What does the author mean by "vague" as used in the sentence below?

“I … thought I might … visit.” Felicia’s eyes looked heavy, like she might fall asleep at any moment. A vague odor of cinnamon hung around her."

Which phrase from the sentence below helps the reader determine the meaning of scornfully? (L.8.4a)

"Matt’s alarm system went on at once. “I didn’t invite you. Wait!” he cried as María started to get up. “I do want to see you. I guess—I guess—I was a pig at the birthday party.” “You guess?” María said scornfully. “Okay, I was. But you didn’t have to take back the present.” “Of course I did. A present’s no good if it’s given in anger.”

What word or words could be used to replace the word “kinship” without changing the meaning of the phrase? (RL.8.4)

"It resembled MacGregor, of course, because it was his clone, but MacGregor was an adult with differences that made it hard to see the connection. It was a lot closer to—close enough to show a kinship with—“It looks like you,” Matt said to Tom."

What word in the sentence below does the author use as an ANTONYM for the word “strode”? (RL.8.4)

"María strode down the hall, but she slowed the closer they got to the cries. Matt still held her hand."

Choose the definition which MOST CLOSELY matches the meaning to the word “pondered” as used in the sentence below (RL.8.4).

"As Matt drifted to sleep, he pondered why MacGregor would want a clone when he had a son."

What word could replace “servile” in the sentence below without changing the meaning of the sentence? (L.8.4A)

"Alone of all the servants, Celia could and did insult the Alacráns whenever she felt like it. Not to their faces, of course, but she was less servile in their presence than the others. She, like Matt, was protected by El Patrón."

Which definition MOST CLOSELY matches the way the word “sinister” is used in the following sentences? (RL.8.4)

"Matt stretched out under the sheet and let a delicious sense of ease sweep over him. So much had happened: the disastrous party, the sinister hospital, MacGregor’s clone."

In the following sentences, the author uses what type of context clue to help the reader understand what “laudanum” means? (L.8.4A)

"Matt knew all about laudanum, having studied the opium business as part of his regular homework. Laudanum was opium dissolved in alcohol, and it was very strong."

What does the word “blundered” mean in the following sentence? (RL.8.4)

"An ibis rose from the grass. It flapped its mutilated wings and blundered across the pond."

As used in the sentence below, what ANTONYM of the word “stagnant” could be used to CHANGE the overall image of the sentence? (RL.8.4)

"The lotus garden was lit only by starlight, and the air was warm and smelled of stagnant water."

Which definition COMES CLOSEST in meaning to the word “cowardice”? (RL.8.4)

“I always say,” Tam Lin said, breathing as hard as if he’d run a long way, “I always say the truth is best even when we find it unpleasant. Any rat in a sewer can lie. It’s how rats are. It’s what makes them rats. But a human doesn’t run and hide in dark places, because he’s something more. Lying is the most personal act of cowardice there is.”

TRUE or FALSE: There are two context clues provided in the sentences below that help you figure out the meaning of the word stupefied, “he couldn’t speak” and “stared”. (L.8.4A)

Matt was so stupefied, he couldn’t speak. He stared at Tam Lin.

Based on the sentence below, which of the following COULD NOT be a substituted for the word "banished” without changing the meaning of the sentence? (L.8.4A)

"The whole story came out about MacGregor’s clone and Tom’s part in luring María to see it. El Patrón banished Tom to a year-round boarding school with no holidays."

TRUE or FALSE: The word “merely”, as used in the sentence below, INFERS that Rosa is still a mean, cruel woman like she was when she took care of Matt. (RL.8.4)

"But Rosa had been a real, though cruel and violent, person. Now she was merely a shadow with the life sucked out of her."