LESSON
Adjectives to Know
Adjectives to Know
4
Read Words in Context
The Redwood Forest’s Secrets
The redwood forest is lush, with green, thick, and healthy
plant life. It is of considerable size, with almost 200 miles of
walking trails. With its grand old redwood trees, rivers, streams,
and hundreds of animal species, it is one of the most splendid and
magnificent places in the world.
The majestic redwood tree is a grandly beautiful tree that can
grow to a height of 367 feet and regularly reaches the age of 600
years. Around its roots, ferns grow, looking flimsy and soft, but
they are actually tough and hardy.
Although the forest is quiet, it is not silent. Repeatedly
throughout the day, there is a continual low murmur made up
of the chirping of birds, creaking branches, and buzzing insects.
The sound of a woodpecker rapping at a tree is enjoyable. The
woodpecker is insistent—he taps, taps, taps, demanding attention,
with a regular rhythm. Even higher up, a blue jay, happy in the
bright sunlight, gives a sharp, jubilant cry.
Under the trees, rowdy squirrels play noisily in the leaves and
fight over tidbits of food. Other obscure noises come from behind
the trees. What could these faint, indistinct sounds be? Perhaps
somewhere under cover, a mountain lion watches, secretive, out of
sight of its prey, its sinister purpose known only to the beast itself.
There is no kindness or pity in its eyes. When it
pounces, it will not be merciful.
The redwood forest needs to be protected. It is
important that people be resolute or determined to
keep the redwood forest healthy. One way to be
supportive of this cause is to encourage people to
never leave litter behind when they visit. Protecting
the forest will ensure that the redwoods will
continue to grow and bring joy to the many people
who visit every year from all over the world. Their
presence is a gift of nature for which to be thankful.
Vocabulary Words
considerable
continual
flimsy
insistent
jubilant
lush
magnificent
majestic
merciful
obscure
resolute
rowdy
secretive
sinister
supportive
Word Learning Tip!
An adjective is a word that
describes a noun. It comes
before the noun or after a
linking verb. It gives a detail
that tells more about the
noun. For example, house is
a noun. Reading it, you see
a general mental image of a
house. Red is an adjective.
When you read the phrase
red house, you form an exact
mental image. By identifying
that an unknown word is
adjective, you have a clue to
its meaning. Adjectives often
end in -able, -al, -y, -ant, -ent,
-ful, -ic, or -ive.
Vocabulary
Building Strategy
Use Context Clues When a
new word is an adjective, the
most useful context clue to
look for is the noun that the
adjective describes. Also look
for any other adjectives or
descriptive words.
Lesson 4 • Adjectives to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
27
LESSON
4
Adjectives to Know
Connect Words and Meanings
considerable
insistent
magnificent
obscure
secretive
continual
jubilant
majestic
resolute
sinister
flimsy
lush
merciful
rowdy
supportive
Directions Use the clues below to complete the crossword puzzle. You may use the glossary in the
back of the book to help you.
Across
2. threatening or indicating harm
1
4. wild and noisy
6. happy and delighted
2
8. splendid or impressive in appearance
10. having great dignity, grandly beautiful
3
12. firm in keeping to a purpose
4
15. worth considering;
fairly large amount
5
6
7
Down
8
1. thin or weak;
without much substance
9
10
3. happening repeatedly or
without interruption
11
12
5. demanding attention all
the time
7. not well known, not
easy to understand
9. showing kindness
and compassion
13
14
15
11. giving support; helpful
13. growing thickly and
healthily
14. tending to be silent
about something or
to conceal things
28
Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Adjectives to Know
4
Connect More Words and Meanings
considerable
insistent
magnificent
obscure
secretive
continual
jubilant
majestic
resolute
sinister
flimsy
lush
merciful
rowdy
supportive
Directions In the blank by each definition, write the adjective that matches it. You may use the
glossary to help you.
1. relentless; not giving up
__________________________________
2. splendid; grand
__________________________________
3. loud; noisy
__________________________________
4. tight-lipped; sly
__________________________________
5. hidden; unknown
__________________________________
6. frail; weak
__________________________________
7. steady; constant
__________________________________
8. kind; generous;
showing mercy or forgiveness
__________________________________
9. determined; firm
__________________________________
10. menacing; threatening
__________________________________
Write a Descriptive Passage List details about a few beautiful places that you have visited. In
your personal word journal, write a description of your favorite place. Think about the plants
you saw, the sounds you heard, and how you felt about being there. Use at least four vocabulary
words and four new adjectives in your description.
Lesson 4 • Adjectives to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
29
LESSON
4
Adjectives to Know
Use Words in Context
considerable
insistent
magnificent
obscure
secretive
continual
jubilant
majestic
resolute
sinister
flimsy
lush
merciful
rowdy
supportive
Directions Write a sentence responding to each item below. Use the boldface adjective in your
response.
1. Name two people or places that you think are magnificent.______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Name two occasions that might make you jubilant.______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Name two situations in which you are likely to be insistent.____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Name two places where plant life would most likely to be lush.____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Name two situations in which one person can be supportive of another.____________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. Name two people whom you believe are resolute about their goals.________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. Name two places that you think are majestic.__________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
8. Name two situations in which a person or animal might be secretive.____________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Outline a Movie or TV Plot Create a movie or TV character whose behavior is sinister and
where the setting is majestic! In your personal word journal, outline a plot for a movie or TV
show for that character. Try to include at least three vocabulary words and four or five new adjectives.
30
Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Adjectives to Know
4
Put Words Into Action
considerable
insistent
magnificent
obscure
secretive
continual
jubilant
majestic
resolute
sinister
flimsy
lush
merciful
rowdy
supportive
Directions Think about each situation below. Then write each phrase on the lines under the
adjective you would use to describe that situation.
Situations
lapping of ocean waves
sun rising and setting
big town celebration
alligator hiding in water
team winning debate
storming ocean
huge snow-capped mountain
peaks
not telling anyone about
a surprise party
roaring waterfall along
hiking trail
receiving award for a poem
a detective’s work
the passing of time
Jubilant
Continual
1. ______________________________________
7. ______________________________________
2. ______________________________________
8. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________
9. ______________________________________
Majestic
Secretive
4. ______________________________________ 10. ______________________________________
5. ______________________________________ 11. ______________________________________
6. ______________________________________ 12. ______________________________________
Create a Category Work with a partner. First, choose a vocabulary word and write it in your
journal, but don’t tell your partner which word you chose. Then create three situations that
your word would describe. Write the situations on a separate piece of paper. Exchange papers
with your partner. See if you can guess which vocabulary word the other chose.
Lesson 4 • Adjectives to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
31
LESSON
4
Adjectives to Know
Review and Extend
considerable
insistent
magnificent
obscure
secretive
continual
jubilant
majestic
resolute
sinister
flimsy
lush
merciful
rowdy
supportive
Learn
More!
Often you can identify
adjectives by their endings.
Some common adjective
endings are: -able, -al, -ant,
-ent, -ic, -ful, -ive, and -y.
Root Word
+
Adjective Ending
=
Adjective
health
-y
healthy
thank
-ful
thankful
Directions Complete the chart. Use the information above to help you. (Hint: Drop the e in continue
when you add -al.)
Root Word
Adjective Endings
1. consider
Adjective
considerable
2. continue
-al
3.
-ent
4. majesty
insistent
majestic
-ive
5.
supportive
Create a Travel Poster If you travel to the country of Malaysia, you can see unusual animals
such as flying dragons and bearded pigs. (Of course, these are not the dragons you find in
fairy tales, but the pigs do have beards.) If you travel to Kenya, you can see herds of elephants and
majestic lions. Create a travel poster for a place you would like to go to on an adventure vacation.
Include details that show why someone would want to visit this place. Use three vocabulary words
and two new adjectives.
32
Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Adjectives to Know
4
Check Your Mastery
Directions Read the paragraphs. Write the vocabulary word that best fits on each line.
In the redwood forest, there is a trail of (1)
(flimsy, sinister,
considerable) interest and great beauty where people can hike. The trail leads through
(lush, supportive, rowdy) old-growth forests with incredible
(2)
ocean views. This area also has many (3)
(obscure, jubilant,
continual), unspoiled, and out-of-the-way beaches.
A group of hikers decided to follow this trail to a campsite they had asked about at the
visitor center. When they arrived, they pitched their tents and built a fire in the fire pit.
They tried to be quiet. They did not want to be (4)
(resolute,
magnificent, rowdy) or make too much noise. They told ghost stories late into the night.
Later that night they were awakened by a dreadful sound— (5)
(sinister, flimsy, supportive) laughter coming from the woods. It turned out to be only the wind
howling through the trees.
Directions Choose the word that best fits in each blank. Write it on the line.
6. I am
continual
in my decision: I will take more camping trips!
rowdy
resolute
7. Ever since we arrived in this forest, I have heard the
chirping of birds.
supportive
secretive
continual
8. This ocean with its giant waves crashing on the shore is a
magnificent
obscure
merciful
9. Our tent is so
obscure
lush
sight!
that the wind almost blew it apart last night.
flimsy
10. I think that the view along the coastline is a most
jubilant
sinister
majestic
sight.
Lesson 4 • Adjectives to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
33