The thunderclaps echoed through the valley, startling the animals.

Meaning: This sentence is describing how the sound of the thunder traveled through the valley and scared the animals.

Choice of Words: Thunderclaps are the loud sounds that follow lightning strikes. Echoed means to repeat or reverberate a sound. Valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains. Startling means to cause sudden surprise or fear. Animals are living creatures other than humans. When you put them together, "The thunderclaps echoed through the valley, startling the animals" is a dramatic description of how the sound of thunder can travel and affect animals.

Alternative Expressions

The loud booms from the thunderstorm bounced around the valley, making the animals jump.

Meaning: The same as the first sentence, but with different words.

Choice of Words: **Loud booms** are another way to describe thunderclaps. **Thunderstorm** is the name for a storm with thunder and lightning. **Bounced around** means the sound traveled all over the valley. **Making the animals jump** means the animals were startled by the noise.

The valley was filled with the crashing sounds of thunder, which scared the animals.

Meaning: The animals were scared because the thunder was so loud and it seemed to be everywhere.

Choice of Words: **Crashing sounds** is another way to describe thunderclaps. **Filled** means the valley was completely surrounded by the sound. **Scared** means the animals were afraid of the noise.

Related Expressions