Introduction

Build your vocabulary and learn asunder, formidable, bastion, rebuff, neutralize, tactic, expedient, citadel, ration, and untenable in the context of The Siege of Vicksburg Word Power from English Plus Podcast.


Audio Podcast


Tropical Rain Forests

Rain forests were once thought to be little more than bothersome encumbrances to exploration and civilized development. This is no longer the case. Today people throughout the world are beginning to realize that a rich variety of plants and animals are sheltered in the rain forests. Like a desert, a tropical rain forest is a biome with its own unique climate, plants, and animals.

Trees that grow up to 150 feet in height form a canopy that holds most of the food sources for the animals that live in them. Tropical mammals who live at these heights have learned a variety of ways to move about. Gibbons and spider monkeys swing from branch to branch while other animals make stupendous leaps from one tree to another. For extra stability, tropical porcupines and monkeys wrap their tails around branches.

Sandwiched between the forest floor and the treetops is a layer of natural growth called the understory. The dim light at this level has been filtered through the forest’s canopy. Here thin-trunked trees sprout leaves that look like partially closed umbrellas which have been bent to catch the scarce sunlight. Leaf-eating animals forage on these lush, leafy trees. The trees also attract insect-eating birds that travel the tree trunks and ferret out the insects that are dining on the rotting wood.

The cool, dank forest floor is blanketed with moss and wet leaves. Only 1 percent of the sunlight shining on the canopy reaches the ground. The luxuriant vegetation includes rare and strange flowers and other plants, many of which have medicinal value. Two-thirds of the medicines used today were first made from rain forest plants. Many animals lay hidden among the layers of leaves and moss. A close look reveals the natural camouflage that helps conceal them. A leopard’s dappled coat keeps it well hidden in the shadows, while the leafy-looking shell of a matamata turtle blends in with dead leaves floating down a stream.


Unlock Keywords

Choose the best meaning of the words. Try to guess the meaning from the context.

An encumbrance in "Rain forests were once thought to be little more than bothersome encumbrances to exploration and civilized development." can be best described as ______.

A biome in "Like a desert, a tropical rain forest is a biome with its own unique climate, plants, and animals." is a ______.

A stupendous performance is one that is ______.

Another word for stability in "For extra stability, tropical porcupines and monkeys wrap their tails around branches." would be ______.

When animals forage they ______.

To ferret as in "The trees also attract insect-eating birds that travel the tree trunks and ferret out the insects that are dining on the rotting wood." is ______.

Another word for dank in "The cool, dank forest floor is blanketed with moss and wet leaves. " is ______.

Luxuriant vegetation is ______.

Camouflage helps animals ______.

A dappled egg is ______.


Interactive Activities

Flashcards


Learning


Matching


Spelling


Test


PDF Downloadable Worksheet

[ppp_patron_only level=”5″]

Episode 625 Word Power | Tr… by English Plus Podcast

[/ppp_patron_only]

2 Comments

  1. Malena RUBIN

    Danny you are amazing at designing your materials.
    Congratulations!! and thank you very much for helping people who need to learn,
    And they can’t afford a private teacher.

    Reply
    • Danny Ballan

      Thank you very much Malena! My mission is to reach everyone and offer the best quality educational content I can provide. I hope I always meet your expectations and help our learning community. Thank you very much 🙂

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

<a href="https://englishpluspodcast.com/author/dannyballanowner/" target="_self">Danny Ballan</a>

Danny Ballan

Author

Danny is a podcaster, teacher, and writer. He worked in educational technology for over a decade. He creates daily podcasts, online courses, educational videos, educational games, and he also writes poetry, novels and music.

You may also Like

Three Laws That Must Be Obeyed | Word Power

Three Laws That Must Be Obeyed | Word Power

In this episode, we explore the meaning and usage of ten interesting keywords from a text about Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. We discuss words like “apocryphal,” “behemoth,” “brevity,” “dally,” “depreciate,” “paraphrase,” “reinforce,” “relatively,” “respite,” and “svelte,” and share their definitions and common usage. Join us as we deepen our understanding of these words and learn how to use them effectively in our everyday conversations and writing. Don’t forget to follow our podcast on your favorite platform, share it with others, and leave us a rating and review to help us reach more listeners!

read more
Learning the Ropes | Word Power

Learning the Ropes | Word Power

In this Word Power episode – Learning the Ropes, we discuss 10 commonly used English keywords, including Gothic, impregnable, riven, insularity, elite, reverence, mystique, exhort, sundry, and primal. We define each of these words and explore how they can be used in different contexts. Plus, we offer tips for practicing these words to help expand your vocabulary.

read more
Stick Style | Word Power

Stick Style | Word Power

In this episode of Word Power, we explore the unique architectural style of the Great Camps in the Adirondack Mountains, and learn 10 new vocabulary words that will help you describe and appreciate this historic design. From the rustic charm of the buildings, to the prepossessing interiors filled with luxurious accoutrements, to the patina that has developed over time, we delve into the fascinating world of the Adirondack Great Camps. Along the way, we learn the meaning and usage of 10 new vocabulary words, including redolent, romantic, fastidious, and prototype. Plus, we provide exercises and resources to help you practice and retain these words in your own vocabulary. Don’t miss this engaging and informative episode of Word Power!

read more

Recent Posts

Categories

Follow Us

Pin It on Pinterest