"The Tell-Tale Heart" Vocabulary

1. Sentence: "Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth." 

What does acute most likely mean in this sentence?

• Dull

• Weak

• Sharp or Keen

• Normal

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

1. Sentence: "And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern..."

What does sufficient most likely mean in this sentence?

• Not enough

• Barely enough

• More than enough

• Just enough

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

1. Sentence: "You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!"

Which word in the sentence is similar in meaning to "deception"?

• Wisely

• Caution

• Foresight

• Dissumulaiton

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

1. Sentence:  "So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept."

Which word in the sentence is similar in meaning to "deeply insightful"?

• Profound

• Old

• Suspect

• Slept

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

1. Sentence:  "Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers—of my sagacity."

What does sagacity most likely mean in this sentence?

• Foolisheness

• Thoughtfulness

• Wisdom or good judgment

• Weakness

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

1. Sentence:  "I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim."

Which word in the sentence is similar in meaning to "boldness"?

• Wild

• Triumph

• Audacity

• Placed

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

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

What does vehemently most likely mean in this sentence?

• Quietly and calmly

• With intense emotion or passion

• With little energy

• Hesitantly

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

1. Sentence:  "Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim."

Which word in the sentence is similar in meaning to "surrounded"?

• Stalked

• Shadow

• Enveloped

• Victim

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

1. Sentence:  "So I opened it—you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily—until, at length a simple dim ray... fell full upon the vulture eye."

Which word in the sentence is similar in meaning to "sneakily"?

• Opened

• Imagine

• Vulture

• Stealthily

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

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

What does gesticulations most likely mean in this sentence?

• Wild or energetic hand movements

• Speaking softly

• Expressive facial movements

• Standing still

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4