Vocabulary Stories

Menacing — A Vocabulary Story

The Storm at Cape Agulhas --Rafael gripped the rusted railing as the wind shoved him sideways. Behind him, Cape Agulhas stretched into grey foam, the...

Vocabulary Stories

Foreshadow — A Vocabulary Story

The Painter of Slemish Mountain --Rafael had hiked Slemish Mountain three times that summer, but never with a sketchbook tucked under his arm. His cousin Bibi...

Vocabulary Stories

Dawdle — A Vocabulary Story

The Marrakech Delivery --Noor weaved her bicycle through the narrow alleys of the Marrakech medina, a paper bag of warm bread balanced in the basket. Her...

Vocabulary Stories

Affluent — A Vocabulary Story

The Lost Locket of Leeds Castle --Nushi pressed her nose against the glass case in Kent's Leeds Castle, studying a silver locket that once belonged to Lady...

Vocabulary Stories

Diminution — A Vocabulary Story

The Shrinking Pile at Portobello Road --Mei arrived at Portobello Road Market with a battered suitcase of her grandmother's old buttons, hoping to sell them...

Vocabulary Stories

Ebullient — A Vocabulary Story

The Floating Market --Lan gripped the wooden edge of the longboat as it nosed into the floating market on the Mekong Delta. Around her, traders in conical hats...

Vocabulary Stories

Machinate — A Vocabulary Story

The Hay-on-Wye Bookshop Caper --Vijay had been working at the dusty bookshop in Hay-on-Wye for only three weeks when he noticed the rival shopkeeper, Olga,...

Vocabulary Stories

Unravel — A Vocabulary Story

The Knot at Cocora Valley --Paulo tightened the laces of his walking boots and stared up at the wax palms of Cocora Valley. They rose like green needles into...

Vocabulary Stories

Tragic — A Vocabulary Story

The Cracked Violin --In a small workshop in Kraków, Ekaterina pressed her ear against the door. Inside, her uncle Daniel was repairing violins for the spring...

Vocabulary Stories

Abash — A Vocabulary Story

The Missing Sketchbook at Camden Market --Zahra hurried between the stalls of Camden Market, weaving past racks of leather jackets and trays of sizzling...

Vocabulary Stories

Stagger — A Vocabulary Story

The Climb at Briksdal --Min adjusted her rucksack as the path twisted upwards towards Briksdal Glacier. Her trekking partner, Oscar, was already a few paces...

Vocabulary Stories

Era — A Vocabulary Story

Nur and the Stones of Skara Brae --Nur tightened her raincoat as the Orkney wind whipped across the cliffs. Her mother, a marine biologist working nearby, had...