Vocabulary - "The Tell-Tale Heart"

"Above all was the sense of hearing acute."

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

• cautious

• annoying

• sharp

• boldness

"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

"...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

"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

"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

"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

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

"[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

"I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased."

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

• smooth manner; smoothness

• forcefully; passionately

• sharp

• boldness

"I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations, but the noise steadily increased."

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

• smooth manner; smoothness

• energetic gestures; strong movement of hands and arms

• sharpness

• boldness