainly, first of all
proceed (v.) to continue, to carry on doing something
process (n.) series of changes that happen naturally
properly (adv.) correctly, in a satisfactory way
property (n.) a building and the land around it; also, all the things that belong to someone
protect (v.) to keep (someone or something) from being harmed
proud proud (adj.) pleased and satisfied about something good you’ve done
prove (v.) to show that something is true
provide (v.) to supply (something that is needed or wanted)
publish (v.) to issue (books, newspapers, etc.) for sale or distribution to the public
purchase (v.) to buy something
race (v.) to go very quickly
rare (adj.) something that is not common and therefore valuable
(in) reality (phrase) used to introduce a statement about the real nature of something;
actually, in fact
receive (v.) to get or be given (something)
recognize (v.) to recall or remember something when you see or hear a person or thing
record (n.) an account kept in writing or some other permanent form
reflect (v.) to mirror or give a true idea about something
relative (n.) a member of your family
relax (v.) to feel more calm and less tense
religious (adj.) connected with religion
resident (n.) a person who lives somewhere permanently
respect (adj.) admired or considered important by many people
response (n.) a reply or reaction
restore (v.) to return to its original condition
reveal (v.) to make known; disclose
role (n.) a position or function in a situation
route (n.) a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination
sail (v.) to travel by boat over the seas
scary (adj.) something that is frightening
search (for) (v.) to look carefully for something
section (n.) a part of something
seek (v.) to try to fi nd or obtain something
separate (adj.) forming or viewed as a unit apart or by itself
sharp (adj.) keen in intellect and attention
shine (v.) to produce or reflect light
shock (v.) to be very upset because of something unpleasant you didn’t expect
shoot (v.) to kill or injure someone by fi ring a bullet or by using an arrow
significant (adj.) having a special or hidden meaning
skill (n.) the ability to do something well
smart (adj.) clever or intelligent
source (n.) something or someone that provides what is wanted or needed
species (n.) a group of animals or plants that are similar
specific (adj.) precise and exact
spread (out) (v.) to reach or extend to a larger area
steal (v.) to take something without permission and without intending to return it
strategy (n.) a plan to achieve something, especially over a long period
suddenly (adv.) quickly and unexpectedly
suffer (v.) to be badly affected by a disease, pain, sadness, a lack of something, etc
surface (n.) the outside or flat top part of something
survive (v.) to live through a dangerous situation
system (n.) a way of doing something that follows a fixed plan or set of rules
target (v.) to decide to attack a particular person, thing, or place
task (n.) an activity or piece of work that one has to do
team (n.) a group of people who work together
technique (n.) the method of doing something
terrible (adj.) extremely bad
terrorize (v.) to cause (someone) to be extremely afraid
text (n.) written material
tie (v.) to fasten things together with a knot
timeless (adj.) used to describe something that is so good or beautiful that it is not
affected by changes in society or fashion
tool (n.) an instrument or piece of equipment
trainer (n.) someone who teaches people or animals necessary skills
transfer (v.) to change from one place or situation to another
treasure (n.) something that is very special, important or valuable
valuable (adj.) useful, helpful, or worth a lot of money
vivid (adj.) very bright in color
weigh (v.) to measure how heavy someone or something is
whatever (conj.) used to indicate something that is not precisely known
youth (n.) a young person, especially a young man