125 Words Every 8th Grader Should Know: List 6

Black smoke billows and swirls in the morning sky, and below it, maybe fifty yards ahead, is a single car that has caught on fire. Dry

Grey light leaked through the shutters, promising another bleak cold day. A Dance with Dragons

I wanted to put my foot down and at the same time give her something, make a concession, a peace offering. The New Yorker (Mar 10, 2014)

Alice was kneeling in front of her, facing away, as the woman bent over her and with deft fingers wove her hair into complex braids, twisting flowers into it as she did. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage

The Bronx Museum of the Arts said it was committed to short- and long-term “gradual salary changes that are feasible and doable.” New York Times (Aug 26, 2020)

He was wearing a heavy gold chain around his neck, with a gaudy jewel hanging from it, and his claws—a good six inches long—were each covered in gold leaf. The Golden Compass

He’s still sick, portable oxygen slung over his shoulder, his face gaunt and tired. Five Feet Apart

Residents in southern Queensland are on high alert as major floods inundate towns. BBC (Dec 1, 2021)

He lied to the senate, he gave oblique answers at best. New York Times (Oct 5, 2018)

The new microscope will replace an obsolete model that the university purchased more than 30 years ago. Seattle Times (Sep 25, 2017)

For two hours his mind roiled with turbulent thoughts before he fell into a restless, tortured sleep. Touching Spirit Bear

The two-hour hike up is strenuous and you won’t be alone if your T-shirt is drenched with sweat by the time you finish. New York Times (Mar 3, 2020)

I was impressed by the fact that Dante could be so systematic in the way he organized everything in his room. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

But when he spoke, his voice was temperate and controlled, mild. When Dimple Met Rishi

I was tying the bean tendrils to the wire fence I had built when I saw a quiver in the leaves of the pumpkins. Nectar in a Sieve