Kristy's Great Idea: Chapters 11–15

by Ann M. Martin
In this first book of The Baby-Sitters Club series, twelve-year-old Kristin Amanda Thomas comes up with the idea to team up with other baby-sitters to advertise and make appointments for individual services in their small Connecticut town.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–10, Chapters 11–15
20 words 16 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. size up
    look at closely in order to form an opinion about
    "Mom, I don't feel too well," I said suddenly.
    My mother sized me up in one half of a second. "Save it, Kristy," she said.
  2. pauper
    a person who is very poor
    Won't let you...spend your money...on what? On the feet of a pauper?... Oh, on the pizza party.
  3. glum
    moody and sorrowful
    "Well, she's...um...she stayed in New York with friends, Kristy. She'll be back tomorrow night."
    "Oh. Thank you," I said glumly.
  4. brusquely
    in a blunt direct manner
    "Hello?" she said brusquely, and then softly, "Oh, hel-lo."
  5. accelerator
    a pedal that controls the throttle valve
    Watson put his foot on the accelerator and vroomed us down the driveway. I've never seen anyone in such a big hurry—and all over a broken ankle.
  6. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Karen giggled. Even solemn Andrew managed a tiny smile.
  7. incredulously
    in a disbelieving manner
    "Hey, you guys, how about a special treat? Ice cream for dessert!"
    "At lunchtime?” asked Karen incredulously.
  8. ruffle
    disturb the smoothness of
    "All right!'' I ruffled his hair.
  9. custody
    guardianship over
    Well, first of all, Watson's custody arrangements probably won't change, so wherever we live, Andrew and Karen won't live with us. They'll only visit.
  10. telegram
    message sent by a device that communicates over a wire
    There would be no stopping me, despite the fact that Claudia was sending me an urgent telegram with her eyes. Shut up, they were saying.
  11. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    Anyway, Stacey stood in Claudia's room, glowering at me. "I can't believe you just said that, Kristy. You're such a baby."
  12. tact
    consideration in dealing with others
    "You don't have any tact at all," added Claudia, immediately jumping to Stacey's defense, as I had known she would.
  13. subdued
    quieted and brought under control
    "No, thank you," said Claudia, sounding subdued. "We didn't mean to be so loud."
  14. determined
    characterized by great firmness of purpose
    "I'll get it," we all said, and leaped for the phone, each of us determined to answer it.
  15. hesitant
    unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
    "Kristy..." she said hesitantly.
    "Save it. I'm not speaking to you at the moment."
  16. fondue
    melted cheese or chocolate into which other foods are dipped
    Watson made fondue. He set a big pot full of hot, melty cheese in the middle of the table. Then he gave everyone a long fork and a plate with pieces of French bread. You were supposed to spear a piece of bread with your fork, dip it in the cheese, and eat it.
  17. stricken
    affected by something overwhelming
    "You know the diet I'm on? Well, it's not just any old diet. And the trips to New York? They're not just to visit friends. I have to go to a doctor there. Sometimes I have to stay in the hospital overnight."
    Claudia and Mary Anne looked stricken.
  18. insulin
    a glucose-regulating hormone produced in the pancreas
    My cousin Robin has diabetes. It means you have a problem with sugar. Your body doesn't process it the way most people's bodies do. Too much or too little sugar can be dangerous, right? And you probably have to give yourself insulin every day.
  19. civilized
    marked by refinement in taste and manners
    The kids at my old school started teasing me about my diet, and because I fainted a couple of times, so Mom decided we should come to a 'peaceful little town.' You know, get me to some place 'civilized and quiet.'
  20. complicated
    difficult to analyze or understand
    "So I thought maybe I should cover up what was wrong with me. Moving here seemed like a chance to start over. But not telling you guys was worse than telling my old friends. It got so complicated with the lies and everything."
Created on Wed Mar 22 10:59:21 EDT 2023 (updated Thu Jul 20 15:38:41 EDT 2023)

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