Quick Read: A Passage-Specific Vocabulary Glossary
This list comes from the archived 2019 ACS Primary 6 SA2 comprehension resource. It is a study companion to that passage, not an official or prescribed PSLE vocabulary list.
Current PSLE English assesses whether pupils can use vocabulary appropriately in context and understand written texts at literal, inferential and evaluative levels. That makes passage-based vocabulary useful when students learn more than a definition: meaning → word class → collocation → context → retrieval → new use.
Official reference: SEAB 2026 PSLE English Language syllabus.
35 Words from the 2019 Comprehension Resource
| Word | Word class | Core meaning / usage |
|---|---|---|
| figure | noun / verb | a person’s shape or form; a number; or, as a verb, to calculate or understand. In the passage context, it refers to a person seen from a distance. |
| forlornly | adverb | in a lonely, sad or abandoned-looking manner |
| active | adjective | energetic or regularly involved in activity |
| astute | adjective | quick to understand situations and make good judgements |
| dazed | adjective | confused or unable to think clearly, often after shock, illness or injury |
| chores | plural noun | regular small jobs, especially around a home |
| caregiver | noun | a person who provides care for someone who needs support |
| perked up | phrasal verb | became more cheerful, alert or energetic |
| transfixed | adjective / past participle | so interested, shocked or frightened that one seems unable to move or look away |
| stylish | adjective | fashionable or attractively designed |
| perched | verb / adjective | sat or rested on a narrow, high or unusual support |
| reprimanded | verb | officially or seriously told off for wrongdoing |
| severe | adjective | very serious, harsh or intense |
| practically | adverb | almost or nearly; in another sense, in a practical manner |
| disciplinarian | noun | a person who strongly expects rules and discipline to be followed |
| retired | adjective / verb | having stopped regular employment, usually after reaching a certain age or career stage |
| inseparable | adjective | so close that people or things are rarely apart |
| jeered | verb | mocked or shouted insulting remarks at someone |
| snorted | verb | made a sudden sound through the nose, sometimes showing amusement, disbelief or irritation |
| conversation | noun | an exchange of spoken ideas between people |
| coincidence | noun | two or more events happening together in a notable way without an obvious planned connection |
| occurred | verb | happened; note the spelling has two rs in occurred |
| discovered | verb | found or learned something previously unknown to the person |
| incident | noun | an event, especially one that is unusual or noteworthy |
| thrilled | adjective / verb | very excited and pleased |
| roared | verb | made a very loud, deep sound |
| swerved | verb | changed direction suddenly, often to avoid something |
| indelible | adjective | impossible to remove, erase or forget; often used figuratively in an indelible memory/mark |
| forbidden | adjective / past participle | not allowed |
| licence | noun | official permission or a document granting permission. In Singapore/British English, licence is the noun and license is the verb. |
| interrupted | verb | stopped someone or something temporarily before completion |
| familiar | adjective | known from previous experience or recognition |
| swiftly | adverb | quickly and smoothly |
| gleaming | adjective / participle | shining with reflected light |
| speechless | adjective | temporarily unable to speak because of surprise, shock or strong emotion |
Five Useful Distinctions
- dazed / transfixed: dazed suggests confusion; transfixed suggests intense attention or shock that makes someone seem unable to move.
- incident / coincidence: an incident is an event; a coincidence is an unexpected correspondence between events.
- astute / active: astute concerns judgement and understanding; active concerns energy or participation.
- reprimanded / forbidden: someone is reprimanded after wrongdoing; something is forbidden when it is not allowed.
- gleaming / stylish: gleaming describes reflected light; stylish describes fashionable or attractive appearance.
Retrieval Practice
- Which word means “nearly” in one of its common senses?
- Which word describes a sudden change of direction?
- Which word describes a person who strongly enforces rules?
- Which word means temporarily unable to speak because of strong emotion?
- Write a new sentence using indelible figuratively.
Answers: 1) practically; 2) swerved; 3) disciplinarian; 4) speechless; 5) answers vary, e.g. “The kindness of the stranger left an indelible impression on her.”
For a broader Primary 6 vocabulary lesson using the same historical word bank, see Vocabulary for Primary 6.
Historical 2019 Word Bank and Media
The original list is preserved in corrected spelling: figure, forlornly, active, astute, dazed, chores, caregiver, perked up, transfixed, stylish, perched, reprimanded, severe, practically, disciplinarian, retired, inseparable, jeered, snorted, conversation, coincidence, occurred, discovered, incident, thrilled, roared, swerved, indelible, forbidden, licence, interrupted, familiar, swiftly, gleaming and speechless.
