“Stop the Sun” – Gary Paulsen

Vocabulary

persist(verb) to continue stubbornly

Ex. – The weeds persisted in invading the flower bed.

dry

(adjective) direct and without emotion; matter-of-fact

Ex. – The announcer on the PA system drily informed us that a tornado had been sighted in the center of town.

founder(verb) to get stuck; break down

Ex. – The rudderless boat foundered against the rocky shoreline.

inert(adjective) having no power to move or act;

lifeless

Ex. – After a grueling practice, Stella lay inert on the couch because her muscles hurt too much to move.

mortars(noun) small, portable cannons that fire

explosive shells; also, the shells fired by such cannons

Ex. – The troops were pinned down by heavy mortar fire.

chant(noun) – something sung or spoken in a

rhythmic monotone

Ex. – The chants in church put Marshall to sleep every Sunday.

brandishing(adjective) waving something (such as a

weapon) in a threatening manner

Ex. - Mrs. Thiem routed the bat from the classroom by brandishing her giant pencil.

forlorn(adjective) sad and desperate because of

abandonment

Ex. – After the mother dog was run over by a car, her forlorn puppies whined night and day.

litany(noun) a repetitive recitation

Ex. – Brandi got tired of listening to her father’s litany of instructions every time she went out with friends.

induce(verb) to bring forth; cause

Ex. – Emma knew she was going to induce the wrath of her sister when she borrowed her boots without asking, but she did it anyway.