Esperanza Rising Vocabulary

And then she felt it. Softly at first. A gentle thumping. Then stronger. A resounding thud, thud, thud against her body.

• leaving no doubt

• expected, looking forward

• predicting of an event without conscious reason

• distinction of excellence

Big pearls of blood pulsed from the tip of her thumb and she automatically thought, 'bad luck.' She quickly wrapped her hand in the corner of her apron and dismissed the premonition.

• leaving no doubt

• expected, looking forward

• predicting of an event without conscious reason

• distinction of excellence

It had taken every day of three weeks to put the harvest to bed and now everyone anticipated the celebration.

• leaving no doubt

• expected, looking forward

• predicting an event without conscious reason

• distinction of excellence

She looked very distinguished, wearing a respectable black dress, the same gold loops she wore in her ears every day, and her white hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck.

• leaving no doubt

• expected, looking forward

• predicting an event without conscious reason

• distinction of excellence

Then the events of last night wrenched her mind into reality. Her smile faded, her chest tightened, and a heavy blanket of anguish smothered her smallest joy.

• leaving no doubt

• sneaky in an evil way

• predicting of an event without conscious reason

• severe mental or physical pain

For the thousandth time, she wiped the tears that slipped down her face, but this time they were angry tears. A look of indignation passed between Mama and Abuelita.

• anger or annoyance as a result of perceived unfair treatment

• sneaky in an evil way

• predicting of an event without conscious reason

• severe mental or physical pain

“I won’t ever leave here,” she whispered. A sudden breeze carried a familiar, pungent smell.

• distracted

• sneaky in an evil way

• having a sharply strong odor or taste

• severe mental or physical pain

She looked at the lawyer and said, “Please officially relay this message to Luis. I will never, ever, change my mind.” “I will do that, Ramona,” said the lawyer. “But be careful. He is a devious, dangerous man.”

• anger or annoyance as a result of perceived unfair treatment

• sneaky in an evil way

• having a sharply strong smell or taste

• severe mental or physical pain

"There will be no income because there are no grapes. You would have to depend on the charity of others, and they would be afraid to help you. You could move to some other part of Mexico, but in poverty. Luis’s influence is far-reaching."

• anger or annoyance as a result of perceived unfair treatment

• poor: without enough money for daily needs

• having a sharply strong smell or taste

• severe mental or physical pain

“My sisters in the convent can discreetly get you duplicates.” “No one could know about this, Señora,” said Alfonso.

• anger or annoyance as a result of perceived unfair treatment

• poor: without enough money for daily needs

• as secretly as possible; avoiding attention

• severe mental or physical pain