“Thank You, M’am”
by Langston Hughes
Vocabulary Power Point
Directions:
Read each sentence using the vocabulary word.
Write what you think the underlined word might mean.
Replace your definition in the sentence to see if it makes
sense!
Use the pictures as clues!
Good luck!
You have 12 words this week!
Frail (adj.)
He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow
wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans. pg. 31
The frail, old lady needed an escort into the doctor’s office. A
jovial nurse brought a wheel chair to her so she wouldn’t
become weaker by walking.
The destitute boy looked frail because he had not had a good
meal in many months.
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Suede (adj.)
“I wanted a pair of blue, suede shoes,” said the boy.
pg. 32
Ugg boots are typically made of suede. They are difficult to
clean because suede is a fabric that is easily damaged by the
elements.
Suede jackets are softer than leather jackets because of the way
suede is made.
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Presentable (adj.)
You might want to run a comb through your hair so you will
look presentable. pg. 32
Everyone on the Panther Team had to look presentable for
our field trip to “A Christmas Carol”. We looked like a
respectable group of students when we arrived at the
theatre.
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Mistrust (v)
He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not
want to be mistrusted now. pg. 32
A tentative person sometimes mistrusts their thoughts so they
don’t speak up in class unless they are absolutely sure they are
correct.
Think about what the prefix mis- means.
Be careful! Don’t use the word trust in
your definition.
Barren (adj.)
The boy wanted to say something else other than, “Thank you,
ma'am” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t
do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the
large woman in the door. pg. 33
No corn would grow on the barren field,
and the Iroquois suffered a brief famine.
In the barren desert, it is very
difficult to find water.
KEEP GOING! There are more words ahead!
“Seventh Grade”
by Gary Soto
Vocabulary Power Point
Scowl (n)
He scowled and let his upper lip quiver. pg. 22
My mom scowled at me when I told her that I failed
my math test because she knew I forgot to study!
I could tell by my teacher’s
scowl that I was in big
trouble!
Quiver (v)
He scowled and let his upper lip quiver.
pg. 22
Quivering with excitement, the screaming girls almost fainted
when Justin Bieber walked onto stage.
His legs quivered, but he forced
himself to make it to the finish
line.
Ferocity (adj.)
His teeth showed along with the ferocity of his soul.
pg. 22
Think about the root word within ferocity – what does ferocious
mean?
The ferocious lion roared loudly as the visitors at the zoo
crowded around his pen.
Conviction (n.)
Umm, he thought, maybe it does work. He scowled with
greater conviction. pg. 23
When a jury convicts a person, they believe that he is guilty.
People with strong convictions do not hesitate to stand up for
their beliefs in public.
Portly (adj.)
In English, they reviewed the parts
of speech. Mr. Lucas, a portly man,
waddled down the aisle, asking,
“What is a noun?” pg. 23
Despite how the portly man looked,
he was very quick on his feet. He
had no trouble outrunning the
police.
My mom was trying to be kind when she described the boy as
portly. She didn’t want to offend him by saying he was
overweight.
Bluff (v.)
He tried to bluff his way out by making noises that sounded
French. pg. 24
My mom called my bluff when I told her all my homework was
done. She took out my binder and saw
the incomplete worksheets.
I had to convince the nurse that I was in
real pain and that I was not
bluffing.
Sheepishly (adj.)
He looked sheepishly at the teacher, who was erasing the board,
then widened his eyes in terror at Teresa who stood in front of
him. p. 25
The young man who had pulled the
fire alarm came sheepishly into the
room after being scolded by the
principal.
She glanced sheepishly at the boy
She secretly liked as he talked to her.