bleak adj., lacking life; cold and raw. When Lucia first moved from the Caribbean to the northern United States, she thought the landscape looked bleak compared to her lush homeland.

ex • ult • ant adj., joyful. We did not have to ask Joel how he did on the test because he wore an exultant grin.

wrath n., extreme anger; harshness. Do you think it is better to treat the guilty with wrath or with mercy?

PAGE 613

dis • dain n., feeling of contempt for something that is beneath you; scorn. Rick was a talented and hard-working student, so he felt disdain for those students who did not bother to study for important tests.

per • ish v., die. Jerome learned the sad truth about death when his beloved dog grew old and finally perished.

PAGE 614

moil v., toil; drudge. We will just have to moil through this hard work until the project is done.

cre • mate v., burn a dead body to ashes. In some religions it is standard to cremate a body after a person has died, while in other religions burial is the norm.

PAGE 615

heed v., pay close attention to. Before you begin writing your answers to the test, heed the instructions you are given.

brawn n., muscular strength. Use your brains to resolve arguments, not your brawn.

Pgae 616.

der • e • lict n., abandoned ship. The derelict that was grounded in the harbor has been plundered by people who wanted to find souvenirs of an earlier seafaring time.