READING 1 OF 23 focus words
An arch in the wall
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The arch lacked its final keystone, so the builders kept the temporary supports in place. A stout block served as the fulcrum for a short lifting bar.
They needed a rigid board under the block. A flexible board would bend and spoil the lift.
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.