Death in the Jungle: Prologue–Part 1

by Candace Fleming
This work of nonfiction tells the tragic story of the Peoples Temple, an American cult founded by Jim Jones.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Prologue-Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5-Part 6
15 words 131 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. commune
    a body of people living together and sharing everything
    First, Americans learned that a “strange religious cult” called Peoples Temple had assassinated California congressman Leo Ryan after he’d visited their jungle commune, Jonestown.
  2. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
    And using the word has real ramifications.
  3. staid
    characterized by dignity and propriety
    He brimmed with ideas to revolutionize the staid and well-established church…so many ideas.
  4. glib
    artfully persuasive in speech
    But his glib tongue and cute merchandise often got him in the door.
  5. adulation
    exaggerated flattery or praise
    The young man who’d once felt marginalized reveled in the adulation of the crowds.
  6. clout
    special advantage or influence
    In the 1950s a young white upstart preacher had far more clout with city officials than the most educated and established Black ministers…simply because he was white.
  7. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    Instead, they placated the ministers while continuing on with business as usual.
  8. taboo
    excluded from use or mention
    In those days the concept of socialism was virtually taboo, and anyone who espoused it was considered un-American.
  9. tenet
    a basic principle or belief that is accepted as true
    He would make socialism his church’s basic tenet and one day eliminate the Bible altogether.
  10. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
    Jones first broached the topic at a Sunday-night service in 1959.
  11. pawn
    a person used by another to gain an end
    She was just another body in the pew, another five dollars in the offering plate, a pawn in his quest to make a name for himself.
  12. ostensibly
    from appearances alone
    Ostensibly, he was still searching for a nuclear-free haven, but in truth, he was vacationing.
  13. stalwart
    dependable
    Even stalwart members like Hyacinth and her sister, Zip, started church shopping.
  14. extremism
    any ideology favoring immoderate, uncompromising policies
    Many blamed his death on a national climate of violence, hate, and extremism.
  15. gall
    irritate or vex
    This galled him.
Created on Wed Jan 21 07:35:45 EST 2026 (updated Wed Feb 25 10:37:56 EST 2026)

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