If you are about to take the SAT test or wish to enhance your vocabulary building then this book is just the one for you. Follow the adventurous protagonist through her confrontation and learn many fundamental new words.
Busted by Emma Harrison BUSTED BY EMMA HARRISON 1 Busted by Emma Harrison Chapter One Ask anyone—well, anyone who knows me—and they will tell you that I have this 1 uncanny ability for finding the fun. It doesn’t matter how 2 sedate the situation, how 3 staid the participants, I, Kim Stratford, will inspire laughter where there is only misery. I can bring 4 effervescence to places where boredom seems to 5 permeate the very walls. I am the 6 indomitable mistress of 7 mayhem. Examples? You ask for examples? No problem. I have a 8 plethora of good stories. How about last year when we were all forced to sit through career planning with Mr. Winters, the guidance counselor of 9 doom, and I reduced the entire classroom to hysterics by repeatedly insisting I wanted to pursue a career in high-end porn? (I know. It was 10 ingenious.) Or when my mother and I went to Aunt Renee’s for Thanksgiving and I refused to give up until I persuaded even my 11 execrable Uncle Morgan to play 12 charades. (He did a killer Jaws, by the way). Last summer, I even got the crowd giggling at the funeral of my best friend, Corinne, when I brought up her macaroni-and-cheese obsession during my 13 eulogy. Okay, so maybe I didn’t find the fun 1 uncanny . weird 2 sedate · dull 3 staid · serious or dull 4 effervescence · sparkle 5 permeate · penetrate 6 indomitable · unconquerable 7 mayhem . havoc 8 plethora · excess or large number 9 doom . unpleasant or disastrous destiny 10 ingenious · clever or inspired 11 execrable · terrible or disgusting 12 charades . player acts out a phrase for others to guess 13 eulogy · speech given at a funeral 2 Busted by Emma Harrison for myself that day—it was next to impossible—but I did find it for other people. So why, I ask you, why was I sitting there for the fifth afternoon in a row, watching yet another 14 appalling, mind-numbingly stupid soap opera? Had I really sunk so very low? It was my first ever winter break from college. One month back at my house in Connecticut, where there was virtually nothing to do, I was facing four whole weeks 15 sequestered from all the new friends I’d made at Stanford University in the first few months of my freshman year, and I was 16 wallowing. I’m not proud to admit it, but I was. It was about twenty degrees outside and I 17 abhor the cold, unless, of course, I’m on the slopes with my snowboard, sporting some 18 sleek, sexy and 19 impervious boarding gear. I had already read every last book I would be required to read in next semester’s American Writers course—ten heavy and mostly 20 tedious 21 tomes that were a serious pain to 22 lug across the country—including the 23 unabridged version of Moby-Dick, which, let me tell you, will make you want to scratch your brain out through your ear canal, it’s so 24 oblique. My high school friends had been 25 expunged from my life over 14 appalling · awful or dreadful 15 sequestered · isolated or apart 16 wallowing · self-pitying 17 abhor · hate 18 sleek . having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light 19 impervious · solid or watertight 20 tedious · boring or tiresome 21 tomes · books 22 lug . carry with difficulty 23 unabridged · full-length 24 oblique · indirect or meandering 25 expunged · wiped out 3 Busted by Emma Harrison the past semester, for which I take the 26 brunt of the responsibility. I hadn’t been very 27 fastidious about returning phone calls and emails, preferring not to be reminded of senior year and of Corinne. I was ready to move on. And when I first stepped off the five-hour flight to California I was overjoyed by my 28 fortuitous choice of schools. Stanford was so far away from the Ivies on the East Coast where most of my friends were going that I’d never be expected to see them. It was a new life for me. A new start. Now, of course, I was paying for it. They all had given up on me, for good reason, and there was no one I could call, no one to distract me from the talk shows and the 29 turgid dramas of these horrid over- actors. My life had become so 30 insipid I could hardly even stand to be around myself. I glanced around the 31 impeccably kept living room—my mother is a neat freak while I tend toward the messy—looking for something to inspire me. Mom’s many awards of service, 32 extolling her virtues as a policewoman, lined the walls. My karate and track trophies were displayed with pride along the mantle. The eclectic collection of books and videos we had 33 amassed since I was a kid—everything from Free to Be You and Me to Charlie’s Angels 1 and 2—packed the shelves 34 adjacent to the fireplace, but none of them was interesting enough to stir me from the comfort of the couch. The 35 effulgent sun 26 brunt · weight or burden 27 fastidious · careful or attentive 28 fortuitous · lucky 29 turgid · stiff or stilted 30 insipid · dull 31 impeccably . flawlessly 32 extolling · praising 33 amassed . collected 34 adjacent · to next to 35 effulgent · bright or beaming 4 Busted by Emma Harrison 36 glinted off the snow-covered lawn outside, blinding me whenever I made the mistake of looking toward the window. I 37 squinted and covered my eyes. This was sad. I was becoming allergic to sunlight. Okay, Kimbo, time to get off your ass, I told myself. 38 Mustering all my energy, I pushed myself from the comfy 39 faux-suede cushions and padded over to the mirror to check my reflection. It was beyond 40 mortifying. My skin was so 41 pasty you’d think I was a 42 nocturnal being Trs vampiric. My short brown hair was 43 mussed into spikes on one side. I even had the pattern of the plaid throw pillow imprinted on my cheek. It was time, as they say, to get a life. At that moment one of those 44 ebullient commercials came on the TV, 45 touting the energizing effects of some nutritional supplement for the elderly. I saw the reflection of the screen in the mirror and caught a glimpse of an ancient couple riding their bikes along a path, smiling all the way. Suddenly I had an 46 epiphany. I could do that. I had a bike . . . somewhere. So what if it was 47 subzero temperatures out there? I had to do something. I changed into a pair of warm leggings, my favorite Stanford 48 sweatshirt and my 49 windbreaker, got my hair under control with a 36 glinted . be shiny, as if wet or glistened 37 squinted . partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct blinding light or squinched 38 mustering · gathering 39 faux-suede . man-made (synthetic) leather with a napped surface 40 mortifying · shameful 41 pasty . pallid or pale 42 nocturnal · active at night 43 mussed . made messy or untidy 44 ebullient · bright and cheerful 45 touting . advertizing in strongly positive terms; boasting 46 epiphany · sudden realization or awakening 47 subzero . below freezing, lower than zero degrees 48 sweatshirt . cotton knit pullover with long sleeves worn during athletic activity; pullover 49 windbreaker . a kind of heavy jacket or parka 5 Busted by Emma Harrison ski hat and headed out to the garage. It took a few minutes to 50 excavate my dirt bike from the back of the room, which served as a storage place for all 51 discarded furniture, appliances and 52 sundry items that my mother couldn’t seem to part with but refused to keep in her 53 meticulously clean house. By the time I’d filled the tires with air and checked the brakes, I was 54 raring to go. As soon as I was out on the road I felt a million times better. The cold air in my lungs and the pumping of my muscles brought on a light-headed kind of 55 euphoria. How had I forgotten how much better exercise always made me feel? I definitely needed to get out more. I rode to the end of my block, slowing down as I passed the houses of my former friends—homes where I’d attended dozens of slumber parties, obsessive Buffy viewings and countless junk food 56 fests. When I came to Corinne’s house I pedaled a little bit faster. There were certain things I just couldn’t 57 ruminate on. I turned down Morrison Street, the main avenue of Morrison, Connecticut, my 58 quaint hometown, which was lined with Mom-and- Pop businesses, the town library and the 59 obligatory Gap. The wind was biting against my face, but I couldn’t help smiling. I felt like I was riding down memory lane as I zoomed by Häagen-Dazs and the Morrison Diner, the only two hangouts for kids in this town. I rode through Veterans’ Park and the bench where Chad Martin had given 50 excavate · dig out 51 discarded · thrown away 52 sundry . consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds; mixed 53 meticulously · carefully or thoroughly 54 raring . full of eagerness 55 euphoria · exhilaration or joy 56 fests . a gathering or event with a particular focus 57 ruminate · think over 58 quaint · old-fashioned or charming 59 obligatory · unavoidable or necessary 6 Busted by Emma Harrison me my first ever kiss—and the last kiss for a long time. (It was so sloppy! Who wanted to do that again? Little did I know that Chad was just a smooching 60 novice like me. Over the last couple of years I’ve definitely improved, though I don’t know if Chad can say the same.) Finally I came to Morrison High School where class was in session. The American flag on the front lawn whipped around in the wind, and as I looked up at it, I couldn’t help recalling when it had flown at 61 half-mast last year for a month after the senior prom. If it hadn’t been for me it never would have been lowered, a little voice in my head taunted me. I pulled my cap down to cover my ears and raced away, pushing the thoughts from my mind. (I’m an expert at issue-avoidance). As I hit the corner the bell 62 pealed behind me, signaling the end of classes. I pedaled even harder. The last thing I wanted was a reunion with some of this year’s seniors. I took the Donnybrook hill at a rate that would have made Lance Armstrong proud. On the other side of the hill, I normally would have just 63 coasted, but I felt the need to escape—to put as much distance as possible between myself and the school—so I pedaled just as hard as I had on the way up. My insane 64 momentum toward the bottom of the hill sent my heart into my throat, and I slammed on the brakes, stopping just seconds before 65 hurtling into traffic at a four-way intersection. I placed my feet on the ground and caught my breath. 60 novice · beginner 61 half-mast . a position some distance below the top of a mast to which a flag is lowered in mourning or to signal distress 62 pealed · rang 63 coasted . move easily forward without applying more power 64 momentum · force of motion 65 hurtling . making a thrusting forward movement or lunging 7 Busted by Emma Harrison Wanting to escape was one thing. 66 Endangering my own life was another. Get a grip, I told myself. If I couldn’t be out on the streets of Morrison without having a nervous breakdown, then I was in for one tough winter break. Across the street was the Morrison Police Station, my mother’s home away from home. I saw her Taurus parked in the spot marked “Reserved for the Chief of Police” and smiled, my heart swelling with pride. My mother had worked so 67 diligently to become the first female chief in the county. I bet she grinned to herself every morning when she pulled into that space. When the light turned green I pushed my bike through the intersection, deciding to surprise my mother with a visit. She had gone in early that morning and would be off in about an hour. Maybe I could hang out for a while and then we could go 68 chow down on a pizza together. The only thing better than the 69 bliss of a good ride was the reward of a steaming pepperoni pizza afterward. I locked my bike up outside and 70 barreled through the front door of the station, into the 71 rustic front office. Chief Knox, the man who had 72 abdicated the position of police chief to my mother, had been an 73 avid hunter and fisherman. He’d had the station 74 outfitted like a log cabin with wood-paneled walls, benches made of cut logs, 66 endangering · putting in danger 67 diligently · thoroughly or industriously 68 chow . informal term for a meal 69 bliss · pleasure or enjoyment 70 barreled . moved along very quickly 71 rustic · old-fashioned or rural 72 abdicated · abandoned 73 avid . marked by active interest and enthusiasm 74 outfitted . furnished with essential equipment for a particular occupation or undertaking occupation or equipped 8 Busted by Emma Harrison and paintings of various fish 75 indigenous to the lakes and streams of Connecticut. My mother had taken the 76 helm only last year, and redecorating hadn’t been her top priority, so the 77 vestiges of Chief Knox remained. “Hey, Selma!” I said to the 78 diminutive female officer who always worked the desk. She was the only other woman on the squad and couldn’t have been more different from my mom. Short, skinny and sweet, Selma had managed to 79 infuse her immediate area with some feminine touches, placing framed pictures of her kids and her cats on the front desk and always making sure there was a candy jar full of M&Ms for the taking. She even changed them with the seasons, making sure to buy the orange and black ones in October, the 80 pastel ones around Easter, and the red and green ones at Christmastime. You had to love that kind of attention to detail—or be slightly afraid of it. It was January now, so the M&Ms were back to being multicolored. She’d probably tossed any 81 superfluous red and green candies first thing in the morning on December 26. But even for all her 82 quirks, I liked Selma. She always had a smile for everyone. “Kim! It’s so good to see you!” she 83 trilled, grinning up at me. “How’s school?” “Fantastic, thanks,” I replied honestly, wishing I was back in my 75 indigenous · native 76 helm . leadership 77 vestiges · traces or remnants 78 diminutive · tiny 79 infuse · fill or introduce 80 pastel . delicate and pale in color 81 superfluous · extra or unnecessary 82 quirks . strange attitude or habits 83 trilled · spoke musically or warbled 9 Busted by Emma Harrison dorm right about then. The emotional bike ride had taken a lot out of me. “Here to see your mom?” Selma asked. “Yep,” I replied, pulling off my knit hat. Selma’s eyes traveled up to my hair, which I was sure was sticking out in a million directions due to static. “Is she busy?” “She’s in with Tad and Quincy,” Selma said. “So probably not,” she added with a little wink. Tad and Quincy were the two detectives on the Morrison squad, and there was no love lost between them and Selma. The two men were always 84 derisive of Selma’s positive outlook, mocking her love of animals and her tendency to believe everyone was innocent. Selma thought they were 85 sophomoric and annoying and never missed an opportunity to point out that they had yet to solve a case together. I wasn’t fond of Tad myself. I could tell he was jealous of my mother’s 86 ascent to power, and their relationship was 87 acrimonious. Quincy, however, was harmless. He respected my mom and was always nice to me. He just wasn’t very self-assured and was therefore 88 malleable. He thought Tad’s 89 ribald sense of humor was hysterical and went along with whatever he did, just like those sorry kids at school who followed the “cool” kids around like they were the 90 end- all be-all. I grabbed a few M&Ms, thanked Selma and 91 wound my way 84 derisive · scornful or mocking 85 sophomoric · immature 86 ascent · rise 87 acrimonious · unfriendly or bitter 88 malleable · flexible or manipulable 89 ribald · vulgar or bawdy 90 end-all be-all . the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim 91 wound . to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course 10 [...]... made worse 99 tremulous · unsteady or trembling 100 upscale designed for consumers with high incomes 101 snobs regarded as arrogant and annoying people 102 predicament · problem or dilemma 11 closed Busted by Emma Harrison “Yeah, Jenna, that’s the problem,” Tad said “I’d prefer it if you’d address me as Chief Stratford,” my mother 103 snapped “Or just plain ‘Chief’ would be fine.” I grinned Go, Mom... heredity · inherited traits replete · filled or full pudgy short and plump (chubby) freshman fifteen refers to an amount of weight often gained during a student's first year at a college or university 129 resolution · determination or firmness 130 audacious · bold or daring 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 15 Busted by Emma Harrison dubious like I was some kind of 132feeble little girly-girl So not the... firm or stiff engender · produce inept · clumsy or unskilled rookie amateur or beginner 20 Busted by Emma Harrison I’d woken up with slightly less confidence than I’d exhibited the day before Maybe that rush of 170aplomb I’d had was just an 171 extension of the roller-coaster emotions I’d been experiencing, but by the light of a new day the truth was clear I mean, yeah, I was a good actress (Witness... incorrect sneer contemptuous or scornful remark 25 Busted by Emma Harrison crowd at Hereford and he’s always looking over his shoulder He just has that quality, you know?” “Wait, so no arrests, no suspicious behavior?” I asked “Nah The administrators just think he’s hiding something,” Tad replied Great It looked like I wasn’t the only one judging books by their covers around here Still, I couldn’t help... Minchin’s by Frances Hodgson Burnett “She has had her room to herself since the 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 flourish · showy gesture prescient · prophetic aloof · distant or cold decorously · properly or decently medley · jumble or mix peal deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells) muted · muffled or quieted commencement · start or beginning 29 commencement of 236 Busted by Emma Harrison. .. repeat presumptuous · conceited or presuming dearth · shortage or lack pressed · questioned persistently scalloped having a margin with rounded scallops propped supported by placing against something solid or rigid 32 Busted by Emma Harrison up there The picture appeared to be of her and a guy, but it was hard to tell from that distance My heart instantly went out to her She seemed so 257forlorn “It’s... 135 136 137 dubious · doubtfully feeble · weak deterred · discouraged encumbered · burdened acquiescent · passive or unresisting fervent · hot-blooded misogynistic hating women in particular 16 Busted by Emma Harrison I 138scoffed “How dangerous could it be? It’s Hereford What are you afraid they’re going to do to me—make me wear Burberry?” Tad laughed, and my mother shot him a 139reproving look that... reproving · disapproving patchy uneven penitent · apologetic lacing entwining stellar indicating the most important performer or role tarts a promiscuous woman crude · vulgar or offensive 17 Busted by Emma Harrison practically 146indigent It wasn’t just about the money either These kids were total snobs All they ever did was come into town in their brand-spankin’ new BMWs and toss out insults to... successful hide the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal) propensity · tendency steeled get ready for something difficult or unpleasant or nerved fluttering beating rapidly 18 Busted by Emma Harrison “Kim, I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation,” my mother began “I know you’re a very 153self-sufficient person, and I know you did well in the course last summer,... slyness or sneakiness exemplify · serve as an example of curtailing · holding back harangue · lecture or criticism domineering · dominant stance · position or viewpoint pertinacious · constant 19 Busted by Emma Harrison “If there’s a drug problem at Hereford, I want to help.” She blinked, and I could tell she was starting to understand exactly why I was so 164resolute about this “I have to help,” I added, . Busted by Emma Harrison BUSTED BY EMMA HARRISON 1 Busted by Emma Harrison Chapter One Ask anyone—well, anyone who knows me—and they. avid . marked by active interest and enthusiasm 74 outfitted . furnished with essential equipment for a particular occupation or undertaking occupation or equipped 8 Busted by Emma Harrison and. incomes 101 snobs . regarded as arrogant and annoying people 102 predicament · problem or dilemma 11 Busted by Emma Harrison “Yeah, Jenna, that’s the problem,” Tad said. “I’d prefer it if you’d address