Week 27 Vocabulary

askew

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• turned or twisted to one side

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

Answer explanation

He looked terrible—his clothes disheveled, his glasses bent and askew. Schooled

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

contemporary

• be unstable

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• belonging to the present time

Answer explanation

The prize showcases new work submitted by contemporary photographers. BBC (Aug 26, 2021)

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

crude

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• totally unlikely

• belonging to the present time

Answer explanation

I myself had found ancient stone tools, very crude and primitive, that had probably been used as hammers. My Life with the Chimpanzees

Tags

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

defiant

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• totally unlikely

Answer explanation

“I’m not letting them stop me either,” Kaisha said, and she marched up to the stairs, defiant. Anger Is a Gift

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

fluctuate

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• laugh at with contempt and derision

Answer explanation

Sixteen percent of American workers’ schedules fluctuate based on their employers’ needs. New York Times (Jul 20, 2021)

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

haphazard

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• augh at with contempt and derision

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• be unstable

Answer explanation

Brown and black splotches are scattered across the canvas in a haphazard design. You Bring the Distant Near

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2F

inconceivable

• laugh at with contempt and derision

• do away with completely, without leaving a trace

• totally unlikely

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

Answer explanation

Will and Lyra were both trembling and weak with fear, exhaustion, nausea, and pain, but giving up was inconceivable. The Amber Spyglass

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

jeer

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

• laugh at with contempt and derision

• the ability to recover readily from adversity or change

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

Answer explanation

She only lost control for an instant, but it was enough to make the crowd jeer and cry out, “Coward!” The Strangers

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

lenient

• totally unlikely

• sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

Answer explanation

"I ask the court to be lenient, in consideration of his age," says the attorney.The Boy Who Dared

Tags

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.3.4D

obliterate

• do away with completely, without leaving a trace

• the ability to recover readily from adversity or change

• sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

Answer explanation

She had tried to tear him to pieces, to wreck him, to obliterate him. Go Set a Watchman: A Novel

Tags

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.3.4D