Short Story vocab

Question 1

Profusely

Answer 1

1) adverb 2) exhibiting great abundance; bountiful 3) “The flowers were blossoming _______ and the grass was richly green” (738).

Question 2

Boisterous

Answer 2

(of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy. “they tended to gather quietly for a while before they broke into ________ play”(738)

Question 3

Reprimand

Answer 3

a rebuke, especially an official one “and their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher of books and ______” (738)

Question 4

Civic

Answer 4

relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal. “Square dances, the teen club, the halloween problem… to devote to _____ activities”

Question 5

Jovial

Answer 5

cheerful and friendly. “ He was round-faced, ______ man”

Question 6

Paraphernelia

Answer 6

miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity. “ The original ______ for the lottery had been lost long ago”

Question 7

Perfunctory

Answer 7

(of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. “a _______, tuneless chant”

Question 8

Interminably

Answer 8

endless (often used hyperbolically). “as he talked ______”

Question 9

Surly

Answer 9

bad tempered and unfriendly “So me and Sugar leaning on the mailbox being surly”(196)

Question 10

Ferocious

Answer 10

(of a conflict) characterized by or involving aggression, bitterness, and determination.“But then he tries to take off with Junebug foot still in the door so we talk about his mama something ferocious” (197)

Question 11

Notion

Answer 11

a conception of or belief about something. “ And Big Butt ain’t got the first notion”(197)

Question 12

Recitation

Answer 12

the action of repeating something aloud from memory. “I read it again for myself just in case the group recitation put me in a trance” (198)

Question 13

Treachery

Answer 13

betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature. “Miss Moore is besides herself and I am disgusted with Sugar’s treachery” (201)

Question 14

Furtive

Answer 14

attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive. “Furtive boys in pink shirts hanging about on washday after school.

Question 15

Cowering

Answer 15

“Maggie cowering behind me” (170) crouch down in fear.

Question 16

Doctrines

Answer 16

“I accepted some of their doctrines” (171)a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
or
a stated principle of government policy, mainly in foreign or military affairs.
“the Monroe Doctrine”

Question 17

Clabber

Answer 17

“the milk in it clabber now”milk that has naturally clotted on souring.(171)

Question 18

Dasher

Answer 18

A plunger for agitating cream in a churn. “and i’ll think of something artistic to do with the dasher”

Question 19

Heritage

Answer 19

property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance. “your heritage… you ought to try to make something of yourself”

Question 19

Trifles

Answer 19

a thing of little value or importance “women are used to worrying about trifles” (821)

Question 20

Disdainful

Answer 20

showing contempt or lack of respect. “which the county attorney’s disdainful push of the foot had deranged” (823)

Question 21

Acquiscence

Answer 21

the reluctant acceptance of something without protest. “said the sheriff’s wife, in her manner of timid acquiescence” (823)

Question 22

Detained

Answer 22

keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations. “stood examining the clothes the woman who was being detained in town had said she wanted.” (824)

Question 23

Shabby

Answer 23

in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care. “holding up a shabby black skirt that bore the marks of much marking over”(824)

Question 24

Indecisive

Answer 24

(of a person) not having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. “Her eyes had that look of peering into something. But next moment she moved, and said in her thin, indecisive way” (827)

Question 25

Scrutnized

Answer 25

examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

Question 26

Apprehensive

Answer 26

anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen “Startled, questioning, apprehensive”(828)

Question 27

Incisively

Answer 27

in a clear and direct way that shows good understanding of what is important “No, Peters,” said the county attorney incisively” (832)

Question 28

Evasion

Answer 28

the action of evading something. “there was no evasion or flinching” (833)

Question 29

Facetiously

Answer 29

in a way that is not serious, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever about a serious subject “said the county attorney facetiously, “at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it” (834)

Question 30

Pungent

Answer 30

“pungent leaves for his ailing customers (225) (of comment, criticism, or humor) having a sharp and caustic quality

Question 31

Solemnity

Answer 31

“I nodded back with equal solemnity” (226) the state or quality of being serious and dignified.

Question 32

Pawn

Answer 32

“it was missing a black pawn and a white knight” (227) a chess piece of the smallest size and value. A pawn moves one square forward along its file if unobstructed (or two on the first move), or one square diagonally forward when making a capture. Each player begins with eight pawns on the second rank, and can promote a pawn to become any other piece (typically a queen) if it reaches the opponent’s end of the board.

Question 33

Benevolently

Answer 33

“he said smiling benevolently (229) well meaning and kindly.

Question 34

Retort

Answer 34

“I quickly put the box down next to him on the bench and displayed my retort (229) say something in answer to a remark or accusation, typically in a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive manner.

Question 35

Malodorous

Answer 35

“He wore a dark malodorous suit” (331) smelling very unpleasant.

Question 36

Concession

Answer 36

“My parents made many concessions to allow me to practice” (232) a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands; a thing conceded.

Question 37

Author of “The Lottery”

Answer 37

Shirley Jackson

Question 38

Author of “The Lesson”

Answer 38

Toni Cade Bambara

Question 39

Author of “Everyday use”

Answer 39

Alice Walker

Question 40

Author of “Jury of Her Peers”

Answer 40

Susan Glaspell

Question 41

Author of “Rules of The Game”

Answer 41

Amy Tan

Question 42

Author of “The House On Mango Street”

Answer 42

Sandra Cisneros