Short Stories Vocab

Question 1

Concussion

Answer 1

(n.) Violent shaking

When I was playing tackle football, I received a concussion after a hard tackle.

Question 2

Slackening

Answer 2

(v.) easing; becoming less active

As I ran more and more, my body slackened throughout my soccer game.

Question 3

Vital

Answer 3

(adj.) Necessary to life; critically important

The lungs are a vital organ in our body, and we would die without them.

Question 4

Surged

Answer 4

(v.) Moved in a violent swelling motion

As soon as he got out of his car, the celebrity was surged by fans and reporters.

Question 5

Tumultuously

Answer 5

(adv.) noisily and violently

My sister scared me when she tumultuously popped a balloon near me.

Question 6

Resilient

Answer 6

(adv.) Springing back into shape

The snail’s resilient shell did not crack after I accidentally stepped on it.

Question 7

Grotesquely

Answer 7

(adv.) In a strange or distorted way.

After injuring his ankle, the athlete grotesquely limped off the field.

Question 8

Emaciated

Answer 8

(adj.) Extremely thin; starving

On many survival TV shows, the contestants are emaciated and cannot finish the challenge.

Question 9

Inevitable

Answer 9

(adj.) certain to happen
The sole survivor of a plane crash knew death was inevitable, because he was in the middle of a jungle with many deadly animals.

Question 10

Sauntered

Answer 10

(v.) Strolled

Bob happily strolled home from work after receiving a promotion.

Question 11

Distraught

Answer 11

(adj.) extremely upset

The family was distraught after having a family member killed in war.

Question 12

Despondent

Answer 12

(adj.) Lacking hope; depressed

The father was despondent after losing his job.

Question 13

Intrigued

Answer 13

(v.) Fascinated

After being intrigued by the first novel, I read the entire series.

Question 14

Surreptitiously

Answer 14

(adv.) Secretly

After gaining the enemy’s trust, the spy surreptitiously collected data on their weapons.

Question 15

Epidemic

Answer 15

(n.) An outbreak of a contagious disease

The United States latest scare was the disease Ebola, which was an epidemic in Africa.

Question 16

Flushed

Answer 16

(v.) Drove from hiding

The species was driven to extinction after hunters flushed them.

Question 17

Covey

Answer 17

(n.) Jimmy watched, amazed at the synchronized covey of birds above us.

Question 18

Evidently

Answer 18

(adv.) Clearly; obviously

The murder evidently pointed to one suspect.

Question 19

Devastating

Answer 19

(adj.) Destructive; over-whelming

The devastating earthquake left the city in ruins.

Question 20

Superimposed

Answer 20

(adj.) Put or stacked on top of something else

To save room, I superimposed some shorts on top of my shirts in my dresser.

Question 21

Perpetual

Answer 21

(adj.) Constant; unending

The Bears perpetually get scored on since their defense is terrible.

Question 22

Dispelled

Answer 22

(v.) Driven away; made to disappear

The animals were dispelled from their habitat.

Question 23

Evading

Answer 23

(adj.) Keeping away from or avoiding.

The superhero evaded many attacks and countered with a fierce attack in the comic book.

Question 24

Spectators

Answer 24

(n.) Onlookers

The spectators watched in awe as Odell Beckam Junior made the best catch in the history of football.

Question 25

Intricate

Answer 25

(adj.) Full of detail; complex

Drew tried to solve the intricate crossword puzzle but did not succeed.

Question 26

Destiny

Answer 26

(n.) What will happen to a person or thing; fate

The man’s destiny was to play pro football, but his back injury ended his career.

Question 27

Dismally

Answer 27

(adv.) Gloomily; miserably

Jerry was dismal after he failed his math test.

Question 28

Absurdity

Answer 28

(n.) Ridiculousness

The man’s idea was absurd, but it was their only hope.

Question 29

Simultaneously

Answer 29

(adv.) at the same time

My friend and I threw two footballs simultaneously, and they collided in air.