4000 Essential English Words 1 » Unit 8: How the Sun and the Moon Were Made

Word List
  • accept [əkˈsɛpt] v.
    To accept something that is offered is to take it.
    → I accepted the girl’s very nice gift.
  • arrange [əˈreɪn(d)ʒ] v.
    To arrange things is to put them in the right place.
    → Please arrange the bowling pins in order so we can play.
  • attend [əˈtɛnd] v.
    To attend something is to go to it.
    → My sister and I attend the same school.
  • balance [ˈbal(ə)ns] v.
    To balance something is to keep it from falling.
    → We saw an elephant balance itself on a ball.
  • contrast [kənˈtrɑːst] n
    A contrast is the sharp difference between two things.
    → The contrast between my parents is very noticeable.
  • encourage [ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ] v.
    To encourage someone is to make them want to do something.
    → My football coach will encourage us when we are losing.
  • familiar [fəˈmɪlɪə] adj.
    If someone or something is familiar to you, you know them well.
    → The two friends were very familiar with each other.
  • grab [ɡrab] v.
    To grab is to take a hold of someone or something suddenly.
    → I grabbed a pear from the tree.
  • hang [haŋ] v.
    To hang something is to keep it above the ground.
    → I drew a picture of my family, and my mother hung it on the wall.
  • huge [hjuːdʒ] adj.
    If something is huge, it is very big.
    → At work, my father drives a huge truck.
  • necessary [ˈnɛsəs(ə)ri] adj.
    If something is necessary, you must do it.
    → It is necessary to have a passport when you travel to a foreign country.
  • pattern [ˈpat(ə)n] n.
    A pattern is a way in which something is done or organized.
    → My pattern of brushing my teeth is the same as most people’s.
  • propose [prəˈpəʊz] v.
    To propose something is to say that it should be done.
    → Santa Claus proposed that I try to be a good boy all year.
  • purpose [ˈpəːpəs] n.
    A purpose is the reason that you do something.
    → The purpose of exercising is to get into shape.
  • release [rɪˈliːs] v.
    To release something is to stop holding it.
    → She released the bird from her hands.
  • require [rɪˈkwʌɪə] v.
    To require something is to say that it is necessary.
    → We require teachers to have a university degree.
  • single [ˈsɪŋɡ(ə)l] adj.
    If something is single, then there is only one.
    → I have a single key in my hand.
  • success [səkˈsɛs] n.
    Success is doing something well that you choose to do.
    → My daughter was a big success at school.
  • tear [tɪə] v.
    To tear something means to pull it apart.
    → It is easy to tear paper.
  • theory [ˈθɪəri] n.
    A theory is an idea about how something works.
    → We talked about Einstein’s theory of relativity in class.
Exercise 1

Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

  1. She looks like someone that I know well.
    fami_ _ _ _
  2. Drinking water is something that she must do.
    nece_ _ _ _
  3. He has an idea of how the machine works.
    the_ _ _
  4. The reason that 1 am doing this is to help children.
    pur_ _ _ _
  5. My teacher will make me want to get good grades.
    enc_ _ _ _ _ _
  6. I agree with your idea. I think it will work.
    ac_ _ _ _
  7. It is difficult to keep from falling when you stand on one foot.
    ba_ _ _ _ _
  8. Her routine of exercising after work is common for many people.
    pa_ _ _ _ _
  9. There is a big difference between day and night.
    c_ _ _ _ _ _ _
  10. The Earth has a solitary moon.
    s_ _ _ _ _
Exercise 2

Part A: Choose the right word for the given definition.

  1. used when something must be done
    • a. propose
    • b. hang
    • c. require
    • d. tear
  2. to stop something from falling down
    • a. balance
    • b. arrange
    • c. attend
    • d. release
  3. a way that something is very different
    • a. grab
    • b. success
    • c. accept
    • d. contrast
  4. an idea about something
    • a. theory
    • b. familiar
    • c. necessary
    • d. encourage
  5. the only one
    • a. pattern
    • b. single
    • c. huge
    • d. attend

Part B: Check (V) the one that suits the blank naturally.

  1. It started to rain,________.
    • ____ a. it hung on the wall
    • ____ b. so I grabbed my umbrella
  2. When she heard I was leaving,________.
    • ____ a. she proposed a party
    • ____ b. she had huge fun
  3. After my vacation,________.
    • ____ a. I returned to work
    • ____ b. I was an advantage
  4. Don’t pull on my shirt, or ________.
    • ____ a. you might tear it
    • ____ b. you might arrange it
  5. If you try hard,________.
    • ____ a. you can attend many things
    • ____ b. you will have success
  6. When I catch fish,________.
    • ____ a. I usually release them back into the water
    • ____ b. they require a good dinner
Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. familiar
  2. necessary
  3. theory
  4. purpose
  5. encourage
  6. accept
  7. balance
  8. pattern
  9. contrast
  10. single
Exercise 2
Part A
  1. c
  2. a
  3. d
  4. a
  5. b
Part B
  1. b
  2. a
  3. a
  4. b
  5. a
Answer Key
How the Sun and the Moon Were Made

Do you ever wonder where the moon and the sun came from? The Inuit people of Alaska have a theory.

They tell a story about a beautiful girl. She was very nice. In contrast, her brother was a mean little boy. One day he proposed something. “We should go to a party,” he said. The girl accepted. First, it was necessary for her to prepare. She arranged her hair and put on nice clothes. This required a lot of time. But the girl worked hard, and soon she had success. She looked perfect.

They attended the party together. The girl was having fun. Later, she walked into the bathroom. Suddenly, the lights were turned off! Someone grabbed her hair and tore her clothes. She ran out of the bathroom. She wanted to know who did this to her.

Then she had an idea. She fixed her hair again. This time it was even more beautiful. She even balanced beautiful jewels in it. She wanted to encourage the person to grab it again. She put black dirt in her hair. The purpose of this was to catch the person.

She went to the bathroom again, and it was the same pattern. The lights went off, and someone grabbed her hair. When he released it, his hand was black. The girl returned to the party. She knew there was only a single person with a black hand. When she saw that person, he was very familiar. It was her brother!

He ran into the woods. The girl ran after him. They both carried fire so they could see in the dark. The smoke went into the air. As they ran, they grew. They became huge. Then they went into space. When the girl’s fire went out, she hung in the sky. She became the moon, and her brother became the sun. They chase each other forever.

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What is this story about?
    • a. The contrast between the sun and the moon
    • b. A theory of how the moon and the sun were made
    • c. The purpose of the sun and the moon
    • d. Why it is necessary for the moon to balance in the sky
  2. Why does the girl encourage someone to grab her hair?
    • a. She doesn’t want him to tear her dress.
    • b. She wants to become huge and hang in the sky.
    • c. She wants to know who grabbed her hair.
    • d. She wants the party to be a success.
  3. What was true of the boy in the story?
    • a. He accepted the invitation when his sister proposed a party.
    • b. He didn’t want to attend the party.
    • c. He was the only person with a black hand.
    • d. He wore a shirt with a beautiful pattern.
  4. Why does the girl become angry?
    • a. The boy doesn’t release her hair.
    • b. She is required to arrange her hair.
    • c. The smoke from her fire went into the air.
    • d. She sees someone familiar with a black hand.
  5. How does the girl get ready for the party?
    _____________
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
  1. b
  2. c
  3. c
  4. d
  5. She arranged her hair and wore nice clothes.
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