Name:
Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
Class Period:
Study Guide and Vocabulary for Chapters 1-5
Directions: First: find the word in the text (the page number has been provided!) Second: When you find the
word, please write the full sentence in which the word appears. **We are asking for the quotation, which
means that quotation marks, capitalization, punctuation, and exact words are required. ** Third: Write YOUR
OWN definition of the word based on how it is used in the sentence (you may have to look at the sentences
before and after as well). Fourth: Write the dictionary definition of the word. You MUST follow this order!
1. Segregation (3) - __________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context: _______________________________________________________________________
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2. Apprehension (7) - ________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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3. Vulnerable (7) - ___________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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4. Kowtow (8) - _____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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5. Ominous (9) - ____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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6. Cowered (9) - _____________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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7. Integration (20) - _________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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8. Inquisition (23) - __________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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9. Subtle (25) - ______________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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10. Accosted (38) - ___________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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11. Aggression (51) - __________________________________________________________________________
Sentence in context:_______________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 1 Questions:
1.) When Melba asks, “Why do the white people write ‘Colored’ on all the ugly drinking fountains, the
dingy restrooms, and the back of the buses?” What is this description an example of? (p. 3)
2.) What happened to Melba at the merry-go-round? Are you surprised at how she handled the
situation? What would you have done? (p. 4)
3.) What was Melba’s relationship like with her family? Describe her home. (p. 4-6)
4.) How did Melba’s family react when they were overcharged at the grocery store? What do you think
about the way they reacted? (p. 8-9)
5.) Why did Grandma tell Melba to be patient? Paraphrase Melba’s diary response to this: (p. 10-11)
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Chapter 2 Questions:
1.) Why did Melba’s teacher not seem happy about the Brown v. Board of Education passing? Are you
surprised by her response? (p. 13)
2.) What happens to Melba on her way home from school? Who do you think might save her from this
predicament? (p. 16-17)
3.) Are you surprised by how Melba escapes? Why, or why not? (p. 17)
4.) Why weren’t the police notified? How do you feel about their decision? (p. 18)
5.) Why do Melba and her family like Cincinnati so much? (p. 21)
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Chapter 3 Questions:
1.) What was the only positive aspect about the meetings Melba attended? Why did the number of
students involved in integrating Central High drop? (p.25)
2.) What do the nine students who went to integrate Central have in common? (p. 26-27)
3.) What did the governor say on TV that made “chills creep up and down” Melba’s spine? How would
you have reacted? (p. 28)
4.) What did Grandma start to do at night? Why do you think Grandma would do this and not
someone else in the family? (p. 29)
5.) What did Melba’s mother tell her on her first morning at Central High? How would you have
responded if you were Melba? What do you think Melba will do? (p. 32)
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Chapter 4 Questions:
1.) Describe the scene as Melba and her mother pulled up to Central High the first time. (p.35)
2.) What happened to Elizabeth when she tried to get into the school? How might you have reacted if
you were in her position? (p. 36)
3.) Explain your understanding of why Melba’s mother slapped her. Do you think it was justified?
Why, or why not? (p. 38)
4.) When Melba was feeling discouraged and began to cry, what advice did Grandma give? (p. 41-42)
5.) Who called Melba? What would you have done if you were in Melba’s situation? (p. 46)
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Chapter 5 Questions:
1.) One of Melba’s diary entries is at the beginning of Chapter 5. What is she writing about? What is
the mood and tone of this entry? (p. 47)
2.) How does the President respond to what has been happening at Central? How would you feel if you
were Governor Faubus? (p.48)
3.) What happens at the wrestling matches? Who does Melba meet there? (p. 50)
4.) After Melba gets upset at not being able to go out, what gives her a “kind of joy and hope”? Does
this surprise you? (p. 52)
5.) What does Mother Lois tell Melba about Vince that makes Melba happy? (p. 59-60)
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