6 • Lesson 3 Word List

abundant

(adj) More than enough; plentiful.
If good weather continues, farmers can expect an abundant harvest.

abundance (n) A great amount.
The Great Lakes are considered a national treasure because of the abundance of fresh water they contain.

arid

(adj) Having little or no rainfall; very dry.
Much of North Africa is arid land.

distinct*

(adj) 1. Not the same; different or separate.
Apples come in over two thousand distinct varieties.

2. Unmistakable; definite.
Chili peppers add a distinct flavor to this dish.

graze

(v) 1. To feed on growing grass.
A small herd of cows grazed in the meadow.

2. To touch lightly in passing.
The snowball grazed my cheek but didn't hurt me.

hectic

(adj) Full of feverish activity, haste, or confusion.
After a hectic week of sightseeing, the tourists were glad to go home and relax.

horde

(n) A large group or crowd, especially one on the move.
Hordes of swimmers head for the pool in summer.

humid

(adj) Having a large amount of water or moisture in the air.
Residents of Hong Kong escape the hot, humid weather by going inside where it is cool and dry.

humidity (n) The amount of moisture in the air.
The humidity was so high that the slightest activity made us sweat.

incredible

(adj) Hard or impossible to believe.
It seems incredible that humans and stars are made of the same stuff.

inhabit

(v) To live in or on.
Millions of bison once inhabited the great plains of America.

inhabitant (n) A person or animal that lives in a certain place.
Many of the inhabitants of California were born somewhere else.

peninsula

(n) A piece of land, connected to a larger land mass, that juts out and is almost completely surrounded by water.
Bays along the Baja peninsula provide shelter for several kinds of whales.

rural

(adj) Of or relating to the country and the people who live there.
The villagers believe that a shopping mall has no place in a rural area.

sanctuary

(n) 1. A place of safety or shelter.
The neighboring country was a sanctuary to those who were being persecuted.

2. Protection offered by such a place.
The shelter offers sanctuary for stray animals.

splendor

(n) Magnificence; brilliance of appearance.
The splendor of the palace at Versailles took our breath away.

splendid (adj) Very impressive; magnificent.
The exhibition of American sculpture includes several splendid Brazilian statues.

squalor

(n) Filth; misery.
People lived in squalor after their homes were destroyed by the hurricane.

squalid (adj) Dirty and unfit for living, especially as a result of neglect.
When their father climbed into the tree house, he was shocked at the squalid conditions and told them to clean it up before continuing to play.

terrain

(n) 1. An area of land; a region.
After hiking for several days, we knew the terrain quite well.

2. The surface features of a region.
The mountainous terrain of western Colorado attracts skiers from all parts of the country.

Natural Rights Foundational document connection: Declaration of Independence Core principle: People have basic rights that government should protect, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Modern governance or rights question: How should government balance individual rights with public safety or the needs of the community? Why this connection matters: This principle still shapes debates about what government owes people and when government action protects or limits individual freedom

Consent of the Governed Foundational document connection: Declaration of Independence Core principle: Government gets its authority from the people it governs Modern governance or rights question: How should elections, representation, and public participation make government accountable to the people? Why this connection matters: This principle connects foundational documents to ongoing questions about voting, representation, public trust, and whether people feel government reflects their voice

Limited Government Foundational document connection: U.S. Constitution Core principle: Government power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches Modern governance or rights question: How should power be divided when modern problems require fast government action? Why this connection matters: This principle connects to contemporary questions about whether one branch is doing too much, too little, or acting without enough oversight

Checks and Balances Foundational document connection: U.S. Constitution Core principle: Each branch of government has powers that can limit or respond to the other branches Modern governance or rights question: What should happen when Congress, the president, and the courts disagree about government power or public policy? Why this connection matters: This principle shows how foundational documents still shape conflict, accountability, and decision-making within government

Federalism Foundational document connection: U.S. Constitution Core principle: Power is divided between the national government and state governments Modern governance or rights question: Which decisions should be made by the national government, and which should be left to the states? Why this connection matters: This principle still shapes debates about state and national authority, especially when different states make different choices about rights, policies, or public needs

Freedom of Expression Foundational document connection: First Amendment / Bill of Rights Core principle: Government is limited in how it can restrict speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition Modern governance or rights question: How should government protect expression while responding to harm, misinformation, protest conflict, or public order? Why this connection matters: This principle continues to shape civic life because public debate, protest, media, and disagreement are central to democratic governance

Due Process Foundational document connection: Fifth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment Core principle: Government must follow fair procedures when it affects a person’s life, liberty, or property Modern governance or rights question: What does fairness require when government investigates, punishes, regulates, or makes decisions that affect people’s rights? Why this connection matters: This principle connects foundational documents to modern questions about fairness, justice, rights of the accused, and limits on government power

Equal Protection Foundational document connection: Fourteenth Amendment Core principle: Government must provide equal protection of the laws Modern governance or rights question: How should government respond when laws or policies affect groups of people differently? Why this connection matters: This principle connects foundational documents to continuing questions about fairness, equality, civil rights, and the role of government in protecting people under the law

Amendment Process Foundational document connection: U.S. Constitution Core principle: The Constitution can be changed through a formal amendment process Modern governance or rights question: When should constitutional change happen through formal amendment instead of interpretation, laws, or court decisions? Why this connection matters: This principle shows that the Constitution was designed to be stable, but not frozen; changing it is possible, but intentionally difficult