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Heat and Fear Vocabulary
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Heat and Fear Vocabulary
Read the original passage, then answer each question using evidence from the passage where asked. For open-ended questions, the answer gives one possible response; other well-supported answers may also be correct.
By late afternoon, the air was stifling on the ridge. The track was a ribbon of dust, and the gum leaves hung limp and silent. Sienna wiped her forehead. Her water bottle was almost empty.
A sharp crack split the quiet. She stopped. Somewhere beyond the trees, a branch had fallen—or something had moved. Her pulse drummed against her ribs. The scrub seemed to lean closer, its shadows lengthening across the track.
Then the wind shifted. It carried the metallic smell of rain, though the sky above Sienna was still a hard, cloudless blue. She wanted to hurry, but her legs felt rooted to the ground. Another crack sounded, nearer this time.
Sienna took one slow breath. The ridge was hot, empty and unfamiliar, but she could still choose what to do. She checked the track behind her, tightened the strap of her pack and walked towards the lookout, listening carefully as the first cool gust stirred the leaves.
Explore the vocabulary
Notice how precise word choices help build the setting and shape the reader’s response.
1.Which phrase from the passage most strongly suggests that the heat feels oppressive to Sienna?
- “a ribbon of dust”
- “the air was stifling”
- “the metallic smell of rain”
- “the first cool gust”
2.In “the gum leaves hung limp and silent”, what does limp mean in this context?
- Stiff and prickly
- Drooping and lacking energy
- Brightly coloured
- Moving quickly
3.Choose one word from the passage that creates a sense of fear or uncertainty. Explain how it affects the mood.
4.Match each phrase from the passage to the effect it creates.
- “a ribbon of dust”
- “Her pulse drummed against her ribs”
- “the shadows lengthening”
- Makes the setting feel more threatening
- Makes the track seem narrow and dry
- Shows fear through a physical reaction
5.Identify the technique in “the track was a ribbon of dust”. What does this comparison suggest?
6.In “her legs felt rooted to the ground”, what does rooted suggest about Sienna?
- She is excited to run.
- She feels unable to move because of fear or hesitation.
- She has fallen asleep.
- She is trying to hide a plant.
7.The passage says the wind carried “the metallic smell of rain”. What does metallic suggest about the smell?
8.Which word best describes the atmosphere at the beginning of the passage?
- Carefree
- Stifling
- Celebratory
- Cosy
9.Find one detail that shows Sienna is frightened, then explain what it reveals about her reaction.
10.Rewrite “The track was hot and dry” using a vivid comparison or a precise sensory detail that could fit the passage.
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