(i) shaggy monsters
“Shaggy” means very hairy, rough and untidy. It is used to show that the “monsters” (actually the big dogs) look wild, frightening and covered with long, uncombed hair.
- (ii) brackish lakes
“Brackish” means slightly salty or not fresh. It tells us that the lakes contain salty, unpleasant water which is not suitable for drinking. - (iii) rickety table
“Rickety” means shaky, weak and likely to collapse. It shows that the table is old or badly made and is not stable or strong. - (iv) hairpin bend
“Hairpin” describes something having a very sharp U‑shape, like a hairpin. It is used for a bend in the road that turns back almost on itself, showing that the bend is very sharp and dangerous. - (v) rudimentary general stores
“Rudimentary” means very basic, simple and not fully developed. It tells us that these general stores have only a few essential goods and almost no modern facilities.