| 1. amazingly: in a way that causes surprise or wonder |
| 2. celebration: a special activity that honors a person, event, or idea |
| 3. decorate: to adorn; to make festive with beautiful things |
| 4. detain: to delay; to hold back |
| 5. festive: joyful |
| 6. honor: to show respect for |
| 7. reluctant: unwilling; slow to take necessary action |
| 8. spectators: people who watch an event or performance |
| 9. suspects: imagines that something secret or wrong is going on |
| 10. volunteered: offered to do something of one’s own free will |
| 11. millet: the grain or seed of a type of grass used for food |
| 12. staples: basic food items, such as flour or rice |
| 13. stifle: to interrupt or cut off |
| 14. beamed: smiled broadly |
| 15. huddled: crowded together |
| 16. approach: the steps a diver takes before jumping from a diving board |
| 17. springboard: a diving board that bounces when jumped on |
| 18. errand: a short trip taken to do something |
| 1. dog guide: a dog especially trained to lead people who are blind |
| 2. cinch: something easy |
| 3. memorizing: learning by heart |
| 4. layout: the arrangement of something |
| 5. pace: rate of speed at which a person walks |
| 6. mature: full-grown |
| 7. veered: swerved |
| 8. soloed: performed without an instructor |
| 9. mastered: became expert in a skill or art |
| 10. routes: roads or courses for traveling from one place to another |
| 11. obedience: the condition of being ready to follow orders |
| 12. instinct: a natural feeling that guides one to act in a certain way |
| 13. strolled: walked at a leisurely pace |
| 14. obstacles: things that get in one’s way |
| 15. diabetes: a serious disorder that makes the body unable to control the level of sugar in the blood |
| 16. optic: relating to the eye or vision |
| 17. atrophy: the wasting away or deterioration of the body or any of its organs |
| 18. Braille: a system of writing in raised dots used by people without sight |
| 19. exhausted: completed worn out or tired |
| 20. groomed: cleaned and brushed |
| 1. accompaniment: a musical part that adds to the performance of a singer or musician |
| 2. demonstration: a process through which someone shows and explains to others how something works |
| 3. heritage: all the practices and beliefs passed down from earlier generations |
| 4. impressed: had a strong, positive effect on someone’s feelings |
| 5. noble: showing greatness of character by unselfish behavior |
| 6. opera: a form of theater in which the dialogue is sung |
| 7. rhythmic: having a strong beat with a pattern to it |
| 8. tradition: the passing down of culture from one generation to the next |
| 9. dim sum: a traditional Chinese meal |
| 10. pantry: a small room or closet, usually near the kitchen, where items such as dry goods and silverware are stored |
| 11. batting stance: the position in which a person stands when preparing to hit a baseball |
| 12. gristle: tough tissue or cartilage, especially when found on meat |
| 13. scheme: a secret plan |
| 14. mooning: passing time aimlessly |
| 15. positioned: put in place |
| 16. script: the text of a play, motion picture, or broadcast |
| 17. armored: having a protective covering |
| 18. impressed: had strong positive effect on someone’s feelings |
| 19. lame: weak and ineffectual; unsatisfactory |
| 20. food court: an area with several buffet-style restaurants and places to sit and eat |
| 21. unison: at the same time |
| 22. solemnly: in a serious manner |
| 23. genius: a person of extraordinary mental ability |
| 1. diary: a daily record or journal |
| 2. disappointed: made unhappy by seeing one’s hopes come to nothing |
| 3. experience: something that happens to someone; personal involvement in an event |
| 4. prose: ordinary spoken or written language as opposed to verse or poetry |
| 5. rejected: turned down; did not accept |
| 6. snoop: someone who tries to find out about other people’s doings in a sneaky way |
| 7. splendid: excellent |
| 8. submitted: offered one’s work to some who might publish it |
| 9. understanding: knowledge of something; being aware of why something is the way it is |
| 10. mildew: a kind of fungus that forms a white or grayish coating on damp walls |
| 11. mimeographed: duplicated using a machine that makes copies of material that is written, drawn, or typed on a stencil |
| 12. submitted: offered one’s work to someone who might publish it |
| 13. forefingers: the two fingers next to the thumbs; index fingers |
| 14. pinging: making a noise that sounds like the syllable ping |