KEYWORDS

FIRST FLIGHT-

1. A Letter to God-

• Crest - top of a mountain or hill

• downpour - a heavy fall of rain
• plague - A large number of insects, animals, or even diseases that cause
destruction or harm
• solitary - alone
• daybreak - dawn
• peso - unit of currency
• sow - planting the seeds of a crop
• heartily - loudly
• amiable - friendly
• deed - brave or noble act
• affixed - attached
• crooks - dishonest people

2. Nelson Mandela- Long Walk to freedom-

• apartheid: racial segregation or racial discrimination

• autobiography: life story (biography) of a person written by that person
himself or herself
• dignitaries: eminent persons
• oppress: harsh and unfair treatment
• jubilant: joyful, happy
• dawned: began
• besieged: surrounded by
• decades: periods of ten years
• supremacy: being supreme; dominance
• confer: to give
• outlaws: deprived of the benefit and protection of the law
• rare privilege: uncommon right
• possession: control
 • emancipation: freedom from restriction;
• bondage: slavery
• reign: period of rule or dominance
• awe: respect and fear
• Bedecked: Decorated or adorned in a showy way.
• chevron: V-shaped symbol or pattern.
• Not unmindful: Being aware;
• Racial domination: Control based on race.
• despised: hated
• Wrought: Worked into shape through effort.
• Profound: Having deep meaning.
• Brutality: Being cruel or harsh.
• Comrades: Friends or fellow patriots.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from difficulties.
• Defies: challenges.
• Grimmest: Saddest or worst.

3. Two Stories about Flying-

• Seagull: A coastal bird with short legs and long wings.

• Ledge: A narrow shelf sticking out from a surface.
• Brink: The edge of land before a steep drop.
• Expanse: A wide and continuous area of something.
• Flapped: The motion of a bird moving its wings.
• Muster: To gather or collect.
• Plunge: To jump or dive.
• Shrilly: Making a high-pitched and piercing sound.
• Upbraiding: Scolding or reprimanding.
• Herring: A soft-finned sea fish.
• Devour: Eating quickly or voraciously.
• Cackle: Laughing loudly and harshly.
• Cowardice: Lack of bravery or courage.
• Ascending the sky: The act of rising up through the air.
• Preening: Tidying and cleaning feathers.
• Hump: A rounded raised mass of earth or land.
• Scrapped: Thrown away or discarded.
• Derisively: In a manner expressing contempt or ridicule.
• Plaintively: In a sad or mournful manner.
• Uttered: Making a sound with one's voice.
• Halted: Stopped or came to a standstill.
• Monstrous: Extremely horrible or frightening.
 • Seized: Grabbed or took hold of.
• Headlong: With the head leading or foremost.
• Soaring: Flying or rising high in the air.
• Swooped: Moving rapidly downward through the air.
• Curvetting: Performing a series of jumps on the hind legs.
• Shrieking: Making a high-pitched and piercing cry.
• Shrilly: Loudly and forcefully.
• Ridges: Long, narrow hilltops, mountain ranges, or watersheds.
• Cawed: Making a cawing sound like a crow.

4. From the diary of Anne Frank-

• Musings: A time when you think deeply about something.

• Listless: Having no energy or interest.
• Brooding: Deeply thinking about something sad, angry, or worrisome.
• Prompted: Caused or provoked.
• Confide: To share personal things privately with someone you trust.
• Plunge: Jump or dive quickly.
• Emigrated: Moved permanently to another country.
• Plunked: Put down.
• Solemn: Serious and sincere.
• Quaking: Shaking or trembling.
• Staked: Bet or chanced.
• Glances: Quick looks.
• Not to lose heart: Not to be discouraged.
• Old fogey: An old-fashioned person.
• Chatterbox: A talkative person.
• Jotted: Wrote quickly.
• Ramble: Talk or write at length in a confused way.
• Incorrigible: Not able to be changed.
• Mistress: A woman in a position of authority or control.
• Roared: Laughed (in this context).
• Ingenuity: Cleverness, originality, and inventiveness.
• Verse: Writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, often rhyming.
• Ridiculous: Deserving mockery; absurd.
• Contrary: Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.

5. Glimpses of India-

• Reminiscing nostalgically: Thinking fondly of the past.

• Loaves: Bread shaped and baked in a single piece..
 • Molders: A person who shapes dough.
• Heralding: Announcing.
• Padre: Portuguese word for a baker.
• Rebuke: An expression of disapproval; a scolding.
• Parapet: A low protective wall or railing.
• Bolinas: Another name for coconut cookies.
• Invigorating: Strong (here).
• Mainstream: A tradition that most people follow.
• Tales of Valour: Stories of courage and bravery, usually in a war.
• Descent: Origin.
• Most Decorated: Having received the maximum number of awards for
bravery in a war.
• Mischief: Playful behavior.
• Mahouts: Persons who work with, ride, and tend to elephants.
• Canoeing: Traveling in a river in a canoe.
• Rappelling: Going down a cliff by sliding down a rope.
• Panoramic View: A view of a wide area of land..
• As Far as Eye Could See: For a long distance until something is so far
away and small it cannot be seen anymore.
• Dwarfing: Causing to seem small or insignificant in comparison.
• Amidst: In the middle of.
• Billowing: Moving or flowing outwards.
• Ascetic: Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all
forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
• Banished: Got rid of.
• Clattered: Loud noise made by the train brakes.
• Veered: Changed direction.
• Gravel: Small, rounded stones often mixed with sand.
• Pruned: Cut away from a tree.
• Sprouting Period: When a plant sends out new growth (second harvest of
tea leaves in a season).

6. Mijbil the Otter-

• Crossed my mind: A thought that came into my mind.

• A stone’s throw: A very short distance.
• Otter: A semi-aquatic fish-eating mammal with a long body, dense fur, and
webbed feet.
• Eminently: Highly; very.
• As common as mosquitoes: Easily found.
• Tamed: Domesticated (made friendly and manageable, like a pet).
• Cabled: Sent a message by telegraph (an old method of communication).
• Breakdown: A mechanical failure.
• Squatting: Crouching or sitting with knees bent and heels close to or
touching one’s
• buttocks.
• Squirmed: Twisted about.
• Thraldom: (Old-fashioned) Being under the control of.
• Fixation: A very strong attachment or feeling.
• Medievally conceived: An imagination of the Middle Ages.
• Christened: Named.
• Hostile: Unfriendly.
• Hostile: Unfriendly.
• Aloof and indifferent: Keeping a distance; not interested.
• Apathy: Absence of interest.
• Crook of my knees: The soft inside part where you bend your knee.
• So as to speak: As it were (one could say this).
• Provoking: Causing anger or some other reaction.
• Plunging: Falling; sinking.
• Sploshed: Splashed.
• Static: Motionless.
• Fumbling: Trying to do something in a clumsy manner.
• Trickle: Flow in a small stream.
• Chittering: Make a twittering or chattering sound.
• Chromium: A hard white metal used to make taps.
• Flick: A quick, light movement.
• Shuffling: Dragging (here).
• Dribble: Repeated hits on a ball to make it go ahead.
• Pastime: Distraction; entertainment.
• Accustomed: Familiar.
• Dreaded the prospect: Was in great fear of something that would happen
in the future.
• An appalling spectacle: A shocking scene.
• Whipped off: Quickly took off.
• Trickled: Dripped; flowed.
• Shreds: Pieces.
• Ricocheting bullet: A bullet that changes direction after hitting a surface.
• Infuriated: Very angry.
• Took her into my confidence: Shared with her my experiences or secrets.
• Portly: Stout.
• Craning: Stretching out one’s body or neck to see something.
• Distressed: Troubled.
• Recognition: Identification; acknowledgment.
 • Nuzzle: To rub gently with the nose.
• Bounded on to: Climbed up quickly.
• Terrapin shell: The shell of a small turtle found in North America.
• Engrossed: Completely interested in.
• Ambush: To attack suddenly from a hidden position.
• Crouching: Squatting; adopting a position where the knees are bent and
the upper body is
• brought forward and down, typically to avoid detection or defend oneself.
• Trot off: To leave.
• Compulsive: Irresistible.
• Rituals: Religious ceremonies.
• Tug: Pull.
• Gallop: Run fast.
• Barrage of conjectural questions: A stream of questions filled with
guesses.
• Affront: Insult.
• Spat: Past tense of spit.

7. Madam Rides the Bus-

• Curious: Eager to know or learn something.

• Wistfully: Longingly.
• Kindle: Set alight (fire), here, feelings.
• A slang expression: Informal words, often used within a close group.
• Discreet questions: Careful questions.
• Commandingly: In a controlling tone.
• Slack time: A time when there is not much work.
• Devoured: Read quickly and eagerly (here).
• Canvas: A coarse fabric.
• Blind: A partition.
• Haughtily: Proudly.
• Repulsive: Causing strong dislike.
• Curtly: Rudely brief or abrupt.
• Drivel: Silly nonsense.
• Thriftily: Spend money carefully.
• Resolutely stifled: Suppressed/controlled with determination.
• Ventured out: Went cautiously, courageously.
• Hamlet: A small settlement with a few houses.
• Gobbling up: To swallow or eat hastily.
• Glee: Happiness and joy.
• Thoroughfare: A busy public road.
 • Merchandise: Things for sale.
• Railroad crossing: An intersection where a railway line crosses a road or
path.
• Spreadeagled: Spread out.
• Haunted: Returned repeatedly to her mind; was impossible to forget.
• Pokes her nose: Takes an interest in something that doesn’t concern her.

8. Sermon at Benaras-

• Sacred: Embodying the laws or doctrines of a religion.

• Scriptures: The sacred writings of a religion.
• Befitted: Be appropriate for; suit.
• Chanced upon: Came across by chance.
• Alms: Money or food given to poor people; charity.
• Enlightenment: A state of high spiritual knowledge.
• Wandered: To move without a fixed course.
• Vowed: Solemnly promised to do a specified thing.
• Preached: Delivered a religious address to an assembled group of people.
• Sermon: A talk on a religious or moral subject.

9. The Proposal-

• Farce: A comic dramatic work.

• Privilege: Advantage.
• Shan
• ’t: Shall not.
• Pardon: Forgive or excuse (a person, error, or offense).
• Awfully: Very; extremely.
• Assistance: The action of helping someone.
• Go round and round: Not coming to the main point.
• Spit it out: Speak out.
• To seek the hand of a girl in marriage: To propose.
• By Jove: By God.
• Desire: A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for
something to happen.
• Idiotic: Very stupid; silly.
• Consent: Agreement to do something.
• Egad: Exclamation (expressing surprise, anger, or affirmation).
• Lovesick: Longing, yearning, or desiring.
• Trembling: Shaking or quivering, typically as a result of excitement,
anxiety, or frailty.
• Hesitate: Pause in indecision before saying or doing something.
• Housekeeper: A person who manages a household.
• Palpitations: A noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to
agitation, exertion, or
• illness.
• Twitch: A sudden, quick movement or feeling.
• Lunatic: A person who is mentally ill (not in technical use).
• Neglige: A form of nightgown.
• Inherited: Received as an heir at the death of the previous holder.
• Affectionate: Readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness.
• Oxen meadows: A land full of grass for animals to graze in.
• Birchwoods: A wood of birch trees.
• Perpetuity: The state or quality of lasting forever.
• Reckoned: Established by calculation.
• Implore: Beg someone earnestly to do something.
• Gypsies: A group of nomadic people who travel from one place to another.
• Impudent: Not showing due respect for another person.
• Carafe: An open-topped glass flask used for serving wine or water in a
restaurant.
• Mowers: A person who cuts grass with a mower.
• Hoarse: Sounding rough and harsh.
• Restrain: Prevent from doing something; keep under control or within
limits.
• Excruciating: Intensely painful; severe; acute; extreme.
• Palpitation: Heartbeat.
• Pettifogger: An inferior legal practitioner, especially one who deals with
petty cases or
• employs dubious practices.
• Embezzlement: Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one’s trust or
belonging to
• one’s employer.
• Lunacy: The state of being a lunatic; insanity (not in technical use).
• Drunkard: A person who is habitually drunk.
• Hump: A rounded protuberance found as an abnormality on the back of a
person.
• Guzzling: Greedy (here).
• Gambler: A person who gambles; speculator.
• Intriguer: Someone who tricks, deceives, or cheats.
• Malicious: Intending or intended to do harm.
• Numb: Deprived of the power of physical sensation.
• Rascal: Devil.
• Impudence: Audacity.
• Lame: Unable to walk without difficulty as a result of an injury or illness
affecting the leg
• or foot; limping.
• Patridge: A short-tailed game bird with mainly brown plumage, found
chiefly in Europe and
• Asia.
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET-

1. A Triumph of Surgery –

• Mistress: A woman in a position of authority or control.

• Bloated: Excessive in size or amount.
• Sausage: An item of food in the form of a cylindrical length of minced pork
or other meat encased in a skin, typically sold raw to be grilled or fried
before eating.
• Bloodshot: (Of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood, typically as a result
of tiredness.
• Rheumy: Watery.
• Lolled: Sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
• Hastened: Be quick to do something.
• Listless: Lacking energy or enthusiasm.
• Malnutrition: Lack of proper nutrition.
• Cod Liver Oil: Oil pressed from the liver of cod.
• Relent: Become less severe or intense.
• Lumbago: Pain in the muscles and joints of the lower back.
• Severe: Very great; intense.
• Regime: A system or ordered way of doing things.
• Tottering: Move in a feeble or unsteady way.
• Tweed: A rough-surfaced woolen cloth.
• Harness: A set of straps and fittings.
• Distraught: Very worried and upset.
• Bouts: A short period of intense activity of a specified kind.
• Rug: A floor covering.
• Panting: Breathing with short, quick breaths; out of breath.
• Fortnight: A period of two weeks.
• Swooned: A partial or total loss of consciousness.
• Wailings: Crying with pain, grief, or anger.
• Marched: Walk quickly and with determination.
• Roused: Cause to stop sleeping.
• Maids: A female domestic servant.
• Rushed: Done or completed too hurriedly; hasty.
• Supper: An evening meal, typically a light or informal one.
• Despairing: Showing loss of all hope.
• Glanced: Take a brief or hurried look.
• Patted: Touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
• Wag: (Especially with reference to an animal’s tail) move or cause to move
rapidly to and fro.
• Surged: Move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward.
• Sniffing: The action of drawing in air audibly through the nose.
• Whimper: Make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or
unhappiness.
• Trotted: Run at a moderate pace with short steps.
• Engulfed: Sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it
completely.
• Slopped: Spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of
careless handling.
• Liable: Likely to do or to be something.
• Licking: Pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or
clean it.
• Pleased: Feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction.
• Jostling: Push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a
crowd.
• Scrimmages: A confused struggle or fight.
• Trampled: Tread on and crush.
• Squashed: Flat, soft, or out of shape as a result of being crushed or
squeezed with force.
• Shaggy: Long, thick, and unkempt.
• Hovered: To move to and fro near a place.
• Anxiously: Feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about
something with an uncertain outcome.
• Dozen: 12 in number.
• Bulletins: A short official statement or broadcast summary of news.
• Convalescing: Recover one’s health and strength over a period of time
after an illness or medical treatment.
• Brandy: A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
• Constitution: The composition of something.
• Reverently: With deep and solemn respect.
• Temptation: The desire to do something, especially something wrong or
unwise.
• Compelled: Bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.
• Gleaming: Reflecting light, typically because very clean or polished.
• Chauffeur: A person employed to drive a private or hired car.
• Clasped: Grasp (something) tightly with one’s hand.
• Trembled: Shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement,
or frailty.
• Fetch: Go for and then bring back (someone or something) for someone.
 • Hurtling: Move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled
manner.
• Midst: In the middle of.
• Lithe: Thin, supple, and graceful.
• Startled: Feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm.
• Swarmed: Move somewhere in large numbers.
• Shone: A quality of brightness produced.

2. The Thief’s Story-

• Lean: Thin.
• Flattery: Excessive and insincere praise.
• Modestly: In an unassuming manner; without vanity or arrogance.
• Employers: A person or organization that employs people.
• Grunting: Make a low, short guttural sound.
• Appealing: Attractive or interesting.
• Misjudged: Form a wrong opinion or conclusion about.
• Balcony: A platform enclosed by a wall or balustrade on the outside of a
building, with access from an upper-floor window or door.
• Terrible: Extremely bad or serious.
• Patted: Touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
• Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Supplies: A stock or amount of something supplied or available for use.
• Fits and Starts: Not working on something consistently.
• Borrow: Take and use (something belonging to someone else) with the
intention of returning it.
• Lend: Grant to (someone) the use of (something) on the understanding
that it will be returned.
• Queer: Strange; odd.
• Bundle: A collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped up
together.
• Line of Work: The principal activity in your life that you do to earn money.
• Beam: A ray or shaft of light.
• Crept: Move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed.
• Drew: Pull or drag.
• Sighed: Emit a long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, relief,
tiredness.
• Startled: Feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm.
• Dashed: Quickly ran towards something.
• Carriages: Any of the separate sections of a train that carry passengers.
• Hesitated: Pause in indecision before saying or doing something.
• Deserted: (Of a place) empty of people.
 • Curious: Eager to know or learn something.
• Robbed: Take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or
threat of force.
• Bazaar: Market.
• Maidan: A park.
• Drizzle: Light rain falling in very fine drops.
• Shelter: A place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger.
• Clock Tower: A tower, typically forming part of a church or civic building,
with a large clock at the top.
• Midnight: Twelve o’clock at night.
• Damp: Slightly wet.
• Cinema: A theatre where films are shown for public entertainment.
• Hurried: Done in a hurry; rushed.
• Undetected: Not detected or discovered.
• Clouded: Make or become less clear or transparent

3. The Midnight Visitor-

• Musty: Having a stale, mouldy, or damp smell.

• Gloomy: Dark or poorly lit, especially so as to appear depressing or
frightening.
• Scarcely: Only just; almost not.
• Passably: Just well enough; tolerably well.
• Espionage: Spying.
• Envisioned: Imagine as a future possibility; visualize.
• Sloppy: Carelessly dressed.
• Prosaic: Ordinary.
• Chuckled: Laughed quietly, without opening his mouth.
• Disillusioned: Disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to
be less good than one had believed.
• Wheezed: Spoke breathing noisily and heavily.
• Slender: Gracefully thin.
• Countenance: A person’s face or facial expression.
• Menacing: Suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.
• Murmured: Say something in a low or indistinct voice.
• Raise the devil: Make a noisy disturbance.
• Grimly: In a very serious, gloomy, or depressing manner.
• Nuisance: A person or thing causing inconvenience or annoyance.
• Inflection: A change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express
a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number,
case, and gender.
• Passkey: A master key.
 • Glanced: Take a brief or hurried look.
• Stiffly: In a manner that is not relaxed or friendly.
• Gesture: A movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to
express
• an idea or meaning.
• Sill: The horizontal piece or member beneath a window, door, or other
opening.
• Shrilly: Piercingly; in a high pitch.
• Deftly: Dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever.
• Uncorked: To draw the cork from.
• Stammered: To speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with
spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.

4. A Question of Trust-
• Safe: A strong fireproof cabinet with a complex lock, used for the storage
of valuables.
• Grange: A country house with farm buildings attached.
• Pounds: Basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence.
• Stirred: Move or cause to move slightly
• Burglar: A person who commits theft.
• Hindering: Make it difficult for (someone) to do something or for
(something) to happen.
• Doorway: An entrance to a room or building through a door.
• Ornaments: A thing used or serving to make something look more
attractive but usually having no practical purpose, especially a small object
such as a figurine.
• Amused: Finding something funny or entertaining.
• Hesitated: Pause in indecision before saying or doing something.
• Frighten: Make (someone) afraid or anxious.
• Persuaded: Induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or
argument.
• Mended: Repair (something that is broken or damaged).
• Sharp-tongued: (Of a person) given to using cutting, harsh, or critical
language.

5. Footprints without Feet-

• Imprints: Impress or stamp a mark on a surface.

• Bare: Not clothed or covered.
• Gazed: Looked at steadily and intently.
• Fainter: Barely perceptible.
• Bewildered: Perplexed and confused; very puzzled.
 • Eject: Compel someone to leave a place.
• Theatrical: Relating to acting, actors, or the theatre.
• Whiskers: A long projecting hair or bristle growing from the face or snout of
many mammals.
• Callously: In a way that shows an insensitive and cruel disregard for
others.
• Inn: A pub, typically one in the country, in some cases providing
accommodation.
• Wagging: Move or cause to move rapidly to and fro.
• Solitude: The state or situation of being alone.
• Eccentric: Unconventional and slightly strange.
• Clergyman: A male priest, minister, or religious leader, especially a
Christian one.
• Poker: A metal rod with a handle, used for prodding and stirring an open
fire.
• Grasped: Seize and hold firmly.
• Peeped: Look quickly and furtively at something, especially through a
narrow opening.
• Sniff: Draw up air audibly through the nose to detect a smell, to stop it
running, or to express contempt.
• Leapt: Jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force.
• Slam: Shut a door, window, or lid forcefully and loudly.
• Hysterics: A wildly emotional and exaggerated reaction.
• Moaned: Make a long, low sound expressing physical or mental suffering.
• Witchcraft: The practice of magic, especially black magic; the use of spells.
• Horrified: Filled with terror; extremely shocked.

6. The Making of a Scientist-

• Former: Having previously been a particular thing.

• Scout: A member of the Scout Association or a similar organization.
• Proceedings: A published report of a set of meetings or a conference.
• Journal: A newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject or
professional activity.
• Making the big leagues: In a field of tough competition and high rewards,
the largest or foremost of its kind.
• Fossils: The remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal
embedded in rocks.
• Astronomer: An expert in or student of astronomy.
• Monarch butterflies: A large migratory orange and black colored butterfly
that occurs mainly in North America.
• Migrations: Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
 • Adhesive: Able to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky.
• Flock: A number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or traveling together.
• Tedious: Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.
• Stack: A pile of objects, typically one that is neatly arranged.
• Starling: A gregarious Old World songbird with a straight bill, typically with
dark lustrous or iridescent plumage but sometimes brightly colored.
• Zoology: The scientific study of the behavior, structure, physiology,
classification, and distribution of animals.
• Ornamental: Serving or intended as an ornament; decorative.
• Sophisticated: Advanced.
• Blueprint: A design plan or technical drawing.
• Canoeist: A canoeist is someone who is skilled at racing and performing
tests of skill in a canoe.

7. The Necklace-
• Clerk: A person employed in an office or bank to keep records, accounts,
and undertake other routine administrative duties.
• Dowry: An amount of property or money brought by a bride to her husband
on their marriage.
• Petty: Of little importance; trivial.
• Incessantly: Without interruption; constantly.
• Delicacies: Fineness or intricacy of texture or structure.
• Shabby: In poor condition through long use or lack of care.
• Tureen: A deep covered dish from which soup is served.
• Pot pie: A savory pie baked in a deep dish, typically with a top crust only.
• Elegant: Graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.
• Exquisite: Extremely beautiful and delicate.
• Convent: A school attached to and run by a convent.
• Elated: Make someone ecstatically happy.
• Spitefully: Showing or caused by malice.
• Murmuring: A low or indistinct continuous sound.
• Stammered: Speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to
repeat the initial letters of words.
• Stupefied: Make someone unable to think or feel properly.
• Dismay: Concern and distress caused by something unexpected.
• Weeping: Shedding tears.
• Vexation: The state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
• Grieved: Feel intense sorrow.
• Francs: The basic monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland,
Luxembourg, and several other countries.
• Pale: Light in color or shade; containing little color or pigment.
• Larks: A bird.
• Vexed: Annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
• Adorn: Make more beautiful or attractive.
• Stricken: Seriously affected by an undesirable condition or unpleasant
feeling.
• Chic: Elegantly and stylishly fashionable.
• Shabby: In poor condition through long use or lack of care.
• Satin: A smooth, glossy fabric, usually of silk, produced by a weave in
which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at
certain intervals.
• Ecstatic: Feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful
excitement.
• Salons: A reception room in a large house.
• Descended: Move or fall downwards.
• Hailing: (Of a large number of objects) fall or be hurled forcefully.
• Coachmen: A driver of a horse-drawn carriage.
• Shivering: Shaking slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold,
frightened, or excited.
• Nightfall: The onset of night; dusk.
• Wearily: With extreme tiredness.
• Cloak: A sleeveless outdoor overgarment that hangs loosely from the
shoulders.
• Cast down: Sad or worried.
• Bewilderment: A feeling of being perplexed and confused.
• Frightful: Very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.
• Clasp: Grasp something tightly with one’s hand.
• Dictated: State or order authoritatively.
• Chaplet: A garland or circlet for a person’s head.
• Ruinous: Disastrous or destructive.
• Usurers: A person who lends money at unreasonably high rates of interest.
• Latter: Denoting the second or second mentioned of two people or things.
• Frigid: Stiff or formal in behavior or style.
• Perceive: Become aware or conscious of something; come to realize or
understand.
• Substitution: The action of replacing someone or something with another
person or thing.
• Lodgings: Temporary accommodation.
• Attic: A space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building.
• Odious: Extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
• Haggling: Dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of
something.
• Sous: Small value coin in France.
• Crude: In a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined.
 • Awry: Out of the normal or correct position.
• Pails: A bucket.
• Personage: A person (used to express importance or elevated status).
• Loaned: Lend a sum of money or item of property.
• Decently: In a way that conforms with generally accepted standards of
respectable or moral behavior.
• Content: In a state of peaceful happiness.

8. Bholi-

• Cot: Bed.
• Backward: Slow learner.
• Pockmarks: Spots on the skin.
• Stammered: Fumbled for words.
• Mimicked: Copy, imitate.
• Prosperous: Doing well, rich.
• Plenty: A lot of.
• Tehsildar: District collector.
• Representative: Spokesperson.
• Consulted: Discussed.
• Shrunk: Reduced.
• Matted: Untidy.
• Fear-laden: Full of fear.
• Squatted: To sit with one’s knees bent.
• Fascinated: Attracted.
• Orchard: Land planted with fruit trees.
• Stammer: Fumble for words.
• Sobbing: Noisy crying.
• Soothing: Reduce pain or discomfort.
• Disgrace: Dishonor, shame.
• Nodded: Bow your head in a direction to give your approval.
• Astonished: Impressed, greatly surprised.
• Blossomed: Grow, bloom.
• Throbbed: Beat, pulse.
• Ginning: The process of treating (ginning) the cotton.
• Proposal: Offer.
• Certainly: Definitely.
• Pock marks: Marks, blemishes.
• Witless: Fool.
• Muttered: Murmur.
• Grocer: A person who sells household goods and food items.
 • Procession: March, Parade.
• Splendour: Lavishness.
• Envious: Jealous.
• Auspicious: Good, favorable.
• Clad: Dressed.
• Garland: Wreath of flowers and leaves.
• Veil: Cover.
• Poised: Calm.
• Humiliate: Insult.
• Considerate: Thoughtful.
• Streaming: Flowing.
• Triumphant: Winning.
• Gambled: Bet.
• Downcast: Low, cast down.
• Prospective: Would be.
• Contempt: Disrespect, disregard.
• Struck: Hit, bang.
• Flung: Aim, launch.
• Startled: Sudden shock.
• Thunderstruck: Shocked.
• Contemptible: Offensive.
• Violently: Strong or extreme manner.
• Dumb: Dull.
• Heartless: Unkind.
• Rooted: Fixed.
• Grief: Sorrow.
• Steady: Firm.
• Contemplating: View, observe.

9. The Book that Saved the Earth-

• Museum: A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or

cultural interest are stored and exhibited.
• Spotlight: A lamp projecting a beam of light on a particular place or person.
• Historian: An expert in or student in history.
• Easel: A wooden frame for holding an artist’s work while it is being painted
or drawn.
• Illustrated: Adjective of a book, newspaper.
• Martian: Related to Mars.
• Invasion: Capture, annex.
• Encyclopedia: A book that gives information on many subjects.
• Historiscope: Here, it means a bioscope that shows the history of
something.
• Apprentice: Trainee, learner.
• Elaborate: Detailed, complicated.
• Mighty: Fearsome.
• Peevishly: Irritable.
• Space probe: Research, exploration.
• Ridiculous: Funny, hilarious.
• Generous: Liberal.
• Consult: Seek advice from.
• Earthlings: Here, human beings.
• Primitive ball: Ancient ball.
• Smacking: To hit.
• Catalogue: List, category.
• Lieutenant: Deputy, an army rank.
• Sergeant: Officer ranking below a lieutenant.
• Riffling: Shuffling.
• Crew: Team.
• Incident: Happening.
• Barn: Shelter, outhouse.
• Clue: Idea.
• Peculiar: Strange.
• Galaxies: Solar system.
• Haberdashery: Sewing items such as buttons, needles, etc.
• Elementary: Easy, basic.
• Staple food: A routine food.
• Squints: Look with/through narrowed eyes.
• Gulping: To swallow.
• Dubiously: With hesitation or doubt.
• Breathlessly: Not able to breathe easily.
• Pantomimes: Comedy based on nursery story/rhyme. Here, it means a
comic expression on the face.
• Insignificant: Less important.
• Surveyor: An official inspector.
• Trifling: Unimportant.
• Intently: Keenly.
• Twirl: Turn round.
• Observe: Notice.
• Squiggles: A short line that curls and loops in an irregular way.
• Magnificent: Glorious, majestic.
• Stiffly: Non-flexible.
• Gulps: Swallow.
• Simultaneously: At the same time.
• Decipher: Decode.
• Transcribe: Put thoughts into written form.
• Cockle shells: Shell.
• Levity: Carefree attitude.
• Gravely: In a serious manner.
• Diddle: Cheat.
• Fiddle: Fraud, cheat.
• Cease: Stop.
• Desist: Hold back.
• Civilizations: Human development.
• Domesticated: To tame a pet.
• Interplanetary: Between the planets.
• Capsule: Here, it means a spacecraft.
• Alpha Centauri: The closest star to our solar system.
• Chuckling: Laugh quietly.
• Resumed: Restart, begin with.