Hi Sonia. 1.Rather than the word "sorts", it's the whole phrase "of sorts". It's an idiom, basically meaning "something similar to". In this context, it means that the speaker isn't sure whether they are his siblings or not. https://www.google.com.vn/?gws_rd=ssl#q=of+sorts 2.Exactly like you said, date can either means a day on a calendar or the typical date between boys and girls. In this context, it's the first meaning, and "to make a date" is, again, like you said, to set aside time for something. A girls outing doesn't count as a "date" since a date can only be between two people who are romantically attracted to each other, in most cases having the opposite genders. 3.Anything that disintegrate in the form of droplets can be considered "dripping". "Melting" is usually used to describe something on a larger scale (melting icebergs, melting snowman). If I were you, I would be more concerned about why a snowball would be called "squishy", since squishy things have a certain elasticity when you squeeze them. But if you squeeze a snowball, it disintegrates.

1. "I saw that his four siblings of sorts were sitting together at the same table." What does 'sorts' mean here? Is it maybe the same as 'different kinds'? To me this means that they weren't actually his siblings, meaning a brother or sister who has the same parents, but people he considered and treated like siblings. 2. "I would have to make a date to visit Olympia or Seattle soon and find a good bookstore." Is 'to make a date' here to set a time to visit the city or does it mean the typical date between boys and girls? Or can I use "date" for a girls' outing to the city? Yes, the speaker wants to set a specific day (date) to visit the city. You can use "date" for a girls day out in the city, but it's not all that common. You would be using it frivolously. However you can set a "date" with anyone. Used this way it means writing it on a calendar. 3. "A big, squishy ball of dripping snow smacked into the back of his head." What is "dripping snow"? Is it like melting snow? Yes, it's melting and dripping water but they shortcut the sentence and made it more vivid. " a big, squishy ball of snow that's dripping water"isn't as exciting.

'Of sorts' is an expression that we use when it is not clear whether something really belongs to the category in question, or when it doesn't, but is nonetheless in a similar situation. A sibling of sorts would usually be someone who was not actually a sibling, but who was in a similar relationship with someone. An example would be someone who you had grown up with and who felt like a sibling to you, but was not actually your sibling. It is a difficult expression to explain. Out of context, I would assume that 'make a date' just meant to decide on a date. Dripping snow is like melting snow. It's melting enough that there's water dripping from it. That's what the word dripping is actually referring to, it's the water that's dripping, not the snow. Arguably, it is a slightly clumsy expression.