Monsters are Due on Maple Street Vocabulary Practice

Read the sentences from the text. Then answer the question:

Well, why don't you go downtown and check with the police, though they'll probably think we're crazy or something. A little power failure and right away we get all flustered and everything.

Which of the words has the same meaning as flustered?

• balanced, peaceful

• agitated, confused

• a lot, multiple

• angry, hostile

Read the sentences below and the definition that follows. Then answer the question:

"You know what I'm guilty of? (He laughs.) Insomnia. I'm guilty of insomnia.

insomnia:- n. habitual sleeplessness; inability to sleep.

The Latin root "somnus" means sleep.

What is the function of the prefix in- in the word insomnia?

• to show the opposite of

• to change the word to a noun

• to show something taking place inside

• to change the time to before

Read the sentences from the text. Then, answer the question.

"Steve starts the engine. It turns over sluggishly and then just stops dead. "

Which word is the OPPOSITE of the word sluggishly?

• lazily

• slowly

• quickly

• harshly

"We'd better walk downtown. (Another murmur of assent at this."

assent: expression of approval or agreement.

Read the sentence above and consider the word meaning provided. In which sentence is assent used the same way as the sentence above?

• "I'll assent," Grandma agreed when I asked her about the field trip.

• Jerome muttered under his breath and shook his head in assent.

• Dad says he's fine with me skipping school, so all I need now is Mom's assent.

• The pilot announced that we'd soon be beginning our assent.

He stops suddenly as behind him, inexplicably and with a noise that inserts itself into the silence, the car engine starts up by itself. Goodman whirls around to stare toward it. The car idles roughly, smoke coming from the exhaust, the frame shaking gently. Goodman's eyes go wide, and he runs over to his car.

Read the 4 definitions of the word idle below. Which meaning is used in the excerpt above?

• avoiding work; lazy

• without purpose or effect; pointless

• run slowly while out of gear

• take out of use or employment

Charlie, don't tell me what I can afford! And stop telling me who's dangerous and who isn't and who's safe and who's a menace. And you're with him too-all of you! You're standing here all set to crucify---all sent to find a scapegoat--all desperate to point some kind of a finger at a neighbor!

What is the meaning of the word menace as it is used in the above example?

• an atmosphere that may create a hazard

• to threaten

• hostile

• a person likely to cause harm

Which phrase from the excerpt supports the answer that a menace is someone likely to cause harm?

• "...don't tell me what I can afford!"

• "...stop telling me who's dangerous and who isn't..."

• "...you're with him too..."

• "you're standing here all set to crucify..."

(in a whisper, sensing the antagonism of the crowd) Tommy please son...honey...don't talk that way.

What does antagonism mean in the above sentence?

• politeness

• friendliness

• determined

• anger

"Now that's supposed to incriminate me, huh? The car engine goes on and off and that really does it, doesn't it?"

What does the word incriminate mean in the above sentence?

• make someone appear angry

• make someone appear innocent

• make someone appear guilty

• make someone appear funny

Charlie: (looks around at the circle of faces, his eyes frightened, his face contorted.) But... but... I didn't know who he was. I certainly didn't know who he was. He comes walkin'... out of the darkness--how am I supposed to know who he was?

What is the meaning of the word contorted in the above sentence?

• happy smile

• twisted with anger

• shocked wide open mouth

• snarling teeth