1-2-3 Scream!: List 2

by R.U. Ginns
Warning: this collection of stories may cause readers ages eight to twelve to scream with both fear and laughter.

This list covers "Duplicate Release Form"–"The Deadly Birds of North America."

Here are links to our lists for the book: List 1, List 2, List 3
30 words 79 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. vortex
    the shape of something rotating rapidly
    He wanted to ride the Venus Volcano Vortex.
  2. centrifuge
    an apparatus that separates particles from a suspension
    “The Centrifuge Screamer,” Lamar said softly, watching the tubes whirl faster and faster.
  3. duplicate
    a copy that corresponds to an original exactly
    My child will go on the DNA Dodge ’Em and the Chromosome Coaster. During the rides, all of my child’s body data will be collected so a duplicate can be grown and hatched.
  4. amplifier
    electronic equipment that increases strength of signals
    The duplicate will have an obedience amplifier in its brain, so it will always be happy to follow instructions from teachers and parents.
  5. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    “Where do you think you’re going?” asked Mr. Piper warily.
  6. fleck
    a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
    A few flecks of rainbow sparkle glitter twinkled where Lydia’s shoe had accidentally hit the animal.
  7. scuff
    mar or wear away by rubbing or scraping
    Suddenly, everyone wanted her on their basketball and volleyball teams. Lydia was flattered, but she didn’t like the idea of scuffing up her sneakers.
  8. usher
    someone employed to conduct others
    She went to the movies with her friends, but the usher wouldn’t allow her in with a kid’s ticket.
  9. condition
    an illness, disease, or other medical problem
    “Wait here,” said the doctor, opening the door to a hallway. “I have a special cabinet for rare and unusual conditions in the back room.”
  10. queasy
    feeling nausea
    “Her human blood cells will begin to miss the flavors and nutrients from the kinds of food that human kids eat. Over time, her body will wake up to the fact that she’s not a dog.”
    Lydia felt queasy.
  11. gluten-free
    without an elastic protein found in wheat and other grains
    “I can get food from that pet store near our house,” said Mr. Grisham. “They have dozens of varieties, including some vegan, gluten-free options. And some food for really old dogs, too.”
  12. kibble
    pellets of coarsely ground grain used as animal feed
    For the first few days, Lydia sprinkled dog kibble on slices of pizza and tossed it with bowls of spaghetti.
  13. relapse
    a failure to maintain a higher state
    “You’d better hold off on that,” Dr. Kent warned. “We don’t want a relapse.”
  14. tripe
    lining of the stomach of a cow (used as food)
    “I sent your dad to pick up some more tripe-and-beef-kidney combo mix.”
  15. ferment
    go sour or spoil
    “I asked him to grab a can of the new fermented salmon in pickled seaweed for you, too,” Mrs. Grisham added.
  16. lap
    take up with the tongue
    She flipped up the toilet seat, knelt down, and began to lap up the water.
  17. hysterical
    characterized by a state of violent mental agitation
    Books flew everywhere, the little kids screamed and cried, and Mr. Peterson, the librarian, squawked like a hysterical chicken as he scrambled around, trying to keep the books and shelves in place.
  18. emphasis
    special and significant stress by position or repetition
    “Say something more than once for extra emphasis and it’s an epizeuxis.”
  19. frantic
    excessively agitated; distraught with violent emotion
    “Please!” Ms. Milliron shouted, waving her hands frantically. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
  20. soot
    black powder formed when fuel such as wood or coal is burned
    A dark, sooty cloud rolled through the room. It smelled like a burnt Pop-Tart someone had forgotten in the toaster.
  21. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
    Slowly, the smog cleared, revealing a colossal creature over eight feet tall. A giant green half-human, half-lizard beast with two legs and four arms.
  22. dissolve
    become or cause to become soft or liquid
    The replacement librarian dissolved, sloshing into a puddle on the floor like six gallons of butterscotch pudding.
  23. keen
    very good
    Owls have keen night vision. They also have powerful hearing.
  24. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
    Fortunately (for owls), their sharp senses help them identify your most vulnerable areas, such as the base of your skull and that small indentation in the middle of your upper lip.
  25. indentation
    a concave cut or depression in a surface or edge
    Fortunately (for owls), their sharp senses help them identify your most vulnerable areas, such as the base of your skull and that small indentation in the middle of your upper lip.
  26. mortally
    in such a manner that death ensues
    Most owls are not interested in eating you, only mortally wounding you and watching you die.
  27. frolic
    play boisterously
    There are too many beaches filled with frolicking humans to waste time flapping their wings.
  28. starling
    a type of common, sociable bird with dark feathers
    Most mockingbirds won’t try to kill a human directly. That would be too easy. Instead, they use their songs to confuse humans and cause them to walk into a busy highway, off a cliff, or into the path of a large approaching starling murmuration.
  29. magpie
    long-tailed black-and-white crow that utters a raucous call
    The magpie is a clever bird that collects all kinds of objects.
  30. sabotage
    destroy property or hinder normal operations
    Buntings also like to sabotage car brakes and slice elevator cables.
Created on Tue Jun 13 18:18:15 EDT 2023 (updated Wed Jun 14 10:55:37 EDT 2023)

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