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Unit 2: Vocabulary from Readings

This list covers "Hollywood and the Pits," "The Scholarship Jacket," "Amigo Brothers," "The White Umbrella," and "Seventh Grade."
22 words 18 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. obsessed
    having excessive or compulsive concern with something
    Was it normal to be so obsessed by a sticky brown hole in the ground in the center of Los Angeles?
  2. dub
    give a nickname to
    Ever since I was three, when I started at the Meglin Kiddie Dance Studio, I was dubbed “The Chinese Shirley Temple”—always the one to be picked at auditions and interviews, always the one to get the speaking lines, always called “the one-shot kid,” because I could do my scenes in one take—even tight close-ups.
  3. barrage
    the rapid and continuous delivery of communication
    The barrage of questions stopped when we finally spotted our car. I didn’t answer her.
  4. predator
    any animal that lives by preying on other animals
    A shriek of agony from the trapped victim drew flesh-eating predators, which were then trapped themselves by the very same ooze which provided the bait.
  5. scavenger
    any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying matter
    For over ten thousand years the promise of the place drew animals of all sorts, mostly predators and scavengers—dire wolves, panthers, coyotes, vultures—all hungry for their chance.
  6. absentminded
    lost in thought; showing preoccupation
    That really isn’t much for a fourteen-year-old to work with, I thought, as absentmindedly wandered from my history class to the gym.
  7. coincidence
    an accidental event that seems to have been arranged
    It seemed a cruel coincidence that I had overheard that conversation.
  8. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    I stared at him in shock and a small sound of dismay escaped my throat.
  9. withdrawn
    tending to be reserved, quiet, or introspective
    It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who dragged into the principal’s office the next day.
  10. devastating
    physically or spiritually destructive
    Antonio then beat the air with a barrage of body blows and short devastating lefts with an overhand jaw-breaking right.
  11. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    He walked up some dark streets, deserted except for small pockets of wary-looking kids wearing gang colors.
  12. dispel
    force to go away
    If Felix had any small doubt about their friendship affecting their fight, it was being neatly dispelled.
  13. flail
    thrash about
    His long legs turned to jelly and his arms flailed out desperately.
  14. surge
    rise or move forward
    A cry of alarm surged through Tompkins Square Park.
  15. credibility
    the quality of being believable or trustworthy
    I pronounced this last word carefully, as if the credibility of my lie depended on its middle syllable.
  16. stupendous
    so great in size, force, or extent as to elicit awe
    “Oh! Just stupendous!” Miss Crosman hugged her, then looked up as Eugenie's mother walked in. “Stupendous!” she said again. “Oh! Mrs. Roberts! Your daughter has a gift, a real gift. It’s an honor to teach her.”
  17. scepter
    a ceremonial or emblematic staff
    The umbrella glowed like a scepter on the blue carpet while Mona, slumping over the keyboard, managed to eke out a fair rendition of a cat fight.
  18. revelation
    an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
    For a moment no one said anything. Even Mona seemed to find the revelation disappointing.
  19. scowl
    frown with displeasure
    They would stand, one arm around a beautiful woman, and scowl.
  20. ferocity
    the property of being aggressive or forceful
    He scowled and let his upper lip quiver. His teeth showed along with the ferocity of his soul.
  21. conviction
    an unshakable belief in something without need for proof
    Umm, he thought, maybe it does work. He scowled with greater conviction.
  22. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    As he trudged to English, he practiced scowling.
Created on Wed Feb 17 15:50:00 EST 2021 (updated Wed Feb 24 09:01:15 EST 2021)

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