Harry Potter Chapter 1-2 Vocabulary

Think about the word tawny for a moment. Take a guess what it could mean.

• of a brown-red or bluish-brown color

• of an orange-brown or yellowish-brown color.

• of yellow-black or greenish color

• no color in particular

Answer explanation

Answer: Tawny is referring to an owl: of an orange-brown or yellowish-brown color

Have you ever had a tantrum? If you had then you might know what this word means.

• a controlled inburst of happiness

• a controlled laugh

• a controlled low key cough

• an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration

Answer explanation

Answer: an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration

Think of the word swoop. Guess what the word might mean!

• (especially of a dinosaur) move rapidly on the ground.

• (especially of a cat) leaping downwards through the air.

• (especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air.

• (especially of a dog) move rapidly around the yard.

Answer explanation

Answer: (especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air.

You might have heard the phrase "On the contrary..." once or twice in your life. Guess what it could mean.

• The opposite

• Upside down

• Sideways

• Earthbound

Answer explanation

Answer: The Opposite

The word spectacles is an old fashion word for...

• Keyboard

• Glasses

• Computer

• Chromebook

Answer explanation

Answer: Glasses

Look at the word fancy in context: “ Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall.” Guess, what "Fancy" might mean.

• happiness

• surprise

• revoltion

• tired

Answer explanation

Answer: Surprise!

Read for context and then guess the meaning of "Pierce" It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now.

• sharp; profound

• dull, not important

• lazy, sleepy

• late, tardy

Answer explanation

Answer: Sharp; Profound

Read about the following word "grudging" in context then see if you can figure out what it means. “I’m not saying his heart isn’t in the right place,” said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, “but you can’t pretend he’s not careless."

• willing to go to Starbucks

• willing to give or allow something

• reluctant or resentfully unwilling to give, grant, or allow something.

• willing to go take a walk

Answer explanation

The Answer: reluctant or resentfully unwilling to give, grant, or allow something.

Read the following and see if you can figure out the word "shrill" in context. His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day.

• having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

• having or emitting a low-pitched and flat tone or tones

• having or emitting a low-pitched and sharp tone or tones

• having or emitting a very hard of hearing sound

Answer explanation

Answer: having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

See if you can determine the definition of the word "astonishing" in context. A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen.

• Great saddness

• surprising greatly

• Wrongly

• Sleepy

Answer explanation

Answer: Surprising greatly