introduction chapter 1 chapter 2. an attempt to achieve a goal his earliest artistic endeavors...
TRANSCRIPT
City of Ember
Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2
endeavor
An attempt to achieve a goal
His earliest artistic endeavors were recreations of the comic book heroes and cartoon characters from watching Saturday morning television.
solemn
Serious Deep serenity
The first mayor solemnly swore to secrecy when he was given the box.
enfolding
Surround; envelop Hold or clasp
The air was full of pleasant odors from the enfolding forest.
lumbered
Move in a slow manner
The mayor lumbered to the front of the room and faced the students.
labyrinth
A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one’s way
Confusing arrangement
Pipe works laborers worked below the storerooms in the deep labyrinth of tunnels that contained Ember’s water and sewer system.
plummeting
Fall or drop straight down at high speed
Lina’s shoe came plummeting down from the roof top.
threadbare
Becoming thin and tattered with age
In the City of Ember, most of the people’s possessions were old, broken, threadbare things that had been around for many years.
reverberating
To repeat several times as an echo Appear to vibrate or be disturbed
because of a loud noise
From the town clock came a deep reverberating bong.
surefooted
Unlikely to stumble or slip Confident and competent
Lina felt strong, speedy and surefooted as she delivered her messages across town.
surefooted
looming Appear as a shadowy
form especially on that is large and threatening.
A vague appearance of an object seen in darkness.
A somber mood was looming in the classroom as the children received their work assignments.
looming
resonant
Deep, clear, and continuing sound, ring or emotion
“What you need to learn, children,” she always said, in her resonant, precise voice, “is the difference between right and wrong.”
diminished
Made smaller or less impressive or valuable
My confidence in you has been diminished since I heard about the disrespectful remarks you made in class.
disreputable
Not considered to be respectable in character or appearance
He developed a disreputable reputation because he lied many times.
lurch
An abrupt uncontrolled movement especially an unsteady tilt or roll.
Stagger
The boat swayed violently and he felt as if his body lurched in one direction and his stomach went the opposite way.
kiosk
A small open hut
The girls crowed around the kiosk that sold handmade jewelry.
brawny
Physically strong Muscular
He was a big man, with wide shoulders and brawny arms.
successor
One who follows another in office
The seventh mayor’s successor did not know about the secret box.
frayed Worn along the edge,
usually referring to a fabric
Grandma’s coat was old and frayed at the ends.
scavengers
People who search through discarded items for something of value
The scavengers looked through the trash heaps for useable goods.