120 Words Every 12th Grader Should Know: List 3

Robbie obeyed with alacrity for somehow there was that in him which judged it best to obey Mrs. Weston, without as much as a scrap of hesitation. I, Robot

Though of noble bearing, he wore the garb of an ordinary warrior, with no ornament save a curiously shaped iron brooch at his collar. The Black Cauldron

The circuitous route from Baltimore to Annapolis, where they kept getting on and off the same road to stop at little huts by the road and let off passengers, took another hour and a half. Homecoming

I knew I had been harsh, but I did not want to capsize the whole ship of negotiations, and I ended on a more conciliatory note. Long Walk to Freedom

He stared at me for a moment with an odd expression on his face—perhaps surprise, perhaps consternation—as if I were a species he’d never seen before. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I could see she despised me, marking with all the snobbery of her class that I was no great lady, that I was humble, shy and diffident. Rebecca

The Empress was fascinated by his genius, and enjoined him to visit Russia without delay. Huneker, James

Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. Slaughterhouse-Five

He begged their forbearance for his lengthy absences from the Wilmette house. The Devil in the White City

From the start, he was an iconoclast, committed to using everyday materials and found artifacts, blurring the lines between sculpture and painting, between reproduction and individual creation, between objects and artworks. New York Times (Dec 24, 2018)

It was not a physical fatigue—he went to the gym regularly and felt better than he had in years—but a draining lassitude that numbed the margins of his mind. Americanah

Though he could be a sweet boy, he was often short-tempered and obstreperous. Unbroken

It had not been in my plan to listen to him, but my curiosity was piqued and I straightened up to give him my attention. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Inflation, according to economists such as Milton Friedman, was caused by profligate governments printing too much money to pay for excessive wage settlements and public spending pledges. The Guardian (Jan 19, 2020)

The way we cook for and eat with others is one of the more tangible, quotidian ways of measuring generosity. The Guardian (Oct 29, 2019)

The dispute was rancorous, with both sides saying they would not budge on their rate terms. New York Times (Jul 19, 2012)

Far from being “specious” and “baseless,” the lawsuit challenging the Purple Line project raised vitally important issues. Washington Post (Oct 1, 2020)

A man was kneeling in front of her mother with his hands raised high, palms upward in supplication. Half of a Yellow Sun

Because I am loud and talkative, my words are thought trite and silly. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

I felt a vicarious delight just being near the excitement. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High