READING 2 OF 23 focus words
Context study 2
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The botanist would desiccate the specimen before storing it. The invading army threatened to despoil the sanctuary. Their desultory conversation wandered from weather to ancient coins.
Hot winds can desiccate exposed leaves. The campaign opposed a proposal that would despoil the valley. A desultory search produced no reliable information.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.