Vocabulary Chapters 13 – 16 RL 5.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in text.

 Determine the meaning of the following word:  “There were two loaves of bread – firm and pungent, not like that squishy stuff in the truck. That was something else weird about the bread truck, Jessie realized: The bread had had no smell.”  What text clues helped you?  pungent – sharp or harsh to the sense of taste or smell

 “With so many banks failing, Mr. Seward was getting finicky about what money he would accept at the store.”  finicky– hard to please; fussy  What is a food that you are finicky about? Turn and talk to your neighbor.

 “Most people in Clifton used coins or barter anyway.”  Have any of you heard this word before?  barter–to trade one thing for another without the use of money  What is something that you have bartered? Turn and talk.

 “The man’s voice was sarcastic.”  Have you heard this word before?  sarcastic– containing language with harsh, bitter, or cutting remarks  Say “Really?” to your neighbor in a sarcastic tone.

 “Ma had warned Jessie to be wary of all strangers, not just Clifton’s guards.”  What word helps you determine the meaning?  wary– very cautious; careful

 “Then he’d ask in his dry pretentious voice, ‘Do you have your parents’ permission to spend this?’ ”  How does this help you determine the word’s meaning?  pretentious–trying to appear more important than is the case

 “That was really why I walked over here, not to put you in traction. You are all right, aren’t you?”  Can you infer what traction means from the rest of the text?  traction– a pulling force applied to a broken bone by a special device

 “ ‘Y-yes,’ Jessie stammered, clutching the note.”  What is the meaning of the word?  stammered– to speak or utter with involuntary stops and much repeating  Say something to your neighbor in a stammering way.

 “ She found herself in a large room full of tables and chairs and the tantalizing smell of cooked chicken.”  Was the smell good (thumbs up) or bad (thumbs down)?  How do you know?  What does tantalizing mean?  tantalizing– teasing or tormenting

 “She huddled against the wall for a long time before she got the nerve to walk over to a long silver counter.”  How is Jessie feeling?  What would it look like to huddle against the wall?  huddled– crowded, pushed, or piled together