READING 1 OF 23 focus words
Context study 1
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The old cabinet was a paragon of careful craftsmanship. The letter revealed a meeting with the duke's paramour. The comic actor rubbed his bald pate in puzzlement.
The narrator insists that the hero is no paragon of virtue. The historical novel keeps the paramour's identity hidden until the final chapter. A raindrop landed on the traveler's uncovered pate.
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.