1. Fourth Grade Vocabulary
Imagine It!
Fourth Grade Vocabulary
Unit 5
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For Granite School District Use Only

2. buzzing v. form of buzz: to be very active
“The one-street of Promontory, Utah was buzzing with activity on May 10, 1869.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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For Granite School District Use Only

3. For Granite School District Use Only
hastily
adv. in a hurry
“As a worker was hastily summoned to pound the final spike, a telegrapher sent the signal to the nation: ‘It’s done!’ ”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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4. ceremony n. a formal event, often with speech making
“Top-level railroad executives milled about, waiting for the ceremony to begin—the ceremony would mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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For Granite School District Use Only

5. For Granite School District Use Only
transcontinental
adj. from coast to coast
“Top-level railroad executives milled about, waiting for the ceremony to begin—the ceremony would mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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6. laborers n. plural of laborer: a worker
“And now, the crowd—mostly Irish and Chinese laborers who had borne the brunt of the work—pushed close.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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7. For Granite School District Use Only
assistance
n. help
“…with your assistance we will proceed to lay the last tie, the last rail, and drive the last spike.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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8. For Granite School District Use Only
thrive
v. to be successful
“America finally had the technological means to grow and thrive—and become the America that we know today.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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9. locomotives n. the plural of locomotive: a train engine
“Back at Promontory, two great locomotives inched forward just close enough so that the two engineers could lean forward and shake hands with each other.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 1
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10. bulged v. past tense of bulge: to swell
“John Henry’s muscles bulged and strained like they never bulged and strained before.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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For Granite School District Use Only

11. strain v. to hurt yourself by trying to do too much
“ ‘Don’t you strain yourself, honey,’ said Polly Ann.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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For Granite School District Use Only

12. For Granite School District Use Only
generous
adj. kind and unselfish
“ ‘That’s mighty generous,’ said John Henry, ‘but don’t you worry about that.’ .”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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For Granite School District Use Only

13. muscular adj. having well-developed muscles
“John Henry rested his nine-pound hammer on his broad, muscular shoulder.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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For Granite School District Use Only

14. legend
n. a story passed down through the years that is not entirely true
“By the late 1920’s, when folklore experts began to study the John Henry legend seriously, there were more than one hundred hammer songs and one hundred versions of the ballad.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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For Granite School District Use Only

15. versions n. plural of version: a variation of a story
There are many different versions
of the legend of Paul Bunyan.
“By the late 1920’s, when folklore experts began to study the John Henry legend seriously, there were more than one hundred hammer songs and one hundred versions of the ballad.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 2
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16. mainland n. the main part of a country, as opposed to an island
“A dozen railroad companies sold tickets on the island, although the trains left from the mainland.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
For Granite School District Use Only

17. yearning v. form of yearn: to long; to wish
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
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For Granite School District Use Only

18. For Granite School District Use Only
translated
v. past tense of translate: to change words or thoughts from one language into another
“Helpers translated the many questions and answers.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
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19. wages n. plural of wage: payment for work
“Some immigrants demanded better wages and working conditions.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
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20. strikes n. plural of strike: a work stoppage as a form of protest
“Unions organized marches and held strikes.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
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For Granite School District Use Only

21. dreaded v. past tense of dread: to fear
“At every station, immigrants dreaded the eye exam.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 3
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22. For Granite School District Use Only
borders
n. plural of border: artificial line where one country or state ends and another begins
“California passed a law closing its borders to outsiders.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
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23. For Granite School District Use Only
locals
n. plural of local: a person who has been living in a place for a long time, unlike newly arrived people
“They also gave migrants a place where they could feel safe from unfriendly locals.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
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For Granite School District Use Only

24. demand n. the desire for a product or service
Jobs are in high demand.
Gas is in high demand so the prices keep rising.
“Farmers were getting high prices for their products because these items were in demand.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
For Granite School District Use Only

25. era n. a period of history, usually several years long
“The Dust Bowl era was called the Dirty ‘30’s.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
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For Granite School District Use Only

26. For Granite School District Use Only
ditches
n. plural of ditch: a long narrow pathway cut in the ground to drain water
“Homeless families camped out by roadsides and irrigation ditches.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
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27. desperate adj. ready to take large risks with little hope of success
The plant is desperate for water.
He is desperate
for food.
“They were desperate. They needed money to pay their mortgages and buy seeds, fertilizer, and many other important things.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 4
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28. For Granite School District Use Only
binoculars
pl. n. a tool for seeing far away, made of two telescopes joined to allow the viewer to use both eyes
“At Fort Point I look for Pop through the binoculars Mom lends me.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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29. rust v. to have iron parts turn red and scaly, then fall away
“My pop says if it weren’t for them, the bridge would rust away, but I think he’s just saying that to be nice.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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30. skim v. to move over lightly and swiftly
“I don’t worry much about him on days when the sun sparkles on the water, when sailboats skim below.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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31. slip v. to put an object somewhere quickly and secretly
He slipped the
money into
his pocket.
She slipped him a note.
“I slip one of the pieces into my pocket.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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For Granite School District Use Only

32. For Granite School District Use Only
ashamed
adj. feeling shame; being upset or feeling guilty because you have done something wrong
He felt ashamed that he
had cheated in the game.
“I finally understand, and I feel ashamed.”
Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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For Granite School District Use Only

33. For Granite School District Use Only
scarlet
adj. bright red
“…but I can always find my pop because of the red kerchief he ties at his throat. It’s our own scarlet signal.”
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Grade 4 Unit 5 Lesson 5
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