101. Earthquake

Jim Turner was new to California. He had been living there for one year. Jim loved everything about the state. The weather was great. The beaches were beautiful. Jim was planning on staying in California forever. 

One night, Jim was fast asleep. Suddenly, his bed started shaking. He jumped out of bed. Jim was terrified. This was his first earthquake. Jim had no idea what to do. He froze while everything around him was falling and breaking. 

The earthquake lasted 15 seconds. To Jim it felt more like an hour. The next morning, Jim started packing his bags. "I've had enough of California!" he said.

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Vocabulary List

1. New – recently arrived or started
   Jim Turner was new to California.

2. California – a state in the United States
   Jim had been living in California for one year.

3. State – a region or area in a country
   California is a state with great weather.

4. Weather – the condition of the air (hot, cold, sunny, etc.)
   The weather in California was great.

5. Beaches – sandy areas by the ocean
   Jim loved the beautiful beaches.

6. Planning – thinking about doing something in the future
   Jim was planning to stay forever.

7. Asleep – sleeping
   Jim was fast asleep when the earthquake happened.

8. Suddenly – quickly and without warning
   Suddenly, his bed started shaking.

9. Shaking – moving back and forth quickly
   The bed was shaking during the earthquake.

10. Terrified – very scared
    Jim was terrified during the earthquake.

11. Earthquake – a shaking of the ground
    It was Jim’s first earthquake.

12. Freeze – to stop moving because of fear
    Jim froze and didn’t know what to do.

13. Breaking – falling apart or being damaged
    Things were falling and breaking around him.

14. Lasted – continued for a period of time
    The earthquake lasted 15 seconds.

15. Packing – putting things into bags or boxes
    Jim started packing his bags the next morning.