1. Key Vocabulary
Houghton Mifflin Reading
Theme 1 – Nature’s Fury
© Brent Coley 2008 | www.mrcoley.com

5. Sample Sentence:
There was much
debris after the
earthquake.

6. Definition:
n. The remains of
something broken or
destroyed

8. Sample Sentence:
The devastation caused
by the earthquake
would cost millions of
dollars to repair.

9. Definition:
n. Destruction or
ruin

11. Sample Sentence:
An earthquake
typically occurs near
a fault.

12. Definition:
n. A break in a rock
mass caused by a
shifting of the
earth’s crust

14. Sample Sentence:
The impact of the
two cars colliding
made a loud,
crashing sound.

15. Definition:
n. The striking of one
object against
another

17. Sample Sentence:
The jolt from the
person next to me
caused me to drop
my books.

18. Definition:
n. A sudden jerk or
bump

20. Sample Sentence:
The earthquake
caused the ground
to shudder under
our feet.

21. Definition:
v. To suddenly
shake, vibrate, or
quiver

23. Sample Sentence:
California is
susceptible to
earthquakes because
of its many faults.

24. Definition:
adj. Easily affected

26. Sample Sentence:
The undulating
ground made it
difficult to stand.

27. Definition:
adj. Moving in waves
or with a smooth,
wavy motion

29. Sample Sentence:
The mountain range
was created by a
great upheaval.

30. Definition:
n. A lifting or upward
movement of the
earth’s crust