Part 6 Chapter 2"That's strange," said the boy, as he tried once again to read the burial scene that began the book. "I've been trying for two years to read this book, and I never get past these first few pages." Even without a king to provide an int
Read more…Part 5 Chapter 2The Englishman was sitting on a bench in a structure that smelled of animals, sweat, and dust; it was part warehouse, part corral. I never thought I'd end up in a place like this, he thought, as he leafed through the pages of a chemic
Read more…corral noun/kəˈrɑːl/ /-ˈræl/ n [C]an area surrounded by a fence for keeping horses or cattle in, especially in North Americacorral verb/kəˈrɑːl/ /-ˈræl/ v [T] (-ll-)•to guide horses or cattle into a corral•to bring a group of people together and keep
Read more…divination noun/ˌdɪv.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ n [U]the skill or act of saying or discovering what will happen in the future
Read more…bunch (sth) up phrasal verbphrasal verb [M]If material bunches up, or if someone bunches it up, it moves into tight foldsYour shirt's all bunched up at the back.Incessant adjective/ɪnˈses.ənt/ adjnever stopping, especially in an annoying or unpleasan
Read more…The boy went to his room and packed his belongings. They filled three sacks. As he was leaving, he saw, in the corner of the room, his old shepherd's pouch. It was bunched up, and he had hardly thought of it for a long time. As he took his jacket out
Read more…Part 3 Chapter 2The men climbed the hill, and they were tired when they reached the top. But there they saw a crystal shop that offered refreshing mint tea. They went in to drink the tea, which was served in beautiful crystal glasses."My wife never t
Read more…aroma noun/əˈrəʊ.mə/ /-ˈroʊ-/ n [C]a strong pleasant smell, usually from food or drinkthe aroma of freshly baked breada wine with a light fruity aromaretain verb/rɪˈteɪn/ v [T]•slightly formal to keep or continue to have somethingShe has lost her bat
Read more…Part 2 Chapter 2Two more months passed, and the shelf brought many customers into the crystal shop. The boy estimated that, if he worked for six more months, he could return to Spain and buy sixty sheep, and yet another sixty. In less than a year, he
Read more…disembark verb/ˌdɪs.ɪmˈbɑːk/ /-ˈbɑːrk/ v [I] formalto leave a ship, aircraft, etc. after a journeydisembarkation noun/ˌdɪs.ɪm.bɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/ /-bɑːr-ˈ/ n [U]decent adjective/ˈdiː.sənt/ adj•socially acceptable or goodEveryone should be entitled to a dece
Read more…The boy had been working for the crystal merchant for almost a month, and he could see that it wasn't exactly the kind of job that would make him happy. The merchant spent the entire day mumbling behind the counter, telling the boy to be careful with
Read more…Part 11 Chapter 1The crystal merchant awoke with the day, and felt the same anxiety that he felt every morning. He had been in the same place for thirty years: a shop at the top of a hilly street where few customers passed. Now it was too late to cha
Read more…Part 10 Chapter 1He was shaken into wakefulness by someone. He had fallen asleep in the middle of the marketplace, and life in the plaza was about to resume.Looking around, he sought his sheep, and then realized that he was in a new world. But instea
Read more…faith noun ( TRUST )/feɪθ/ n[U] great trust or confidence in something or someoneShe has no faith in modern medicine.You'll cope - I have great faith in you.After the trial, his family said they had lost all faith in the judicial system.Ministers mus
Read more…grouch verb/graʊtʃ/ v [I] informalto complain in an angry wayOh, stop grouching!grouch noun/graʊtʃ/ n [C] informala person who often complainsbump verb ( HIT )/bʌmp/ v•[I + adverb or preposition] to hit something with forceShe bumped into his tray, k
Read more…glassware noun/ˈglɑːs.weər / /ˈglæs.wer/ n [U]drinking glasses or other objects made of glassa display/collection of ornamental glasswarewell-heeled adjective/ˌwelˈhiːld/ adj informalrichHis family was very well-heeled.pouch noun ( BAG )/paʊtʃ/ n [C]
Read more…Part9 Chapter 1At the highest point in Tarifa there is an old fort, built by the Moors. From atop its walls, one can catch a glimpse of Africa. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, sat on the wall of the fort that afternoon, and felt the levanter blowing
Read more…Part8 Chapter 1tense adjective ( NERVOUS )/tent s/ adj•nervous and worried and unable to relaxShe was very tense as she waited for the interview.•If a situation is tense, it causes feelings of worry or nervousnessThere were some tense moments in the
Read more…Part8 Chapter 1The boy began again to read his book, but he was no longer able to concentrate. He was tense and upset, because he knew that the old man was right. He went over to the bakery and bought a loaf of bread, thinking about whether or not he
Read more…Part7 Chapter 1embarrassed adjective/ɪmˈbær.əst//-ˈber-/ adjfeeling ashamed or shyShe felt embarrassed about undressing in front of the doctor.[+ to infinitive] I was too embarrassed to admit that I was scared.financially embarrassedhumorous having n
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