The Tell-Tale Heart Vocabulary

"Above all was the sense of hearing acute."

What does the word "acute" mean in the above sentence?

• cautious

• annoying

• sharp

• boldness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!"

What does the word "dissimulation" mean in the above sentence?

• sharp

• intelligence and good judgement

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

• smooth; smooth manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"...and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in!"

What does the word "cunningly" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• intelligence and good judgement

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

• doing something in a sneaky, crafty, and skillful manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"...so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye."

What does the word "vexed" mean in the above sentence?

• held back

• annoyed, or bothered

• cautious

• sharp

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers—of my sagacity."

What does the word "sagacity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• boldness

• energetic gestures; strong movements of arms and hands

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless."

What does the word "refrained" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• held back

• cautious

• sharp

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"There was nothing to wash out—no stain of any kind—no blood spot whatever. I had been too wary for that."

What does the word "wary" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• smooth manner; smoothness

• cautious

• held back

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police."

What does the word "suavity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• energetic gestures; strong movement of hands and arms

• cautious

• smooth manner; smoothness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the wild audacity of my confidence, I invited the police into the old man's house.

What does the word "audacity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• annoyed, or bothered

• cautious

• boldness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"[I] placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim."

What does the word "reposed" mean in the above sentence?

• state of rest; rested

• forcefully; passionately

• sharp

• doing something in a sneaky, crafty, and skillful manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4