Living Up the Street: Chapters 1-3 Vocabulary

Although we looked healthy, clean in the morning, and polite as only Mexicans can be polite, we had a streak of ORNERINESS that we imagined to be normal play. Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• mean-spirited, disagreeable; ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

• an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry; the act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something

• to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner; to talk about or look at someone or something in an unkind way that shows you do not respect or approve of him, her, or it

• in a casually calm and relaxed manner; in a way that shows a relaxed look, lack of concern or interest

We called to our cat, Boots, and found another unfortunate cat that was strolling NONCHALANTLY down our alley in search of prime garbage.

Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• mean-spirited, disagreeable; ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

• an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry; the act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something

• to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner; to talk about or look at someone or something in an unkind way that shows you do not respect or approve of him, her, or it

• in a casually calm and relaxed manner; in a way that shows a relaxed look, lack of concern or interest

One day we found ourselves staring at some new kids on the street- three of them about our age- and when they looked over their picket fence to see who we were, I thought one of them had SNEERED at us, so I called him a name. Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• mean-spirited, disagreeable; ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

• an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry; the act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something

• to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner; to talk about or look at someone or something in an unkind way that shows you do not respect or approve of him, her, or it

• in a casually calm and relaxed manner; in a way that shows a relaxed look, lack of concern or interest

They called back at us, and that PROVOCATION was enough to send Rick to beat on one of them. Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• mean-spirited, disagreeable; ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

• an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry; the act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something

• to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner; to talk about or look at someone or something in an unkind way that shows you do not respect or approve of him, her, or it

• in a casually calm and relaxed manner; in a way that shows a relaxed look, lack of concern or interest

The three of us sat TRANSFIXED in front of the gray light of the family’s first TV.

Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• not genuine or real; pretend

• cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment; captivate; mesmerize; fascinate

• a term used to refer to a migrant farm worker from Oklahoma or nearby states

• used as a topical antibacterial agent; antiseptic used to prevent infection in small cuts and abrasions

I was also hurt by others who were equally as mean, and I am thinking particularly of an OKIE kid who yelled that we were dirty Mexicans.

Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• not genuine or real; pretend

• cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment; captivate; mesmerize; fascinate

• a term used to refer to a migrant farm worker from Oklahoma or nearby states

• used as a topical antibacterial agent; antiseptic used to prevent infection in small cuts and abrasions

Frightened, though not crying, I ran home with Rick and Debra chasing me, and dabbed at my face and T-shirt, poked MERCUROCHROME at the tear that bubbled, and then lay on the couch, swallowing blood as I slowly grew faint and sleepy. Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• not genuine or real; pretend

• cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment; captivate; mesmerize; fascinate

• a term used to refer to a migrant farm worker from Oklahoma or nearby states

• used as a topical antibacterial agent; antiseptic used to prevent infection in small cuts and abrasions

I FEIGNED being shot and fell to the floor. Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• not genuine or real; pretend

• cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment; captivate; mesmerize; fascinate

• a term used to refer to a migrant farm worker from Oklahoma or nearby states

• used as a topical antibacterial agent; antiseptic used to prevent infection in small cuts and abrasions

Earlier in the day he and a friend had leveled the backyard with a roller, then with a two-by-four they dragged on a rope to fill in the DEPRESSED areas, after which they watered the ground and combed it slowly with a steel rake.

Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• (of a person) suffering from clinical depression

• (of a place or economic activity) suffering the damaging effects of a lack of demand or employment

• mark or dot with small patches of color or particles of something; mark; stain; splotch

• (of an object or part of an object) in a physically lower position, having been pushed or forced down; sunken

Behind the closed door we rolled the MARBLES so that they banged against the baseboard and jumped into the air.

Which definition best fits the context of the sentence?

• a large handkerchief, typically having a colorful pattern, worn or tied around the head or neck

• a small ball of colored glass or similar material used as a toy

• a hard crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically white with mottlings or streaks of color, that is capable of taking a polish and is used in sculpture and architecture

• a coffin, or box in which the body of a dead person is buried