Synonym
The old castle was ancient, meaning it was very old and had stood for hundreds of years.
very old
Unlike his generous brother, Jack hated sharing anything with anyone.
someone who shares things with others or gives to others
The word consequence means the result or effect of an action.
result or effect of an action
There are many beverages available at the café, such as tea, coffee, juice, and milk.
drinks
The puppy was timid. It was shy and nervous around strangers, so it hid behind its owner.
shy and nervous
Mia was reluctant to speak in front of the class. She didn't want to give her presentation.
didn't want
The first test was simple, but the second test was extremely complex and required much more thought.
not simple
The teacher asked everyone to remain silent, without making any noise, during the examination.
without making any noise
Some animals are nocturnal, like bats, owls, and raccoons, which are most active at night.
active at night
Emma was famished after the five-hour hike. She immediately ate two sandwiches, a bowl of soup, and three pieces of fruit.
very hungry
The scientist was astonished by the results. She was extremely surprised that the experiment had worked.
extremely surprised
While Sarah thought positively about winning the competition, her brother was pessimistic and believed they would probably lose.
thinking negatively
A habitat, or the natural home of a plant or animal, provides everything an organism needs to survive.
natural home of a plant or animal
The teacher encouraged students to use persuasive language. For example, they could use strong reasons, emotional language, and evidence to convince their readers.
trying to change someone's ideas or get them to agree with you
The city is famous for its vibrant nightlife. Unlike the quiet streets during the day, the city centre becomes full of music, lights, restaurants, and people at night.
lively and energetic
The instructions were brief, so the students could read the short explanation in less than a minute.
short
The lake was shallow near the shore, but it became very deep farther from the beach.
not deep
The museum displayed an artifact, an object made by people in the past, in a glass case.
object made by people in the past
Many natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, can cause serious damage.
things in nature that cause serious damage
The students were perplexed by the strange message. They read it several times, but they still could not understand what it meant. Finally, they asked their teacher for help.
confused; cannot understand
The teacher praised Daniel because his explanation was concise—it was short and had no unnecessary information.
short and without extra information
Unlike the temporary shelter we used during the storm, our new house is permanent and will remain here for many years.
something that will not last for a long time
A contradiction, in other words, a statement that is opposite to or conflicts with another statement, can make an argument difficult to understand.
a statement that is the opposite of another statement
Some people have peculiar habits. For example, one man collected thousands of spoons, while another person refused to step on cracks in the pavement.
very strange
The explorer discovered a remarkable cave deep beneath the mountain. The walls were covered with enormous crystals, an underground river flowed through the centre, and no one had ever discovered the cave before.
unusual