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Word Up
Antonyms
Synonyms
Betcha can't use it in a sentence!
Where'd ya find that?
100
Expressive of suffering or woe; pleadingly; melancholy. A. Discouraging C. Overbearing B. Plaintive D. Necessary Ex. The child's _____ calls got the attention of his mother, who came running, fearing the worst had happened.
What is plaintively?
100
Apprehensive (adjective) A. Nervous C. Happy B. Calm D. Nubile
What is calm? (also: peaceful, placid, relaxed)
100
Fawning (adjective) A. Objective C. Focused B. Flattering D. Subjective
What is flattering? (also: brownnose, court favor, compliment, grovel, bootlick)
100
Laden (adjective) Burdened, weighted down
Answers vary. Ex. Laden with books, the student staggered down the hall toward the library.
100
Bindle (chapter 1). How does this word fit in the story? A bundle of bedding carried by a transient person.
Page 3, paragraph 4: "George unslung his bindle ..."
200
To take offense to something. A. Hated C. Enthused B. Upset D. Bridled She ______ at his suggestion her clothing was purchased at a bargain store.
What is bridled?
200
Derogatory (adjective) A. Positive C. Gloomy B. Discouraging D. Realistic
What is positive? (also: supportive, uplifting, complimentary)
200
Grizzled (adjective) A. Youthful C. Dismissive B. Crippled D. Grayed
What is grayed? (also: graying) Ex. His grizzled appearance betrayed the hard life of a ranch hand.
200
Quivered (verb) To shake, tremble, quake etc.
Answers vary. Ex. The swimmers quivered and quaked until they wrapped themselves with the warm, fluffy towels.
200
Pugnacious (chapter 2). How does this word fit in the story? Combative, willing to start a fight or quarrel.
Page 25, paragraph 3: His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously.
300
To twist and turn (in pain). A. Writhed C. Queried B. Mortified D. Dejected The football player clutched his knee and _____ on the field until the trainers could reach him.
What is writhe?
300
Imperiously (adverb) A. Tyrannical C. Fearfully B. Arrogantly D. Humble
What is humbly? (also: passively, softly, quietly)
300
Mottled (adjective) A. Spotted C. Surreal B. Clever D. Naturalist
What is spotted? (also: blotched, stained, marked)
300
Gravity (noun) Not the force Issac Newton discovered. Gravely, with seriousness
Answers vary. Ex. Upon looking into the robber's eyes, the bank patrons grasped the gravity of the situation.
300
Complacently (chapter 2). How does this word fit in the story? Contented, even to the degree one is in a state of idleness or inactivity.
Page 34, paragraph 5: Lennie, who had been following the conversation back and forth with his eyes, smiled complacently at the compliment.
400
Twisted, misshapen. A. Contorted C. Consoled B. Reversed D. Intervened His face ______ into a grotesque shape after he took a bite of the school lunch.
What is contorted?
400
Belligerently (adverb) A. Naively C. Skeptical B. Peacefully D. Diligent
What is peacefully? (also: friendly, cooperative, mildly, passive, non-aggressive)
400
Wryly (adverb) A. Outcast C. Ironically B. Stupidly D. Interested
What is ironically? (also: dry, cleverly humorous) Ex. His face had a wry grin once he recognized the humor in the student's response.
400
Bemused (adjective) A combination of amusement and interest but in a tolerant manner.
Answers vary. Ex. With a bemused look on her face, Ms. Johnson enjoyed watching her students solve the puzzle.
400
Sullenly (chapter 5). How does this word fit in the story? Morose, gloomy, melancholy
Page 86, paragraph 3: In a panic he shoveled hay over the puppy with his fingers. He looked sullenly up at her.
500
Lying down; reclined. A. Scowled C. Recumbent B. Upright D. Crouched The woman told the psychiatrist everything about her father, ____ on the couch.
What is recumbent?
500
Morosely (adjective) A. Happy C. Painfully B. Turmoil D. Questioning
What is happy? (also: positive, elated, ecstatic)
500
Disdain (noun) hint: the way the other ranch hands viewed Crooks. A. Inclusive C. Contempt B. Compassionate D. Sorrowful
What is contempt? (also: scorn, derision, deprecation)
500
Brusquely (adverb) Abrupt, discourteously, impolitely
Answers vary. Ex. Late for his meeting, the manager brusquely shot past the employees in the hall, bumping into a few without so much as an apology.
500
Crestfallen (chapter 4). How does this word fit in the story? Depressed, dejected, disheartened, humbled. A sad person with a bowed head, for example.
Page 83, paragraph 3: George scowled. "I thought I tol' you not to tell nobody about that." Candy was crestfallen. "Didn't tell nobody but Crooks."