The Outsiders
Vocabulary
connotation, denotation, infer, bleak, nonchalant, gingerly, rueful, savvy, conform,
sage (Not the herb!)
1. Even though I was nervous, I tried to act cool and _____________.
2. I handled the delicate vase very ____________.
3. Even though he may not be "book-smart" he has a lot of ___________ about the
world.
4. Not every member of a group _______________(s) exactly to our image of that
group.
5. The landscape of the moon is lifeless and very ________.
6. My grandfather gave me some very _______ advice
7. "I shouldn’t have done that," he said with a _______ sigh.
8. The detective tried to _________who the criminal was from the clues he left
behind.
9. Though their a)connotations/denotations are similar, the words nosy and curious
have very different b)connotations/denotations.
connotation, rueful, bleak, nonchalant, conform, savvy, gingerly, denotation, sage,
infer
10. My friend has a lot of basketball _______. He just seems to have a natural feel for
the game.
11. I touched the bruise on my cheek ____________.
12. The coach accused me of being too __________ at practice. He thought I should
take the game more seriously.
13. After the accident, her outlook on life became very___. She seemed to have no
hope any more.
14. "I wish I had done my homework," I thought__________(ly).
15. I was able to ______ the meaning of the word from the way it was used in the
sentence.
16. A person who doesn’t like to ____________ to the group is often called an
outsider.
17. The _____________ of a word is its dictionary definition.
18. The _____________ of a word is what it makes you think of.
19. Two-Bit nodded his head _____(ly), and said, "It would have been wiser to have
someone pick you up."
aloof, elite, dumbfounded, ornery, contemptuous, gallant, foreshadow, stereotype
20. He wasn’t unfriendly, just a little __________.
21. The soldiers __________(ly) rode into battle to defend their homes.
22. The small children were getting a bit _________ and needed a time-out.
23. He looked at the criminal ________(ly). This guy deserved any punishment he
got.
24. Sometimes an author will ____________ what will happen next.
25. I was ____________ when we found the treasure. I never thought we would.
26. He thinks he is part of an ________ group of people who are "better" that the rest
of us.
27. Dally seems like the _____________ of a greaser. Pony doesn't seem like the type.
gingerly, elite, gallant, contemptuous, aloof, stereotype, bleak, dumbfounded,
foreshadow, nonchalant, ornery, savvy
28. "The Socs were always behind a wall of _________(ness), careful not to let their
real selves show through."
29. At the end of Chapter Two, Pony says, "I know better now." This is an example of
___________(ing), where the author hints that something will happen to change
Pony's mind.
30. If you make the Scholar List you are a part of the educational ________.
31. "Two-Bit __________(ly) offered to walk the girls home--the west side of town
was only about twenty miles away." (What a gentleman!)
32. "'No...' Two-Bit said, ___________. 'No, Ponyboy, that ain't right...you got it
wrong...'" (Two-Bit was almost speechless.)
33. "Mickey Mouse was a dark-gold buckskin, sassy and _________, not much more
than a colt."
34. "'Okay,' Pony said _____________(ly), 'might as well.'" (He was trying to act tuff
for the girls.)
35. "'Who is it?' Two-Bit asked. 'The F.B.I.?'...'No,' Cherry said ________(ly), 'it's
Randy and Bob.'" (Things look hopeless.)
36. Dally spat ___________(ly) as he thought of what the Socs did to Johnny.
37. Dally is the ___________(ical) greaser, but Pony is not.
elude, ironic, credible, incredulous, credulous, facade, premonition, bootleg
38. I tried to act cheerful, but it was just a ________. I was really depressed inside.
39. Pony had a __________ that something bad might happen in the old church.
40. The criminal ran through the alley to __________ the police.
41. Cherry was ___________ that Dally tried to bring her a Coke. She couldn’t
believe it!
42. My mom didn’t think my excuse was ____________. She didn’t believe a word of
it.
43. His friend gave him a ___________ copy of the video game.
44. It was ____________ that the police station was robbed.
45. The ___________ kid from the country was an easy target for the savvy con-man
from New York.
46. Latin root: cred = ____________
incredulous, fathom, premonition, gingerly, credible, irony, elude, savvy,
foreshadow, facade, gallant, credulous
47. Maybe Dally’s cold unfeeling exterior is simply a ______ that hides his true
feelings.
48. Even after I read the poem three times, the meaning still __________(ed) me.
49. As Pony entered the scary old church, he had a ____________ that something bad
might happen.
50. The boys ran away because they thought the police would not find their story
________; they thought the fuzz would believe the Socs, and not some greasers.
51. An obvious mistake on Mr. Coward's "Perfect" web page is an example of
__________.
52. Pony's jaw dropped ____________(ly) when Cherry said she might fall in love
with Dally.
53. It is very _________(ic) that Cherry seems to have fallen for Dally.
54. He was such a smooth talker, I __________(ly) fell for his scam.
55. The bank's ___________ was cracked and damaged by the wind, but the inside
was fine.
56. The Socs ran to _________ responsibility for their actions.
dogged (adj), indignant, conducive, wistful, implore, subside, acquit, leery
57. I _____________(ed) my mom to let me go to the movies.
58. I was _______________ when Dad blamed me for breaking the lamp instead of
my sister.
59. Pony was ________________ when he thought of what life might be like in the
country.
60. I am ________________ of someone who promises me something for nothing.
61. She is known for her _______________ determination. She never gives up.
62. Listening to the stereo is not ________________ to studying.
63. The jury _____________(ed) the man, and he was set free.
64. The storm finally _____________(ed), and the sun came out.
wistful, rueful, irony, subside, indignant, acquit, implore, facade, leery, conducive,
dogged, fathom, nonchalant
65. "You’re hungry?" he said ___________(ly), "I'm the one who hasn't eaten all
day!"
66. Johnny persisted ___________(ly) in asking about his parents.
67. "If only I had a million dollars," I thought __________(ly).
68. The students __________(ed) the teacher to go easy on them.
69. My parents were a little ______ about the crowd I was hanging out with.
70. Pony looked at Johnny _________(ingly). "Please don't cut my hair!"
71. "It's not fair!" I cried ___________(ly).
72. Johnny would probably be ________(ed) on the charge of murder.
73. A good attitude is very __________ to doing well in school.
74. The team's _________ defense is what kept them in the game.
75. A savvy person is usually more _______ than a credulous one.
76. Moisture and heat help create an environment _________ to the growth of
bacteria.
discreet, discrete, vain, elicit, illicit, patronize (2)
77. The gang tried to talk me into some ________ activities like vandalism.
78. Please be ________ when someone tells you a secret.
79. I did not want to be __________(ed); I felt I was savvy enough to make my own
decisions.
80. The teacher tried to _______ the correct response from the students by giving
hints.
81. The process is made up of many _______ steps.
82. I never ___________(ed) that store again after they were rude to me.
He is very _______ about his appearance. He is always checking himself out it the
mirror.
illicit, elicit, discreet, discrete, vain, leery, implore, nonchalant, indignant,
patronize
"Please, please, please, let me go to the party, Mom!" I said
(1)_______________(ingly), but she was (2)_____________ about the crowd I
was hanging with. She thought they might influence me into some (3)__________
activities. I told her that I would be (4)__________, and make good decisions, but
that only (5)__________(ed) an angry response from her. She said I was being too
(6)______________ about the risks involved, and that I ought to take her more
seriously. She explained that life was made up of a million (7)____________
decisions, and each one was important. I got (8)____________ with her for
treating me like a gullible little kid. I told her to quit (9)_____________(ing) me,
and that she had taught me enough (10)____________(ion) to make the right
decisions. She liked that one, and finally let me go.