Short Stories & "The House on Mango Street"

Question 1

Profusely

Answer 1

(Adverb) - Bountiful, or exhibiting great abundance
Ex) “The flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (738).

Question 2

Boisterous

Answer 2

(Adjective) - Rowdy, with great energy
Ex) “School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play” (738).

Question 3

Reprimand

Answer 3

(Noun/Verb) - To discipline
Ex) “Their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands” (738).

Question 4

Civic

Answer 4

(Adjective) - Relating to a town, place, or governing body

Question 5

Jovial

Answer 5

(Adjective) - Happy or friendly

Question 6

Paraphernalia

Answer 6

(Noun) - Various materials needed for a specific activity
Ex) “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago” (739).

Question 7

Perfunctory

Answer 7

(Adjective) - Done with minimal care or effort
“There was a proper swearing-in of Mr. Summers by the postmaster, as the official of the lottery; at one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year” (740).

Question 8

Interminably

Answer 8

(Adjective) - To take a long time or seem endless

Question 9

Surly

Answer 9

(Adjective) - Unfriendly or with little to no politeness

Question 10

Ferocious

Answer 10

(Adjective) - Fierce, intimidating, or violent

Question 11

Notion

Answer 11

(Noun) - A belief about something; a will or impulse to do something
Ex) “And Big Butt ain’t got the first notion. So here go Miss Moore gabbing about the thousands of bacteria in a drop of water and the somethinorother in a speck of blood and the million and one living things in the air around us is invisible to the naked eye” (197).

Question 12

Recitation

Answer 12

(Noun) - The act of repeating something

Question 13

Treachery

Answer 13

(Noun) - To betray trust or to decieve
Ex) “Miss Moore is beside herself and I am disgusted with Sugar’s treachery” (201).

Question 14

Furtive

Answer 14

(Adjective) - Attempting to avoid or dodge trouble/attention
Ex) “Furtive boys in pink shirts” (198).

Question 15

Cowering

Answer 15

(Verb) - To crouch in fear
Ex) “…with Maggie cowering behind me” (170).

Question 16

Doctrines

Answer 16

(Noun) - Beliefs held by a religious group or political party

Question 17

Clabber

Answer 17

(Noun) - Milk that has naturally clouted (grouped together) and soured
Ex) “…where the churn stood, the milk in it clabber by now” (171).

Question 18

Dasher

Answer 18

(Noun) - A plunger used for mixing cream

Question 19

Heritage

Answer 19

(Noun) - Traditions, practices, names, ideas, or objects that have been passed down from generations before.

Question 20

Trifles

Answer 20

(Noun) - Something with little value or importance
Ex) “women are used to worrying over trifles” (821).

Question 21

Disdainful

Answer 21

(Adjective) - Showing a lack of respect

Question 22

Acquiescence

Answer 22

(Noun) - to accept something without protest

Question 23

Detained

Answer 23

(Verb) - To keep someone is custody

Question 24

Shabby

Answer 24

(Adjective) - In poor condition after excessive use

Question 25

Indecisive

Answer 25

(Adjective) - Not be able to settle on an issue

Question 26

Scrutinized

Answer 26

(Verb) - To inspect closely with care
Ex) “Mrs. Peters back turned, Martha Hale now scrutinized that piece” (827).

Question 27

Apprehensive

Answer 27

(Adjective) - Worried that something bad will happen

Question 28

Incisively

Answer 28

(Adjective) - Very direct or decisive

Question 29

Evasion

Answer 29

(Noun) - The act of avoiding or dodging something

Question 30

Facetiously

Answer 30

(Adjective) - Joking; not serious

Question 31

Pungent

Answer 31

(Adjective) - To smell strongly

Question 32

Solemnity

Answer 32

(Noun) - The state if being dignified and serious
Ex) “…if I had been a very, very good girl this year and did I believe in Jesus Christ and obey my parents. I knew the only answer to that. I nodded back with equal solemnity” (226).

Question 33

Pawn

Answer 33

(Noun) - A person used by others for their own purposes

Question 34

Benevolently

Answer 34

(Noun) - Having a desire to do good or no harm
Ex) “‘Little sister, been a long time since I’ve play with dolls,’ he said, smiling benevolently” (229).

Question 35

Retort

Answer 35

(Noun) - A sharp or witty remark

Question 36

Prodigy

Answer 36

(Noun) - A young person gifted with impressive or exceptional abilities

Question 37

Malodorous

Answer 37

(Adjective) - To smell unpleasent

Question 38

Concessions

Answer 38

(Noun) - A thing that is granted in response to demands
Ex) “My parents made many concessions to allow me to practice” (232).