The Tell-Tale Heart Vocabulary

"Above all was the sense of hearing acute."

What does the word "acute" mean in the above sentence?

• cautious

• annoying

• sharp

• boldness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!"

What does the word "dissimulation" mean in the above sentence?

• sharp

• intelligence and good judgement

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

• smooth; smooth manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"...and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in!"

What does the word "cunningly" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• intelligence and good judgement

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

• doing something in a sneaky, crafty, and skillful manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"...so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye."

What does the word "vexed" mean in the above sentence?

• held back

• annoyed, or bothered

• cautious

• sharp

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers—of my sagacity."

What does the word "sagacity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• boldness

• energetic gestures; strong movements of arms and hands

• disguising of intentions and/or feelings

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless."

What does the word "refrained" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• held back

• cautious

• sharp

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"There was nothing to wash out—no stain of any kind—no blood spot whatever. I had been too wary for that."

What does the word "wary" mean in the above sentence?

• annoyed, or bothered

• smooth manner; smoothness

• cautious

• held back

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police."

What does the word "suavity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• energetic gestures; strong movement of hands and arms

• cautious

• smooth manner; smoothness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the wild audacity of my confidence, I invited the police into the old man's house.

What does the word "audacity" mean in the above sentence?

• intelligence and good judgement

• annoyed, or bothered

• cautious

• boldness

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"[I] placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim."

What does the word "reposed" mean in the above sentence?

• state of rest; rested

• forcefully; passionately

• sharp

• doing something in a sneaky, crafty, and skillful manner

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4