Name and Date: _____________________________________
Flowers for Algernon : Vocabulary List #3
Read the list of vocabulary words, study their definitions and take note of their parts of speech.
1) To Admonish (verb) – to advise against something, or to scold someone for something mildly. Example: The teacher admonished him about/for talking too much.
2) Berserk (adj.) – violently frenzied; wild; crazed. Example: He suddenly went
berserk and began attacking people.
3) Composure (noun) – a calm, self-controlled state of mind/being. Example:
Despite the hysteria and panic around him, he retained his composure.
4) Cordial (adj.) – warm and sincere; friendly. Example: He gave us a cordial greeting.
5) To Cower (verb) – to crouch or cringe in fear. Example: The soldiers found him
cowering in the closet.
6) Depraved (adj.) – corrupt; wicked; perverted. Example: The depraved criminal was given a life sentence.
7) To Despise (verb) – to regard with disgust, contempt and distaste; to loathe.
Example: She despised him for his arrogance and his pettiness.
8) Docile (adj.) – easily managed or handled; giving in to supervision or direction.
Example: The docile horse was easy to train .
9) Erratic (adj.) – differing from what is normal or regular; lacking consistency.
Example: He found her erratic behavior confusing .
10) Euphemism (noun) – a mild, indirect or vague word or phrase substituted for one which is harsh, offensive or blunt. Example:
“To pass away” is a euphemism for
“to die.”
11) Exigency (noun) – a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy.
Example: He promised help in any exigency.
12) To Flail (verb) – to strike or lash out violently; to thrash. Example: He flailed his arms wildly.
13) Futile (adj.) – having no useful result. Example: All of her efforts to escape were
futile.

14) Intuition (noun) – knowing without rational processes. Example: Her intuition told her to take the door to the left.
15) Juxtaposition (noun) – the act of placing two contrasting things close together or side by side. Example: The interior designed admired my juxtaposition of the yellow couch and green table.
16) Luminescent (noun) – emitting light. Example: Her luminescent velvety brown eyes are stunning.
17) Naiveté (noun) – state of being naïve; innocent and artless. Example: He found her naiveté charming.
18) Ornately (adv.) – flashily, excessively, or showily decorated/adorned (in style or manner). The palace was decorated ornately in the style of Louis XIV.
19) Paradoxical (adj) – something which seems absurd or contradictory or nonsensical, but which in fact shows a possible truth. Example: Religious and philosophical truths often are often paradoxical.
20) Platonic (adj.) – spiritual and ideal, not physical or sexual; Example: His admiration for her was purely platonic.
21) Pompous (adj.) – excessive self-esteem; arrogance. Example: He was a pompous minor official.
22) Prognosis (noun) – prediction of a disease’s course. Example: The prognosis for your condition is good.
23) Queasy (adj.) – nauseas; sickened. Example: The boat ride made me feel queasy.
24) Self-effacing (adj.) – modest; not drawing attention to oneself. Example: Clark
Kent’s self-effacing behavior is meant to encourage people to ignore him.
25) To Usurp (verb) – to take over or occupy without right; to seize wrongfully through force. Example: The pretender tried to usurp the throne.

Sentence Completions : Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences from the novel.
(Note that in the case of verbs, the tense/agreement may need to be changed):
1.
Charlie _____________________, not knowing what his mother will do. His arms go up automatically to ward off blows.
2.
He was smug and ____________________. I felt like hitting him, too.
3.
I had to trust my _______________________ to help me make the right decision.
4.
The more I thought about him, the worse became the _____________________ feeling that comes before fainting.
5.
The sudden memory shows him that his hatred is really directed at a
______________________ governess who had terrified him with frightening stories and left a flaw in his personality.
6.
Before they had laughed at me, _______________________ me for my ignorance and dullness; now, they hated me for my knowledge and understanding.
7.
On the far wall, across from the sofa, hung an _____________________ framed reproduction of Picasso’s “Mother and Child.”
8.
Our relationship remains ________________________.
9.
“Did you think I’d remain a _______________________ pup, wagging my tail and licking the foot that kicks me.”
10.
“There will be enough time later to talk of _________________________ for your condition.”
11.
As Burt would put it, mocking the _____________________________ of educational jargon, I’m exceptional . . .
12.
It’s ________________________ that an ordinary man like Nemur presumes to devote himself to making other people geniuses.
13.
I’ve got to realize that when they continually _________________________ me to speak and write simply so that people who read these reports will be able to understand me, they are talking about themselves as well.
14.
When someone from the audience asked Burt if he was suggesting that this
________________________ behavior was directly caused by increased intelligence, Burt ducked the question.

15.
The constant __________________________ of “Algernon and Charlie,” and
“Charlie and Algernon,” made it clear that they thought of both of us as a couple of experimental animals who had no existence outside the laboratory.
16.
The headline read: Moron-Genius and Mouse Go _______________________.
17.
I tried to keep my __________________________ (despite my feelings of anger).
18.
I longed to reach out for her, but I knew it was ________________________. In spite of the operation, Charlie was still with me.
19.
I have often reread my early progress reports and seen the illiteracy, the childish
_____________________________, the mind of low intelligences peering from a dark room, through the keyhole, at the dazzling light outside.
20.
“I can’t help feeling that I’m not me. I’ve _________________________ his place and locked him out the way they locked me out of the bakery.”
21.
He was doing his best to be ___________________________, but I could see by his face that he was skeptical.
22.
“I’m sure that from the beginning you planned for all
_____________________________. So what happens to me?”
23.
I stare inward in the center of my unseeing eye at the red spot that transforms itself into a multi-petaled flower-the shimmering, swirling,
___________________________ flower that lies deep in the core of my unconscious.
24.
I open my eyes, blinded by the intense light. And _______________________ the air, and tremble and scream.
25.
Unfortunately, he is no longer the humble, __________________________ person you knew him to be. Now he is a braggart.