Academic English
The Miracle Worker
Vocabulary List #1
Directions: Please provide the following information for each of the words listed:
1) the spelling of the word
2) the definition(s)
3) the part of speech
4) two synonyms, or words that have the same meaning
5) two antonyms, or words that have the opposite meaning
6) an original sentence using the word
1. indulgent
Sentence: Annie Sullivan felt that the Kellers were quite indulgent in their parenting
of Helen. Everything Helen wanted Helen received, even if she threw a tantrum.
2. vivacious
Sentence: The contestants were energetic and vivacious as they performed their
mambo routine. Never had the judges seen dancers so full of life!
3. benign
Sentence: The benign springtime weather gave the students the chance to occupy to
newly constructed outdoor classroom.
4. mournful
Sentence: The girl mourned the passing of the family dog with great sadness; she
could not bear thinking of life in the house without him.
5. mock
Sentence: The boy was continually mocked because of his speech impediment. Little
did they know how much pain this caused him.
Sentence: The fashion expert could tell that the expensive boots were made out of
mock leather rather than genuine.
6. valedictorian (no synonyms required)
Sentence: Robert spent his high school years striving to become valedictorian.
7. curt
Sentence: Jennifer was hurt by Mark’s curt reply to her question. She didn’t expect to
be treated so rudely by her best friend.
8. compel
Sentence: Jamie’s mother compelled her son to apologize to Nancy. She threatened
to ground him for a month if he did not do so.
9. oblivious
Sentence: Stephen was so engrossed in his work that he became oblivious to the
outside world. He had no real sense of what was going on around him.
10. affliction
Sentence: The Northeast was afflicted with unusually snowy weather that year.
People were snowed in for weeks.
Honors English
The Miracle Worker
Vocabulary List
Directions: Please provide the following information for each of the words listed:
1) the spelling of the word
2) the definition(s)
3) the part of speech
4) two synonyms, or words that have the same meaning
5) two antonyms, or words that have the opposite meaning
6) an original context-rich sentence using the word
1. indulgent
Sentence: Annie Sullivan felt that the Kellers were quite indulgent in their parenting
of Helen. Everything Helen wanted Helen received, even if she threw a tantrum.
2. vivacious
Sentence: The contestants were energetic and vivacious as they performed their
mambo routine. Never had the judges seen dancers so full of life!
3. benign
Sentence: The benign springtime weather gave the students the chance to occupy to
newly constructed outdoor classroom.
4. mournful
Sentence: The girl mourned the passing of the family dog with great sadness; she
could not bear thinking of life in the house without him.
5. mock
Sentence: The boy was continually mocked because of his speech impediment. Little
did they know how much pain this caused him.
Sentence: The fashion expert could tell that the expensive boots were made out of
mock leather rather than genuine.
6. valedictorian
Sentence: Robert spent his high school years striving to become valedictorian.
7. curt
Sentence: Jennifer was hurt by Mark’s curt reply to her question. She didn’t expect to
be treated so rudely by her best friend.
8. compel
Sentence: Jamie’s mother compelled her son to apologize to Nancy. She threatened
to ground him for a month if he did not do so.
9. oblivious
Sentence: Stephen was so engrossed in his work that he became oblivious to the
outside world. He had no real sense of what was going on around him.
10. affliction
Sentence: The Northeast was afflicted with unusually snowy weather that year.
People were snowed in for weeks.
11. imperious
The imperious child ordered her parents around like servants, demanding that they
attend to her every need.
12. unkempt
Janice was disappointed with her date’s unkempt appearance. His hair was
uncombed, his shirt was wrinkled, and his jeans were torn.
13. wrath
In Ancient Greece, mortals felt the wrath of the gods. They sought to please them so
as to avoid their horrible punishments, such as what befell Prometheus.
14. frivolous
My father warned me not to spend my bar mitzvah money frivolously. He advised
me to save for the future, rather than fritter it away on CDs and video games.
15. endeavor
(verb) Mark endeavored to get straight A’s on his report card by listening carefully in
his classes and putting full effort into his assignments.
(noun) Climbing the mountain proved to be quite an endeavor; it was much harder
than we had initially thought.
16. apprehensive
Travis was apprehensive about taking the driver’s exam. He so wanted his license,
and he couldn’t face the possibility of failing.
17. amiable
Jennifer worried what the girls at the expensive prep school would be like. To her
surprise, she found them to be quite amiable.
18. conspicuous
The woman wearing the red dress was conspicuous among the mourners dressed in
black for the funeral.
The gaudy holiday decorations made the house conspicuous among the modest homes
nestled in the quiet suburban neighborhood.
19. gallant
The gallant young man offered me his jacket when he noticed me shivering in the
cold night air.
20. facetious
Jerry facetiously called out “Way to go, Ryan” as he watched his friend trip over his
shoelaces in the middle of the crowded hallway.
“Try to do better next time,” said the homeroom teacher facetiously as she gave
Brenda her straight A+ report card.
Academic English 7
Name: ______________________________
Section: _______
The Miracle Worker
Vocabulary List #2
Directions: Please provide the following information for each of the words listed:
1) the spelling of the word
2) the definition(s)
3) the part of speech
4) at least two synonyms, or words that have the same meaning
1. imperious
-The imperious child ordered her parents around like servants, demanding that they
attend to her every need.
2. unkempt
-Janice was disappointed with her date’s unkempt appearance. His hair was uncombed,
his shirt was wrinkled, and his jeans were torn.
3. wrath
-In Ancient Greece, mortals felt the wrath of the gods. They sought to please them so as
to avoid their horrible punishments, such as what befell Prometheus.
4. frivolous
-My father warned me not to spend my bar mitzvah money frivolously. He advised me to
save for the future, rather than fritter it away on CDs and video games.
5. endeavor
-(verb) Mark endeavored to get straight A’s on his report card by listening carefully in his
classes and putting full effort into his assignments.
-(noun) Climbing the mountain proved to be quite an endeavor; it was much harder than
we had initially thought.
6. apprehensive
-Travis was apprehensive about taking the driver’s exam. He so wanted his license, and
he couldn’t face the possibility of failing.
7. amiable
-Jennifer worried what the girls at the expensive prep school would be like. To her
surprise, she found them to be quite amiable.
8. conspicuous
-The woman wearing the red dress was conspicuous among the mourners dressed in
black for the funeral.
-The gaudy holiday decorations made the house conspicuous among the modest homes
nestled in the quiet suburban neighborhood.
9. gallant
-The gallant young man offered me his jacket when he noticed me shivering in the cold
night air.
10. facetious
-Jerry facetiously called out “Way to go, Ryan” as he watched his friend trip over his
shoelaces in the middle of the crowded hallway.
-“Try to do better next time,” said the homeroom teacher facetiously as she gave Brenda
her straight A+ report card.