Glossary

alumni
the former students of a school, college etc

appalling
very unpleasant and shocking

arcade
a public place where there are a lot of video games that you play by putting money in the machines

atrophy
to become weak because of lack of use or lack of blood

bait
food used to attract fish, animals, or birds so that you can catch them

cardio
any type of exercise that makes the heart stronger and healthier, for example running

compulsory
something that is compulsory must be done because it is the law or because someone in authority orders you to

congregation
the people who usually go to a particular church

curling
a sport played on ice, in which players slide flat heavy stones towards a marked place

diligence
care that someone in a position of responsibility takes with their work

disparate
consisting of things or people that are very different and not related to each other

fee
an amount of money that you pay to do something or that you pay to a professional person for their work

hail
frozen raindrops which fall as hard balls of ice

idolize
to admire and love someone so much that you think they are perfect

improvise
to do something without any preparation, because you are forced to do this by unexpected events

kayak
a type of light boat, usually for one person, that is moved using a paddle

knead
to press a mixture of flour and water many times with your hands

locker
a small cupboard with a lock in a school, sports building, office etc, where you can leave clothes or possessions while you do something

miller
someone who owns or works in a mill which makes flour

nectar
the sweet liquid that bees collect from flowers

pan
to wash soil in a metal container in order to separate gold from other substances

paragliding
a sport in which you jump off a hill or out of a plane and use a parachute to fly for long distances before floating back down to the ground

pastoralist
a sheep or cattle farmer.

penalty
a punishment for breaking a law, rule, or legal agreement

portage
when people carry small boats over land from one river to another

prairie
a wide open area of fairly flat land in North America which is covered in grass or wheat

recruit
someone who has just joined the army, navy, or air force

robotics
the study of how robots are made and used

scooter
a type of small, less powerful motorcycle with small wheels

splurge
to spend more money than you can usually afford

sprig
a small stem or part of a branch with leaves or flowers on it

squeamish
easily shocked or upset, or easily made to feel sick by seeing unpleasant things

trepidation
a feeling of anxiety or fear about something that is going to happen

zombie
a dead person whose body is made to move by magic, according to some African and Caribbean religions